Let me start by saying I've always been a BFG fan, love the look and the ride, run them on the last 3 trucks I've owned and couldn't wait to get those 35 m/t's on this truck when I got my lift.


I just can't get these things to run smooth. In a nutshell, I've had two alignments and three different shops rebalance the wheels, had the last one pop the bead and turn the tires 180 degrees (they said that might help) on the rim. This changed the speed where my shimmy starts and ends, but nothing else. It truly feels like it's going to shake apart between 47-55 and 61-65mph. It is really bad, like when you were little and grandpa was bouncing you on his knee. After that it gets alot smoother.


During this time, I've had more than one shop say BFG's aren't very good tires and they have a lot of problems with "out of round" and sidewall issues, news to me. After this problem though, I'm starting to wonder. This is my first time running this big of tire and lift, so here's my questions:


1. Is this a normal thing to be happening with 35's and m/t's, and I'm just being overly critical?


2. Any similar experiences with BFG's or other tires?


3. Anything else I can do to help smooth the ride out?


This is not just a case of stronger shocks - I actually like that type of ride. I can watch through my mirrors and see the back end of the truck shimmying hard and feel it through the floor and seat, not so much the steering wheel. I am new to the lifted truck scene, so I'm looking forward to hearing from those big lifted truck owners.

I'm running 315/75R16 M/TR's. The overall diameter is 34.6" I'm running them on a 10" rim and haven't had any problems. They runn like the stock tire! I WAS running a set of 33" super swampers and I know what you're talking about, they bounced and siggled and just about tore the steering wheel from my hands under acceleration. Once up to highway speeds the steering wheel would wiggle back and forth about 1.5" all the time. I found out that these tires are bias ply and not a radial tire. Make sure that this is not the case with your M/TR's, I know BFG makes them. If they're radials then you'll want to go back to your tire shop and have a talk with omeone there because I know mine ride very smooth!


In terms of balancing, is it powder balance or've you got actual weights on your rim? My tireshop tried to tell me the powder balance would be better for the bigger tires, but after I switched to weights, it drove like a Porche!!

I too have the 35" bfgs. I like them well enough. and noboby else makes a tire for 17" wheel that is not louder or wears faster than the BFGS. That being said, i have had BFG that would not balance. I had to have them trued. (put on a tire lathe and cut them perfectly round). I had that done in Seattle. From what i understand nobody does that much anymore. Try and find someone who does in your area, you will be suprised at the difference it makes. and how much the tires are out of round.


After truing my last set i almost got 60,000 mile out of them, but that was pre-diesel torque.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


Tom

HD4fun,


Sorry about your problems. I have 37" and they ride perfect.


I'm going to take a shot in the dark on this one; What rims and did you get the rims when you purchased the tires? I ask because it might be a rim problem when installed on the truck and not a tire problem. When I had mine lifted I had helped the tech install my rims and tires. When putting them on the truck I had seen the tech remove some steel washers from the the lug nut studs. I asked him what they were for, he said it was used only durning production, he then had taken the time to show me the grove in the stock rims to accept the washer when bolted up. My new rims did not have the grove and if the washer was not removed he said the time that he spent balancing the wheels would be worthless.


I don't know if this is your problem but the tech did mention he has seen a few come in from people that order complete rims and tires of the internet and then install them not knowing about the washer/s. Edited by: Voodoo

Thanks for the replies all,


zorganov,


The BFG's are radials, at least that's what it says on the sidewall. What is powder balancing? I have weights inside the rim, not around the bead, same difference. The guys at the shop said "static balance", whatever that means.


Voodoo,


I too had the shop guy show me some "left over" washers. That was the second time I took it in. P!ssed me off a little, but they are gone now, still have the same issue. Thanks for the suggestion though. BTW, sweeeeet truck!


gray gmax,


I will look into "truing the tires". Never heard of it, but if someone around here does it, sounds like something I would try.


Thanks again guys!

Here is another idea and at this point it will cost nothing but a little time. Jack up the truck just enough to lift the tires off the ground so they are just slightly rubbing, then spin the tire and see if the space between the ground and the tire changes. If it's a big difference, you may have found your problem. For your safety and others don't forget to use jack stands.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif Edited by: Voodoo

I have a set of BFG ATs on right now that I can't get to ballance. I have heard that BFG had problems with this but in 4 pairs this is the first that has given me fits. They are about whipped so I'll be rolling the dice one more time with BFG's. All my previous experience has been great, getting 50K+ out of them....not this set, if I see 40 I'll be happy.


Granted I've got a little extra power nowhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

HD4fun, I have been out of the tire/alignment business a long time but I might be able to help. If all the shops are doing is a static balance (like a bubble balancer) that is the problem. I am sure there are some new guys in the business than can help me if I get this wrong. I believe the static balancer a single plane and the spin balancer a two plane. Putting the weights near the center instead of the bead area sucks also. Evidently you have a wheel that they cannot attach the weight to the bead area. If this is the case that is also a problem.


Voodoo's advice was good also. Make sure the tires are warmed up first. Later! Frank

Thought I would update everyone who might be interested......


Just got a brand new set of Open Country Mud Terrain SXT's on my truck. BFG bought back all 4 of my tires at retail price even though I didn't have an original receipt with itemized cost. They were extremely helpful, and I am extremely happy. The difference in price to my new tires is exactly $6.27 less than the BFG's. I actually wanted to stay with the BFG's, but there are none of these tires in the country right now - national backorder. I will stay a BFG fan and owner due to the great customer service I got.


I learned a lot from this exercise in perserverance. I got my BFG's Road Force Balanced which checks out of round - anything less than 40lbs is considered good. One of the BFG's checked out at 92lbs, another one was 165lbs. The guy at the shop said that 165lbs was the worst tire he had seen. I originally only wanted the two bad tires replaced, but because of the backorder, BFG customer service offered to buy back all 4 so I could get a complete set. These guys have customer service like Edge does.....fantastic!


BTW, my new tires ride like I expected the first set to...like a cadillac. I would recommend them to anyone, although like I said before I am still a BFG fan and will go back to them when this set is done, or at least throw a set on my wife's truck. They have kept my business. I will chalk it up to a bad day of quality assurance at the plant, based on all the happy BFG customers around.


Thanks for all the replies to my original problem.


HD

I have had three set's of BFG's on three different vichels and they never could get them balanced!!!!

Yeah it sounds like you have a set of bad tires. Take them back to your local vendor you bought them from and make them fix it.


BFG has excellent customer service and will take care of you. Out of the millions of tires they make some will be out of specs, or any tire manufacture for that matter. I am quite confident they will take care of it. They will probalby require a road force inspection as other have noted.


The 35 is a big tire but should still be true. What Frank is saying about the static balance (stick on weights in the center of the wheel) is correct. With that said, I static balance my 285s and never require more than 1.5 to 2 oz per wheel and it rides like caddy. The static balance is fine as long as your tires and wheels are fairly true but a dynamic balance (weights on both inner and outer lips of the wheels) is superior if it's an option. The 35s or wheels you have might be so out of round that the static blance cannot overcome the defect.


Few things to check:
<UL>
<LI>Air preassure (on our front ends a few psi difference can make a huge difference)</LI>
<LI>Try moving the tires around on the truck (lowest weights should be on the front end start DF, then PF, DR, and finally, PR)</LI>
<LI>Check the toe on the front end</LI>[/list]


I have been running BFGs for years and have had very few problems. The couple of times I had an out of round tire they replaced them.


Good luck,


Chris