Bad Ride Quality - What can I do?

[HeavyHauler]

About 5,000 miles ago I got a new set of Firestone R4S tires for my pickup. Everybody around town that I talked to said that Firestone made the best dually tire so I went ahead with their recommendations. The first 5,000 miles were a horrible ride and I contributed it to the fact that they made have not been balanced well. But I just got them balanced again and have seen no improvement.



The whole ride is jumpy and rough at all speeds. I don't have a whole lot of knowledge about suspensions, but is there anything that I can change out or add to improve the ride quality some, i. e. shocks, springs, etc? I don't have the means to get an all-out air-ride suspension right now.



I realize that I'm driving a solid axle truck that isn't supposed to ride like a Cadillac but it seems to me that it shouldn't ride this bad.



Any ideas?

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

I know this sounds like an insulting question but have you double checked the air pressure? Usually when a chain typle place mounts tires they "Set the bead" with higher than normal pressures and send you on your way not equalizing them after. It's a shame but they do that.

 

[GerryDrake]

Balancing beads

Lacking any other solution, do a search for several recent threads on the use of different brands/types of balancing beads...

 

[R-N-R]

My tires were installed with 75psi in the rear and 55psi in the front. I prefer 60psi in the rear and 65psi in the front when unloaded. The dealer had 55psi in all 4 tires when I bought it. New tires on my truck helped, but it still feels like it is hitting a speed bump on every crack in the road.



Are you still on factory shocks?

 

[John - K5AWO]

About 5,000 miles ago I got a new set of Firestone R4S tires for my pickup.

Not knocking the opinions given to you on the Firestones, but that would be my last choice before walking. I have had nothing but trouble with every Firestone I have had over the years since 1970 on company vehicles. Never will buy one on my own.



Look at the wheel weights. Does one or more tires have a very large weight or even a lot of them stacked together? Most tire shops will just add on weights until the balancer gets close to zero. When you get up in the 6-8 oz range, you need to question their sanity. Make them break the tire down and rotate it 180 degrees. That should (hopefully) place the heavy spot on the wheel opposite the heavy spot in the tire.



Those heavy weights (especially if only on the outside) throw off the dynamic balance of the wheel/tire combo from side to side giving you a wobble and erratic tire performance. The tire will be okay for static balance, but the rotational dynamic balance is what you need.



Also, if the shocks are not in good shape, the tires will bounce on every bump in the road.



Just my 2 cents...

 

[John - K5AWO]

One other thing you might do. Get some of those tire balancing beads. They work wonders in keeping the balance under control.

 

[HeavyHauler]

I know this sounds like an insulting question but have you double checked the air pressure? Usually when a chain typle place mounts tires they "Set the bead" with higher than normal pressures and send you on your way not equalizing them after. It's a shame but they do that.

Yeah I'm way past all of that. I've tried different pressures and no help. I also get my tires from a local tire shop and I know every one of the guys that work up there - known the owner my whole life. They wouldn't do stuff like that. Plus I check the pressures right after they mounted the tires.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

Yeah I'm way past all of that. I've tried different pressures and no help. I also get my tires from a local tire shop and I know every one of the guys that work up there - known the owner my whole life. They wouldn't do stuff like that. Plus I check the pressures right after they mounted the tires.

Your truck is a newer dodge, they ride much better than most cars lately. My '96 is rougher than your by year comparison, and I rarely notice any roughness in the ride. Check your shocks maybe as a last resort?

If you have covered all the things posted in this thread, especially checking the balance weights on the rims for heavy areas, then I would ask the owner of the shop to let you try a different set of tires for a few days. Even a used take off set from a customer who left theirs behind will solve the concern you have with the brand. Remember, a business is only as good as its worst mechanic, the owner may have a tree stump mounting tires for him? Nothing the owner did, except give a guy a job. Just something to consider.

I have had good and bad results with Firestone so I won't label them all crap. I have had good results with Michelin and Yokohama myself. I have Bridgestones on my Volvo truck which are running well. The model of tire is more important than the manufacturer sometimes.

By the way, how many plies are your new tires? tread and sidewall?

 

[GAmes]

I run 55 psi in the front a 40 in the rear tires when unloaded. I also found velvet ride shackles by Goodyear a big help and have Rancho shocks turned down to 1 in the rear and 3 on the front.

 

[Hammer]

HH. .

These tires are not known for their ride quality and even the Ford owners complain about them. They are the factory installed tires on alot fo the earlier Fords and other than longevity the owners I know who had them complained till they got rid of them. here is a site with reviews both pro and con for these tires. I run the new style Firestone Destination M/T's in 285/75R16's on mine and love them. I run them at 65lbs up front and 60lbs in the rear and have no issues with ride or handling. They now have 12,000 miles on them and are rotated each service and still look like new. With Bridgestone owning Firestone the tires are getting alot better... ... Andy



http://www.1010tires.com/Firestone_Steeltex_R4S_tires.html

 

[ctopp]

Games,

Where did you purchase the Ranchos and the Goodyear Velvet Ride?

CTOPP

 

[DKarvwnaris]

Games,

Where did you purchase the Ranchos and the Goodyear Velvet Ride?

CTOPP

Best price for Rancho's I have found is 4 wheel parts wholesalers, They are have online sales as well as catalog order available. You can find them in most all 4wd magazines, look for the 4 to 8 page color ad inserts, they try to be in the middle of the issues for this.

They also sell the velvet ride shackles. I put them on my '90 suburban, what a difference. Next best thing to air bag shackles or complete air ride. I paid around $100 for mine 4 years ago.

 

[WBusa]

Our trucks are very intolerant of bad shocks, so I suggest you consider whether its time for new ones. The Bilsteins are great (see my sig), and made a world of difference in my ride.

 

[CAKUZ]

. The first 5,000 miles were a horrible ride and I contributed it to the fact that they made have not been balanced well. But I just got them balanced again and have seen no improvement.



Any ideas?

Firestone has been known for the rough ride you get from them because of the hardness of the rubber in them. Running less air pressure may help some but you are pretty well stuck with the ride with Firestone. Michelin is my choice as they provide the best ride, wear and quality over any others I have ever used.



Maybe you could sell them to one of the guys at a Mid-TN TDR meet that likes a off road rough ride.

 

[GAmes]

Games,

Where did you purchase the Ranchos and the Goodyear Velvet Ride?

CTOPP

I got the Ranchos at 4wheelparts.com. It's been 8 yrs since I got the Velvetrides, but I may have bought them from Goodyear direct. They have held up very well.