2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission new tires = "loose" feel?

[Wyomingcowboy]

I recently got new tires and have noticed a bad sway, or loose feel at highway speeds. (when empty, I haven't towed anything yet) I thought it might be the air pressure which was at 60psi so I filled them this morning to 78psi and still have the feeling. Could it be shocks? They are stock but the truck's not been used hard and prior to the new tires last week I never had the problem. could it be a softer rubber compound leading to a squishiness or something?

Also, I have some sort of alignment problem. the alignment tech stated he "tightened" the steeing box and now I feel like I am fighting to keep straight. It doesn't pull but a little movement in the wheel pulls me in that direction. Makes for very uncomfortable trips down the highway. It is like nothing I have ever experienced.

Anybody have any ideas what is wrong, or how to fix it?

 

[Rattler]

What size, load range, and tread pattern to you install?Randy

 

[WDixon27]

mine felt like crap with new rear's but i have a dually and unloaded till it wears down the center couple tread blocks it's walking on it's toes, did they screw with the alignment? a bad alignment can really mess with handling

 

[Not_Agn]

Little bit of tread flex, and some memory steer going on. Lee

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

ther are 265/70's load range E and not a real aggresive tread pattern. (GY tracker 2's)

 

[jeepit]

I had the same feeling with my new tires. Went away after I had 1200 miles on tires. Also, ball joints were wearing a little and I have to keep an eye on that...

 

[AFoulk]

yeah, I'd say its just the deeper tread blocks squirming around on ya, causing the "loose" feeling.

 

[TAbbott]

yeah, I'd say its just the deeper tread blocks squirming around on ya, causing the "loose" feeling.



What he said... .

 

[DodgeWarlock]

Not to sound stupid, but have you checked your ball joints, tie rods, and track bar. When our 01 started doing that with new tires it turned out they had all worn out. We just didn't notice until we hit old roads at highway speeds. I lived in Casper for 4 years and the interstate up there always seemed to want to steer for me a little. If your box was a little loose, you may not have noticed any pull (since it would have worn in gradually)but, when he"tightened" the box it might have magnified the pull at the wheel. On smooth roads, we couldn't detect anything, but on worn roads the steering wheel would move alittle, but the truck would track back and forth pretty good during a lane change(it was really bad in road construction). Softer tires usually give better traction and might magnify the effect as well. Just a thought. Hope it helps.

 

[DDaubenspeck]

It's totally the type of tire

I felt a big difference when installing new meats as well. I've got a 01. 5 CTD 2wd CC with 4:10s, and I removed the OEM stock original 285 sized Michellin LTX M/S at about 45,000 miles, because they were worthless in the snow. They were great in the dry, but would spin very easily in the rain - no doubt partially due to the 4:10s... .



I replaced them with Bridgestone Dueller A/T Revos with E load rating, and I noticed a change from the worse at the first turn. They were just plan "squishy". It feels like the Dueller sidewalls are jello compared to the LTX M/Ss. I would agree to the "loose" feeling. However, rear end tire spins in the rain are much more difficult to do with the Duellers, and the snow traction was very good.



Looking at the tread block design, I can rationallize why there's a difference. The worn out LTXs had much more material on the road, and probably did when they were new as well.

 

[Partyat33]

Had the same problem a couple of times. It eventually goes away. But its very disturbing, isn't it.

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

Warlock: you moved from casper to AL? Do you miss our wild, windy, cold *** winters?? haha!

Yes, my track bar is brand new and the tie rod ends are ok. I am thinking it is just the new rubber. The tires were very cheap and used (almost brand new with only about 5 miles on them) and affordable, so they will get me through the winter and I'll see about switching to michelin's in the summer, which is what I wanted but could not afford in the first place.

Thanks for all the help and advice guys!

Happy Thanksgiving

 

[BigPapa]

It's just those long, new tread blocks flexing. Man, it's been WAY too long since I had that feeling. I need some new tires!



Scott

 

[DodgeWarlock]

Hey Cowboy, I could handle the cold, didn't mind the snow(after I learned how to drive in it), but that wind drove me nuts. I don't mind shoveling snow the first time..... it's shoveling the same snow every day for a month because it keeps blowing right back. None of that would have bothered me if I could have afforded a place out of town with a shop. It's beautiful country up there and the people are great. Lots of good steel in those parts too. It's first gen heaven. Good luck with those tires. "Happy Thanksgiving"to you as well.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

BEEN there, done that - and NO, it doesn't "go away", you just get used to it... :-laf



Most likely, the extra sideways "squirm" you feel is largely due to a less stiff sidewall with the new tires - you can easily see the difference if you stand at the rear of the truck and push back and forth sideways on the side of the truck - you'll likely see lots more sideways movement in both the truck and the sidewalls of the new tires compared to the old ones as the trucks moves from side to side...



After all, how likely is it that those other steering components suddenly "wore out" just at the same time as you installed new tires? :-laf:-laf



Yes, it IS annoying, and possibly dangerous - and I always try to buy tires with good stiff sidewalls - especially for towing use...

 

[DieselDoghouse]

When a local tire shop mistakenly installed Yokie's (Geolanders) for BFG AT KO's—I almost turned the truck around on a dry road turning out into traffic. They were replaced in a week with what I had specified—so wear was not an issue—and the truck has been fine. It's the tread pattern, baby!!

 

[TBartlett1]

I've had my 1990 since new and every time I put new tires on it felt like it was not connected with the road (on tiptoes) and was very touchy.

On my truck I ran 60f & 50r empty for best tire wear. I also tightened the steering box to eliminate some looseness.

But first I checked my front end for any worn joints.

My opinion is that it will go away as it did for me within a couple hundred miles.

You need to realize, new tires have close to ½ inch of flexible tread when new and as it wears down becomes more stable.

I’ve had many sets of tires on my truck and they all did this.

As far as the mechanic tightening the steering box you need to be careful that it is not over tightened, this could cause gear problems and also prevent the steering from naturally returning to the straight ahead position. This would give you the feeling that you need to steer it all the time instead of driving or guiding it. Try backing off the adj screw a ¼ turn at a time, just remember where you started.



BEEN THERE DONE THAT!

Hope this helps.

BART

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

Thanks Bart. That's exactly how it feels going down the road. I will give it a try.

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

where is the adjuster screw located on the steering box?

 

[SnoKing]

If you are running empty, put about 57-60 in the front and 42-44 in the rear. Should steer better. SNOKING