Tire issue on '12 5500

[MChrist]

I'm not a fan of Continental HSR tires. They chunk, wear funny, don't last long and don't offer the traction that they seem like they should, considering their fairly aggressive pattern. This has been my experience on every truck we have that wears them.



Our new '2012 Ram 5500 came with these tires from the factory. At 5,000 miles, I could already hear the "WaaWaaWaa" from the front, and found them to already be wearing very unevenly, like an alligator's back. Truck is driven by my most gentle driver, exhaust brake always turned on. Driver says he rarely has to even touch the brakes.



Now, with only 8,000 miles, the tires need to be removed. Here is my dilemma:



Truck came with 225/70/19. 5 load range G which has max psi as 110. Sticker on door says to run at 95 and the wheels are actually only rated for 95 as well. Tire selection in LRG is much more limited than the selection of Load Range F tires.

Can I LEGALLY run LRF tires if truck came with LRG that are aired down to 95?? Our GMC 5500 weighs more than this Ram, and came stock with LRF and never had any problem. That truck went 80,000 miles with the factory front Michelins and never had any odd tire wear. We will get 90,000 out of the rears, LRF Michelins as well.

Bridgestone's website says that running LRF at max pressure of 95 is better than running LRG at 95 when tire is rated at 110 due to excessive tire heat buildup.



Anybody know for sure??

 

[HBarlow]

I don't see why you can't do that. I've never heard of DOT inspecting and citing for something like that. I doubt a DOT officer would ever check the OEM's tire specification on the door post tag.

If the alternative tires have the same load carrying capacity @ 95 psi inflation as the specified tire also @ 95 psi I don't see any issue to discuss.

 

[MChrist]

I agree that it seems odd. The door sticker clearly says "225/70/19. 5G at 95 psi cold". The load rating is exactly the same at 95 psi for load range F or G.
So why would it say G at 95 and not F at 95???
GAWR front is listed as 7,000 on the sticker, and LRF at 95 exceeds 3500#s each. I suppose as long as both tires have the same rating at 95, I would be fine... . ?

 

[AH64ID]

Even if the tire ratings are slightly different but you are not exceeding the sidewall limits you should be fine.

 

[HBarlow]

Tires with greater ply ratings such as G vs. F probably do have stiffer casings at equal inflation pressures and the front end of the Ram 5500 is probably heavy so Ram engineers may have had good reason for prescribing G rated tires. You could experience a change in handling.

 

[JR]

It sure seems like at only 8k miles, this should still be the dealerships problem and not yours. I understand tires are generally not included in a warranty, but that is very premature, especially if the tires are cupped or wavy and not flat worn. Any problems with the front end? I'm sure you paid good money for that rig and I would at least take it in and let them know about the problem, that way it is documented in the event the same thing happens with the new tires.

 

[AH64ID]

Certain wear and tear items are covered for 12M/12K.

 

[MChrist]

It sure seems like at only 8k miles, this should still be the dealerships problem and not yours. I understand tires are generally not included in a warranty, but that is very premature, especially if the tires are cupped or wavy and not flat worn. Any problems with the front end? I'm sure you paid good money for that rig and I would at least take it in and let them know about the problem, that way it is documented in the event the same thing happens with the new tires.

Nothing appears wrong with the front end. I took delivery with 4 miles on it, alignment looks perfect, sidewalls don't have any marks on them like it jumped a curb or anything. Tires aren't worn, just cupped, or "scalloped". Rears are same tire, and they are not cupped and are wearing normally.
The Continental HSR (S for Steer) are junk for the Steer axle. Had them on our other trucks because that's what our tire guy had. They all went prematurely. I put Bridgestone R250s on the front of an '07 Isuzu NRR that had the HSRs before, and those tires look to be wearing at half the rate, and with no warping/cupping/chunking.

Something to think about for these bigger trucks.

 

[mfurrh55]

I bought a 99 new and at 8500 miles the inside of the tire was worn slick, Dealer replaced them and said the front end was never aligned at the factory,aligned it and put new tires on and problem went away, Monte

 

[JR]

Tires aren't worn, just cupped, or "scalloped". Rears are same tire, and they are not cupped and are wearing normally.

That would really have me wondering if it isn't an issue with the front end, being the rears are fine. I would just hate to see new ones installed and have the same thing happen all over again. That could get expensive quick. I'm sure you have thought of that already, just thinking out loud.

 

[Cissco]

Dodge is replacing the front axle on my 2011. 30,000 miles,front tires are wearing on inside. Dealer would rather replace axel with new one instead of offset ball joints.
The tires are my problem because they are not originals.

 

[MChrist]

I'll check the alignment myself on Sunday. Eyeballing it, it looks perfect. Don't seem to have abnormal wear on the sides, just the cupping.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Cupping is usually worn/weak shocks.

I have run Continetal 245/70/19. 5 HSR (think that what they are) on my Freigtliner they held up pretty good. I did have an old HSR blow out in 2008 and I replaced it with another HSR, it's side wall started to seperate about inch from rim this year (Haven't used the Liner much this year). Tire dealer wouldn't do any thing about it so I bought some BF Goodrich tires for the front and had a Roving Tire Man put them on. Never had wear problem with the Continetals still have four on rear that I put on in 2005 and I kept one of the front one for a spare also a 2005 tire.

 

[MChrist]

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...=post-id-69901761-f186-448c-8750-0e95bb200bd8

This is the HSR I have. I'll post a pic of one of our damaged ones. Doesn't really matter what truck they are put on. . they don't last on the front of anything I have. Ram, GMC, or Isuzu. But they seem to hold up OK on the rear.

Scalloping/cupping typically means shocks, but these started howling at 5,000 miles. Could shocks aready be bad? They are not oily. . how else do you tell? I can't exactly give her the old bounce test...