Ok, got them on this morning, haven't even had a chance to check the pressure yet, but the truck now feels like its a little bit behind of my steering inputs, like either I'm out of alignment or they're underinflated.. I'm really hoping its one of those two things, and NOT that they have a ton more sidewall flex than what I replaced.

Any comments of ideas?

 

hmm, are they P or LT series tires? also check your pressure, i would run about 35 in your climate

 

265/70R17.. I don't know if they're technically P or LT but they're designed for light trucks and SUVs.

Gonna go check the pressure in a few minutes here.

 

well it sounds like you are really in tune with your drivingpatterns. but just a point: whenever you get something new on your truck you are always gonna talk yourself into thinking something is different. a lot of places recommend that you give yourself a one month "adjustment" period so that you can really cut the excitement and truly see the difference.

and you stayed with the same size right? where did you get your tires done and how much did you tell them to put in/ do they usually put in? Im sure someone so in tune with your truck, you can pretty much see if they are low by looks.

And bob is right about the passenger or light truck tire. and "they're designed for light trucks and SUVs. " doesnt say much because "light truck" or "LT" is designated to any vehicle carrying loads much less than non semi level.

but along with it being either a passenger tire or light truck tire, there are also speed ratings. for example "Z" rated is the highest and you get anywhere from an H speed rating on trailer tires and such. and these denominations determine how many plies there are what kind.

if you look on the sidewall of your tire you will be ables to see all of this and we can give you better descriptions.

for instance: with standard tire sizes, the ply rating will be after the tire size like so:

31x10.50R15LT or 31x10.50R15P

although standard sizes are USUALLY LT.

in metric sizes:

LT285/65r16 or P285/75r16


and somwhere else on the tire, you will see the speed rating which is usually something like:

92H or 82W.


let us know!!

 

They're P265, not LTs... couldn't find the speed rating, its dark in the garage (one light bulb, above the truck so the tires are in the truck's shadow). Hold on I'll find the specs online.

 

Load/Speed is 113T. Treadwear 500, Traction A, Temperature B.

 

You may have nailed it with a sidewall flex diagnosis.
If they are taller, plus not LT tires sidewall flex is probably the culprit.
LT tires have 6 ply sides, I believe the passanger standard is 4.

Our Rangers heavy front end (weight balance front to back is way out of wack on a pick up)
would make for slower turning response as the front tires flex out of the turn leading to understeer. :cry:

PS - I still think they would have looked better with the OWL on the inside.

 

Heres the thing, tho.. they're replacing a P tire of the same size and I did NOT have this condition on the old tires.

 

Different brands will ride differently, regardless of whether or not there is a difference in specs or class rating.

For instance....

Mine are 255/45/18 VR tires....but I know someone with the EXACT same size, speed rating, load rating, etc. His are Bridgestone and he says his tires flex a hell of a lot more than mine. His are on a Ranger too.

Flex is good for traction though. :)

 

When I went to the Cooper ST's, I had "tread squirm" for a bit due to the deep, large void tread. Most deep tread tires feel like that brand new but you will adapt to it and it gets less as the tires age.

Tread squirm feels like what you reported, and it can make you feel like the truck "sways" a bit more on turns. It's nothing to be concerned about.

 

Update: all the tires are inflated to 50psi. Durr. Waiting for them to cool off to de-air them.

 

i just bumped my 31's up to 36psi up front and 32 in the rear...and it rides and turns aheack of alot better...sorry that was a little off topic. but i hope u figure out whats makeing you tires feel that way...i say give them a few weeks and then see if they are doing the same thing

 

I just de-aired them to a more reasonable 35psi all the way around. 51psi is the MAXIMUM psi listed on the sidewall.. what kind of idiot inflates tires to thier maximum psi?

Heres the kicker... with they severely overinflated, they still rode alot smoother than the Wrangler RS/As!

Its too late to take the truck out for a test ride tonight, I'm trying to get things organized in case we have to evacuate from Frances' path. (Satellite Beach is on a barrier island on the east coast of Florida just south of Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center.)

 

interesting side-note... I've noticed alot of talk lately about correct inflation where people are suggesting running more pressure in the front to make up for the extra weight bias, and that sounds reasonable, but for ***** and giggles I checked my factory specs, and its 30psi front, 35psi rear! Explain that!

 

ok....are you going to be pulling a trailer from the front of the truck? how about hauling anything in the bed? its probably to support the extra weight of a trailer or cargo or stuff like that

 

Yeah, that makes sense too. 8)

 

But I will bet you that if you weigh the truck front and rear with a full load in the bed it will be about even front to rear.

 

Weight transfer on acceleration would put more of the weight to the rear, if you were carrying a payload. That's why they recommend higher in the rear.