I have a '96 4x4 with Firestone LE MT's with 1700 miles on them. Front end of truck was rebuilt in January and been on alignment rack twice. At first the truck was pulling to the right and the shop checked the alignment again, tightened up the steering box and rotated the front tires right to left. Now the truck wants to pull slightly to the left but not as bad as when it pulled to the right. Tire shop put front tires on balancer and they said tires run good. If I rotate them to the back will this straighten the tires up so when I rotate them back to front they will run straight. I thought about taking truck to a shop with a Road Force Balancer. Any ever have this problem?

 

how are your radius arm bushings? My truck started to pull right pretty good and i could not figure out what is was until i noticed my DRIVERS side radius arm bushing is totally toast.

 

The radius arm bushings and lower ball joints were replaced on both sides in January.

 

is your frame bent?

 

No the frame is not bent. The truck pulled to the right and the front tires were rotated left to right and now it pulls to the left.

 

get a new set of tires

 

He don't need a complete new set, just replace the left front. When that tire was on the right side, the truck pulled right. Moved to the left side, now it pulls left. This tire has what is known as a radial pull... a problem with radial tires where the steel belts begin to come apart inside and cause the tire to not roll straight. Can't be detected on a tire balancer, because a balancer don't give a damn about the tire as long as it's in balance!

 

this sounds like a good reason!

 

I vote bad tire.

 

If the tire is taken off the rim can a defect be found?

 

throw the tire that you suspect is pulling on the rear and see if it stops

 

If I run this tire on the rear for several thousand miles will it run straight if I rotate it back to the front?

 

no, youd still have to buy a new tire

 

its caused when the tire is made and the radials in it arent prefectly aligned and causes a smaller diameter on one side of the tire when inflated.

 

I doubt you'd be able to see anything, so no. As was suggested above, you can try putting it on the rear axle instead, but it's still a bad tire. I wouldn't trust it to hold together for too long, eventually the radial belts will probably start coming apart. When this happens you CAN see it, the tire will be out of round by then and you'll not only see it but also feel it when driving.

With only 1700 miles on it, the manufacturer should help you out with a warranty replacement.