New Tires
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 904
Likes: 112
From: Austin, Texas
New Tires
Well, I finally had to put some new tires on the Super Duty. I bought the truck new in July of 2010 and it came with the Continentals. I got 48600 miles out of them. Probably about 500 more than I should have... When it rained here last week in Austin, I was sliding all over the place.
I decided to go with the Cooper Discoverer AT3.
Discoverer A/T3 Tire | All Terrain Tire | Cooper Tires
I also had the alignment checked and I had a slight toe-in but I suspected that based on the wear of my tires the last couple thousand miles.
I have only driven about 50 miles on the new Coopers but I like then. I think they are a little bit stiffer tire. Road noise is about the same maybe a little bit louder on concrete but on asphalt about the same. I have to drive to Dallas on Monday so I will know more about any fuel mileage difference then.
-gascan
I decided to go with the Cooper Discoverer AT3.
Discoverer A/T3 Tire | All Terrain Tire | Cooper Tires
I also had the alignment checked and I had a slight toe-in but I suspected that based on the wear of my tires the last couple thousand miles.
I have only driven about 50 miles on the new Coopers but I like then. I think they are a little bit stiffer tire. Road noise is about the same maybe a little bit louder on concrete but on asphalt about the same. I have to drive to Dallas on Monday so I will know more about any fuel mileage difference then.
-gascan
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 914
Likes: 1
From: Saskatoon, SK, CA
Love the AT3's. Great wearing tire and you got them for a great price. I went with the Cooper S/T Maxx this time and I really like them. Slightly more road noise and higher price but I will definitely report on how they wear compared to the AT3. I should mention the S/T Maxx only goes up to 18" right now. My truck came with 20" wheels but I now have aftermarket 18" wheels.
http://ca.coopertire.com/Tires/Light...-S-T-MAXX.aspx
http://ca.coopertire.com/Tires/Light...-S-T-MAXX.aspx
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 904
Likes: 112
From: Austin, Texas
Ok, I am not so happy now... I had to take a trip to Dallas yesterday and at speeds higher than 65 MPH, I get significant vibrations - especially above 70! When I got to Dallas I let a little air out of the tires (from 80psi to 75psi) and there was no change on the drive home last night.
I assume I have a balance issue. I have never had a problem with Discount Tire and having tires properly balanced... I noticed that 2 of the tires have a 3 or 4 weighs on them. I have never seen that many weights on a NEW tire. Do you think I have some bad tires or just a bad job by the guy doing the balancing?
Thoughts or suggestions?
-gascan
I assume I have a balance issue. I have never had a problem with Discount Tire and having tires properly balanced... I noticed that 2 of the tires have a 3 or 4 weighs on them. I have never seen that many weights on a NEW tire. Do you think I have some bad tires or just a bad job by the guy doing the balancing?
Thoughts or suggestions?
-gascan
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I assume I have a balance issue. I have never had a problem with Discount Tire and having tires properly balanced... I noticed that 2 of the tires have a 3 or 4 weighs on them. I have never seen that many weights on a NEW tire. Do you think I have some bad tires or just a bad job by the guy doing the balancing?
It is possible their machine needs calibration, or had an inexperienced operator.
Take it back, explain the issue, and get their most senior person to re-balance the tires. Sometimes remounting it at 180deg is needed.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 904
Likes: 112
From: Austin, Texas
Well, I took the truck back to Discount Tire yesterday and spoke with the Manager. He assigned his top tech to the job and I watched them pull the tires off the truck and check the balance. Each and everyone of them were off from just a little to significantly. Not sure how that happened, either the machine they used was not calibrated or the guy doing it was incompetent. This time they did a "quick match" and on two of the tires rotated the tire on the wheel to the best position based on the computer feedback.
Way too much traffic last night and this morning to get to a place where I can run it up to 70 and 75 MPH. I'll know how successful we were hopefully tonight or tomorrow.
I do have one question... The stock tires were the 275/70/R18 from Continental. Is it safe to assume that this Cooper Discoverer AT/3 is much more rigid tire? My ride is a little rougher compared to the Continental. Is that just a result of the rigidity of the tire?
-gascan
Way too much traffic last night and this morning to get to a place where I can run it up to 70 and 75 MPH. I'll know how successful we were hopefully tonight or tomorrow.
I do have one question... The stock tires were the 275/70/R18 from Continental. Is it safe to assume that this Cooper Discoverer AT/3 is much more rigid tire? My ride is a little rougher compared to the Continental. Is that just a result of the rigidity of the tire?
-gascan
More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 596
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From: Watson
I've got close to 5yrs of "tire grunt" work in my past, so I feel confident in saying that the original tech didn't know what he was doing- that pic you posted, notice how you have a little (looks like a .75oz weight) directly across the tire from the main two? He should've simply reduced the weight of one of those weights, not hammered another one on across from it.....
Rookies......
Most of the "better" tire manufacturers will actually mark the sidewall of their tires with their recommended valve stem orientation, it's usually a little yellow circle, I can't make it out on those Coopers, sometimes it rubs away in shipping, but any tech worth his salt knows to spin the tire on the rim until that mark lines up with the valve stem before seating the beads. That'll be the setup that requires the least amount of weight to balance.
As for the ride, I noticed you're running 75psi, is that just an 18" thing? My doorjamb recommends 65, and after bumping up my air pressure from the 50 psi that were in 'em, I noticed the ride quality "decrease" a little. But I'm not trying to float like a cadillac either
Rookies......
Most of the "better" tire manufacturers will actually mark the sidewall of their tires with their recommended valve stem orientation, it's usually a little yellow circle, I can't make it out on those Coopers, sometimes it rubs away in shipping, but any tech worth his salt knows to spin the tire on the rim until that mark lines up with the valve stem before seating the beads. That'll be the setup that requires the least amount of weight to balance.
As for the ride, I noticed you're running 75psi, is that just an 18" thing? My doorjamb recommends 65, and after bumping up my air pressure from the 50 psi that were in 'em, I noticed the ride quality "decrease" a little. But I'm not trying to float like a cadillac either
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 904
Likes: 112
From: Austin, Texas
BlackBeest - good comments and I appreciate the feedback.
I my reduce some air pressures and see. I was running the Continentals at 75 psi so that is where that number came from.
Regards,
gascan
I my reduce some air pressures and see. I was running the Continentals at 75 psi so that is where that number came from.
Regards,
gascan
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 904
Likes: 112
From: Austin, Texas
Ok, tire experts I need some more advice...
I am still not satisfied with these Cooper Tires. The balance is much better now but there are still vibrations at 75MPH. I have taken my air pressure down to 65PSI. Unfortunately, these tires seem to be so stiff/firm that every little bump in the road is vibrated through my truck. I have rattles in my track now that I never had with my old tires. My truck bounces now riding down a highway that I travel for 3 years with no bouncing on my old tires. I don't see how I can fix this.... I assume my only choice is to try to return the tires to Discount Tire and get something else.
Thoughts?
-gascan
I am still not satisfied with these Cooper Tires. The balance is much better now but there are still vibrations at 75MPH. I have taken my air pressure down to 65PSI. Unfortunately, these tires seem to be so stiff/firm that every little bump in the road is vibrated through my truck. I have rattles in my track now that I never had with my old tires. My truck bounces now riding down a highway that I travel for 3 years with no bouncing on my old tires. I don't see how I can fix this.... I assume my only choice is to try to return the tires to Discount Tire and get something else.
Thoughts?
-gascan