Just got done replacing Ball-joints, Unit-bearings,Brakes,U-joints and all seals in the front end of my 04. As soon as I was done, I took the rig out to bed-in the brakes. It was about a 30 mile round trip, but all went well enough, and the brakes work awesome now.
But, while on the drive I convinced myself to supplement the overall rehab with a new set of tires.
Went into a shop near by, Talked to the young man behind the counter about a set of Nokian Rotiiva they had on the sales floor. I asked if they might have a set that would fit my truck. The set on the floor had 285/75/16 on them and I knew stock on my rig was a 265/75/16.
The sales gent. Exclaimed that the 285's would fit just fine. Well, I told him I was interested, but before the truck rolled into the shop I asked a few questions regarding load rating and such. He informed me that moving up in size from a 265 to a 285 would take care of the needed weight handling ability needed for the rig. I questioned that to the point that he went and found a 265 to compare load ratings to. I guess looking it up on the net wouldn't work on the in house system,idk.
At any rate, I noticed the some what lower rating in comparing the two, but with a bit of convincing, started the install.
The install went well( they forgot to ask what side out, but got em all the same). I had asked that they not weight the outer rim edge to keep the clear coat intact, so they sticky weighted behind the face on the inner rim, and hung weights on inner rim edge. All fine and good till I took the truck to 60 on the highway.
At about 60, I got this high pitched vibration through the steering wheel. It continued to about 70, then was gone. Only to return, once returning to 70 back down to 60.
The next day I took the rig back to the tire shop and asked the Manager to take it for a drive with me. He confirmed the vibration, and had the crew match-mount the tires and rims. A very long process of matching the heavy parts of the tire and rim opposite each other. This time weighting on both inner and outer rim edges.
After hours of balancing I asked to jointly test drive with the manager again, and the vibration was still there.
He suggested lowering the air pressure to 50 in front and mentioned that if it didn't solve the issue he would swap another tire type. So, I'm not sure but I think I might have to go there. I lowered the pressure to 50 and I still get the issue.
The rims are under sized for the 285's. The tread is pulled up on the edges. a good inch width, on each side of tire doesn't hit pay dirt. It might as they wear but? Could this be a major contributor to the vibration.
Just how much trouble do ya think this constitutes.
Honestly I don't look forward to going back to the shop but if you all concur, off i go
Thanks for the read.

 

It sounds to me like the rim might be too narrow. It could also be a defective tire. I would stay with the correct size E rated tire. It's also possible that their balancer is defective or the person using it isn't competent using it. I've experienced that before. Tire Rack has an excellent web site that has all kind of good information on tires that can help you research which tires are right for your application.

 

Thanks Greg, I've been looking around the web since posting. I've got a terrible sense that I've gone for a ride. While it can be done , and some don't feel the issues that it creates. 285/75s on 7 inch rims are not the best in many ways. The load rating as you mention does seem to be one such issue in the case of this tire.

 

A couple of things lead me to think that perhaps you have something else going on. First, a ton of folks run 285/75/16 on the stock 7 inch rims (so do I these days) without any weird issues. Second, Nokian makes a really high quality tire (doesn't mean something cannot be wrong with a tire though) but I couldn't find any info on the tire rating other than it says "R". If they cannot manage to balance out the tire, maybe you are suffering from a bent rim - did they check?

But then again, you probably didn't have any vibration with your old tires.

I hope you get this resolved.

 

They did indeed check the rims and each tire many times for abnormality. The matching required each tire/rim combo, be spun up 3 times after relocation of tire on the rim. I stood there watching just feet away as all was done.
The rig had no vibration of the sort with the old coopers on her. While it could have been masked by the two old tires in the rear before the change over that had lateral(on one) and vertical(on the other) runout issues. The front felt solid and had no vibration through the steering.

 

On the load rating tho. It seems even with the larger tire. The Nokian I have is a D rating, at 3300lb and change, While the old set was E rated at around 3700lb.
After a bit of looking around I do see that many makers offer a 285 in a E rating. I imagine the new tires she has on, has cost around 1600lb of load capacity?
I don't tow much more than gear and a 2 place snow-machine trailer, but the end result if in a accident might prove a Insurance nightmare. <-- not meaning to add to the overall issue at hand tho.

 

Hi the load rating is fine 3300 times 4 is more then your gvwr is total. and factory 265's are like 3400per tire.

 

Thanks for the reply JWSrules. I looked up a winter 265 I had my mind set on from the same shop. Its a 265/75/16 and as you mention, even as a "E" load rating, was 3400.

Maybe they just need some breaking in. Once the tread wears flat maybe all will be as it should be.
One note tho , they did use the same balancer both times they tried addressing the vibration. For the vibration to be in such a narrow speed range seams odd?

 

You are only the second person I have ever heard mention Nokian tires my boss got a set for a really good price. He really does not care for them. He doesn't like the way they ride in the freeway especially. Hi truck is an 03'.

 

Ran for about 10 years on them in my 83. Every new set was a charm. But in that combo, I ran the size the truck called for. And instead of changing them out, I ran a winter tire through our whole 2 months of summer lol. Learned the hard way, about premature tread wear. The soft compound made our streets a bit smoother in the 1 ton.

 

Found a link to a possible fix. Although I don't know of any shops with the ability. I did read on a forum thread that this type of tire took such a balancer to eliminate the issue I'm experiencing.