About a week or two ago, I started to notice something funny happening with the steering and braking. At first it was just the steering that caught my attention. On the highway, it wanted to pull to the left. Not abruptly, but a steady and gradual wandering. After noticing this, I tested at different speeds. It always did it. Now I was aware of a problem so I started paying attention to it all the time. At parking lot speeds, the steering felt stiff. Not overly stiff, but just some added resistance. I figured that all the winter potholes have finally taken its toll. So off to the alignment shop I went. It was dead on, no problems. The garage kept it for the day and told me that the front left caliper was sticking causing the pull. They gave me a estimate for (2) front rotors and left caliper with pads and right caliper with pads of $801.59. I told them ya right and I would do it myself. The on the way home thinking it was a brake problem I kept testing them. It would pull to the left while braking too. So when I got home I felt the wheel. It was barely warm. No warmer than the other three. So now I was sceptical. The next day I took off both front wheels to inspect the brakes. There was nothing dragging or rubbing. The wheel spun freely as can be. So now what? I have a decent amount of mechanical background and my dad is a mechanic. We both looked and looked to see what the heck it could be. Then it donned on me. Could it be the tires? My dad said maybe, I have seen it before. It could only be either the tires or a bad shock. I told him that I did rotate them a few days before I noticed the problem. Just for kicks I swapped the tires back into the previous position. Like magic the problem was gone. Swapped them back again....magic the problem is back. I have 285/75/16 on stock lariet wheels. The tires have about 25K miles on them. They were rotated every 5K miles since new. Air pressure always checked. Never used for towing and occasionally reached MAX payload for the tires. So I am not worried about the problem. By the end of the fall, it will be time for new meats anyways. I drive about 20K miles per year, so they will be glose to 40K on the the tires.

First time I ever ran into a tire problem like this. Has anyone had such a issue with Bridgestones? I love these tires and love they handle, ride, grab, and look. This problem with make me look to another brand in the fall when it comes time to replace them. Heck in 5K miles when I rotate them again, problem fixed right?

Any thoughts?

 

Just a question, when you did the rotate did you do the X-plan or just move the front to the rear and vise versa. I have had two sets of tires ruined by having them rotated and the tire shop rotating with the X style (front R to back L, and Front L to back R). What I figure is the tires get a worn in that particular direction and when the direction is reversed it can screw things up. I now make sure and do my own rotations or if I do take it in I stress how I want them rotated. This happened on car tires so I don't know if it would effect a heavy truck tire the same but its worth a shot. good luck.

 

I agree with SLE. That's what I would consider first off. Also, Revo's are an excellent tire, but no tire manufacturer is without its share of blems and imperfections. So jumping brands because you got a bad tire seems a bit over-reactive to me, but that's just my opinion and I don't mean to sound like I'm preaching. What I did find out about Bridgestone is that they have an excellent customer service policy. I got mine from CostCo. I ordered them, waited for their arrival, only to find out that they sent the regular Dueller tires, not the Revo's. The CostCo Bridgetone Rep had the Revo's UPS'd to CostCo "Next Day Air"! I had them on and rolling the next day. So, you may want to contact Bridgestone and chat them up for a couple of replacement tires??? Can't hurt to try...

I have a set of 285/75X16 Revo's on my '02 F-250 2WD CC 5.4L, but they're mounted on a 16X8" rim, not the stock 16X7. Not sure how much (if any) difference that'd make, but just throwing comparison info at you for information's sake...


DS

 

I rotate them myself. I do it according to the owners manual. Criss cross the fronts to the rear. And bring the rear tires straight forward. I was not stating that I am changing brands because of this problem. Like I said I love these tires. It just puts that question in the back of your head when paying $600-700 for a set. If you know what I mean.

 

The criss-crossing may be the problem, or at least part of it. With directional tires, the rotation is just front to rear, keeping them on the same side of the truck. Example: swap the front driver's side tire with the back driver's side tire and the same for the passenger's side.

Personally, I don't see HOW that makes a difference since the tire should roll fine in either direction since after all, it IS just rubber. But I've been told the same thing from many a tire shop and in many conversations about tire rotating, so there must be some legitimacy to it. I used to criss-cross and swap sides when rotating tires, but not for the last few years of vehicles...

Can you switch them back? Do you remember which tire started where, then just swap the fronts and backs on each side???

Good luck and hope this gets it back to a normal ride for ya!

Best,
Daryl

 

I am not worried much about the problem. By late fall I will be buying new tires. These tires will have about 40K miles on them. I will continue to rotate every 5K miles like I always have. A radial tire is able to reverse direction of travel unlike the old bias tires. I am sure you guys have read the owners manual about rotating tires. Stating left front goes to right rear and right front goes to left rear and left rear goes to left front and right rear goes to right front. I will continue to do it that way.

To tell you the truth and I get more miles on the tires is the pulling position, it seems to be letting up a bit. Guess thay are wearing in a bit.

 

Hey Guys, From A Tire Dealers Point Of View, The Cross Rotation Didnt Ruin Your Tires. All Tire Mfg's And Car Mfg's Have Recommended A Cross Rotation Pattern, Or A Modified "x " Pattern For Many Years Now. Many Years Ago When American Companies First Started Building Radial Tires, They All Had Belt Separation Issues, And They Held A Theory (similar To Yours) That Cross Rotating Tires Caused A Conicity Issue In The The Belt Of The Tire, When In Reality It Was A Real Lack Of Radial Tire Technology.many Radial Tires Are Retreaded(especially Truck Tires), And The Retreader Has No Idea From What Wheel Position The Came From Or Where They're Going To Be Installed. A Modified "x" Pattern Is Really Ideal. Cross Fronts To Rear- Rears Straight Forward. The Issues With Your Revos Sounds Like A Simple Belt Separation Starting. Something That Can Happen In A Radial Tire.hope This Helps.....mark

 

I've heard this before too - rotate front to back only for radials. I've been following that for years. Its a myth? damn I'm gullable. I thought the denser metal belts 'set up' in the lighter rubber carcas in a particlular direction over time. Reversing that can shift the belt. Made sense to me. Oh well...

 

Thats What The Mfg's Wanted You To Believe, As An Explanation For Their High Failure Rate.michelin Had Been Building Radial Tires For Years Before The American Company Launched Their Efforts.and They Didnt Have The High Failure Rates We Had. ( Their Technology Was Far Ahead Of Ours?). Pick Up Any Mfg's Current Warranty And They Will All Recommend A Form Of Cross Rotation, The Modified "x" Being The Most Highly Recommended. Btw.. A Front To Rear Rotation Pattern Was The Recommended Patern Several Years Back, But Thats All Changed.....mark

 

I agree. Sounds like the tire is comming apart inside. Did any of the tires have any flat fix goo put in them?

 

Nope, no goo inside them.

 

I think a more important question is what are you thinking/doing about the unscrupulous alignment shop who said you needed a $800+ brake job that breaks the bank? Would have they done the brake work and rotated the tires or at a minimnum just re-rotated the tires only and charged you for the unperformed brake job. Sounds like the shop is totally irresponsible and has no credibility and further is a big time crook and con artist. I think both the BBB and the attorney general's office in your locality and state should be aware of this!!!