Problem tire brands

Dargo · Nov 14, 2004

With a one ton truck, especially with a heavy diesel engine in the front, I've always ran at least 65 psi in the fronts. If I'm not hauling anything in the back, I generally get by running 50 psi in them no problem. As I mentioned earlier, I can't speak about the Michelins, as they get pitched as soon as I buy a truck if it has them on it.

RobertN · Nov 14, 2004

I was surprised, the Michelin's were fine. The only thing I did not like about them was they were a street tread. My only other expierince with Michelin was on my wifes IROC Camaro. She ran the high-end performance tires on it. They were great. I have 17" BFG "Rugged Long Trail" now. My Dad has worked for a Dodge dealer for decades; he got a deal on these I could not resist. They are "take-off" Tires, rims, lug nuts ect off a '03 Ram 2500.

If I am not hauling, I will run 65psi front and rear for a little better ride.

The only tire I have ever had issue with was BFG Mud Terrains on my old Ford F250. They were "D" rated, and didn't handle weight so well. It was especially noticable with the camper on. "E" rated tires fixed that.

I have a buddy with another Ram-2500. His Michelins are starting to weather check on him. He is a stickler for for detail in that regard(He is also an awesome FF/Engineer who makes complex hoselays and pump panel ops look easy). His tires have not been run low on pressure. Tread is fine. Sidewall though, has light weather checking.

MF1455v · Nov 15, 2004

Thanks to all for the input. I was hoping to find out if any of you had a brand of tire that was consistently a problem or a brand you would never buy again. Seen a few brands mentioned, but mostly comments about air pressure on this set of tires. Even before finding this cracking, my fault or not, I had no plans of putting Good Year back on the truck. See previous comments.

The last week I have been asking around and have found 4 other people in my area with '03 Dodge 3500 duelies that have had the same problem with the same tires. All were purchased in late '02, so first ones off the line. Mine arrived in November of '02. This was the first year Dodge used the 235/80/17 on its 3500.

Here is my findings for replacement tires. Only brands I can find that have E rated 235/80/17 are Good Year, General, and Cooper.

Good Year price $212 per tire. Do not want these due to previous problems with brand not including this issue.
General, did not get price. Did not like tread design for 4x4.
Cooper H/T price $159 per tire. More of a street tread.
Cooper ATR price $197 per tire. Little more aggressive tread.

Wanted to go up a size to get more options but clearance between the duels will be to small. I have had 2 sets of Coopers in the past and been happy so the Cooper ATR has won out. Having them put on Wednesday morning. I will post pictures next weekend.

LBrown59 · Dec 7, 2004

I was hoping to find out if any of you had a brand of tire that was consistently a problem or a brand you would never buy again
MF1455v
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Fire stone- I Will never buy any of their tires.
Bought a new Nissan pick up in 1989 with firestone tires on it.
Within 2 or 3 years the side wall went bad on 3 of them.
They didn't blow out.
Just had cuts about and inch long in them.
Between this experence and the big recall a few years back I won't buy one.

LBrown59 · Dec 7, 2004

( Dargo, my experience with tires has been similar. I have had better luck with some off-brand tires than with the major brands. I put a set from Pep Boys on a '79 pickup that wore forever. I have the second set of Big O tires on my T-100 which have performed better than the Goodyears that came on it. I had a set of Goodriches on my '85 truck that couldn't be balanced and did not wear well. I have also had some cheap off-brand tires that wore out almost overnight. Is there a secret to selecting good tires? )

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I had a set of Goodriches on my '85 truck that couldn't be balanced
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Out of balance isn't the only thing that will cause wheel shimmy.
One of the biggest problems that I've encountered with buying new tires is finding round ones.
You can have one of these perfectly balanced and it will still shimmy if it's out of round.

RSKY · Dec 8, 2004

I work at a factory producing tires. Have spent 31 years working there. Never buy tires of the same type and size that came on your vehicle. Tires are tested and sorted by four factors curing production, balance (vibration), radial force (bouncing up and down), lateral force (shimmey from side to side), and conicity (pulling one way or the other). Tires that meet the requirements of the auto manufacturer go to them, tires that do not meet the auto makers requirements go to replacement dealers. If you buy the same type and size that came on your vehicle you will get tires that did not quite 'make the grade'. Tires from manufacturers vary greatly in quality depending on which plant they were built in. Most of the Firestones that had to be recalled came from one plant that had been suffering labor problems for years. It was closed within two years of the recall. Do NOT but any tires from Mexico. If you do have problems with a set of tires look on the back at the serial code. The first two digits are a letter code that designates the factory where that particular tire was produced in. If you get a bad set insist that the next come from a different plant with a different code.

LBrown59 · Dec 8, 2004

My wifes uncle retired from a tire plant in Akron Ohio several years ago.

( I work at a factory producing tires. Have spent 31 years working there. Never buy tires of the same type and size that came on your vehicle. Tires are tested and sorted by four factors curing production, balance (vibration), radial force (bouncing up and down), lateral force (shimmey from side to side), and conicity (pulling one way or the other). Tires that meet the requirements of the auto manufacturer go to them, tires that do not meet the auto makers requirements go to replacement dealers. If you buy the same type and size that came on your vehicle you will get tires that did not quite 'make the grade'. Tires from manufacturers vary greatly in quality depending on which plant they were built in. Most of the Firestones that had to be recalled came from one plant that had been suffering labor problems for years. It was closed within two years of the recall. Do NOT but any tires from Mexico. If you do have problems with a set of tires look on the back at the serial code. The first two digits are a letter code that designates the factory where that particular tire was produced in. If you get a bad set insist that the next come from a different plant with a different code. )

LarryRB · Dec 8, 2004

MF1455

Just yesterday, I had my tires replaced.. I have a Dodge H.O. Cummins quad cab, 4X4 short bed,, This is the third truck to come through with Michelins on it... I don't care for the Michelin brand as they wear quickly and always felt "squirly" to me.. Yesterday they were replaced with Cooper Discover ATR 265-75 R16 10 ply (E's).. I pull a BRi-Mar 12,000 GVW trailer and several tractors for local guys besides my tractor.. We have some serious up and downs here, one at over 16%,, They are short, but hard pulls.. I believe (after asking for 2 months) that the Coopers will do me better than the Michelins. More aggressive tread pattern ( good for our snow) 50,000 mile warranty and hopefully side walls will be much stiffer than Michelin.. I picked the truck up May of 01, and just turned 39300 miles yesterday,, Wife's car went 57 thou or so on original tires,,,,

LBrown59 · Dec 8, 2004

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What do you mean by they couldn't be balanced?
Why couldn't they be balanced?

Bird · Dec 8, 2004

( One of the biggest problems that I've encountered with buying new tires is finding round ones )

I've only encountered that problem once in my lifetime and that was just one of the set of 4 Mohawk tires I bought about 35 years ago. And they gave me another new one to replace it.