Last weekend we had the local tire shop replace our 8 year old tires (size 7.50R16) with a set of Cooper Discovery HT (235/85R16). Driving home from the tire shop (DiscountTire.com) it became immediately apparent that something was amiss... the steering wheel was shuddering back and forth and the sun visor above the drivers seat was fluttering like a butterfly's wing.Back to the shop. Later, they called and apologized saying all the tires were out of balance. Picked up the MH later that evening and things still weren't quite right. Off to another Discount Tire who balanced the tires once again... closer to smooth but still a bit out of wack. Back to the second shop again who then recalibrated their machine and spent considerable time and effort getting all six tires 'as close to perfect as we can get them'.We still have a bit of a 'balance problem'... however, now I'm not quite sure it's a balance issue. Is there another explanation as to why the new tires would act this way (i.e. new rubber getting a better bite on the road than the old, hard tires?)Also, I'm considering installing 5 oz of Dyna Beads in each of the tires to see if'n this helps (I run DB's in my motorcycle tires and am satisfied with how they work in this application)

Low tire pressure and worn shocks can produce some of those the same symptoms. Other than that, the only other reason I can think of for the tires to act like that is a manufacturing defect. The tires could be "out of round". I don't know how they would fix something like that.

Could be a lot of things. At this point i think i would get it to a truck alignment shop and have the front end alignment going through just to be sure. Then if its still not right take it back. I had one vehicle that did not like one brand of tires. Switched to a different brand and it was as smooth as glass.

Do a search on Cooper tires and you will see where another person just had the same problem with the same tire......His findings, OUT of round. Cooper was just sold to an Indian company and it appears they are now going down the drain rapidly.

I had that happen to me once and it was "out of round" defective tires as already mentioned.

New tires will grab more than old tires. With that being said, without being there, my first suspicion is worn bell crank(s).

New tires and new 'wobble' | Good Sam Community

J-Rooster
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
randallb wrote:
If the problem showed up after the tire replacement the tires are the problem. Your old tires would have been much more likely to cause a shake/shimmy than the new ones. Request another brand and never make a tire decision based on price.
Randy
Randy, I agree with your post! I'm price sensitive since I retired, but I won't buy a cheaper product for my vehicles, when it comes to stopping or steering. My life depends on a good set of steer tires and brakes.
J-Rooster
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
I experienced a couple times when I was a kid a long time ago! Once one of the lead weight bars came off the rim the other time I had a bent tire rim on the inside. Good Luck, and please report back when you find the problem I'm interested in tire problems.
Don_Don
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
Out of round, no tire and I mean no tire is completly round. Have mine trued when I buy and ride like I am on a sheet of glass.
randallb
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
If the problem showed up after the tire replacement the tires are the problem. Your old tires would have been much more likely to cause a shake/shimmy than the new ones. Request another brand and never make a tire decision based on price.
Randy
ghostrider42
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
The Texan wrote:
Do a search on Cooper tires and you will see where another person just had the same problem with the same tire......His findings, OUT of round. Cooper was just sold to an Indian company and it appears they are now going down the drain rapidly.

If the tire is out of round, it would be found to be so by any competent tire dealer worth a damn. It may not be the tires, as much as the steel wheels, which why most HD trucks have Alcoa wheels.
Archie_Kravitz
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
If they are steel wheels, they might of bent them in the tire machine. Happens all the time to the Ford steel rims. Jack the front up and spin them, you'll see it.
Coyote74
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
If your tires lasted 3 yrs with no problem, than you probably have had the weights slide on the rim if a high speed balance was done originaly. other then that you better check for a belt starting to separate. you might want to put a square edge to the tread and see if it rolls like in egg shape or bulge. and do side of tire wall to. that should tell ya. they didn't use calcium bag balance or bead balance did they? I've seen the bags not burst and spread around the tire like its suppose to do.
Carvin_Marvin
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
Look for what I call the "bead ring" on the tire. It should be equal distance all around the tire ON BOTH SIDES. Mine came from the factory with both fronts not seated. New ones were installed and paid for by Lazy Days in Florida. It had 1100 miles on at that time. Good Luck.
eHoefler
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2013
Look at the tire where it is mounted on the rim. Pay particular close attention to the markings on the tire around the bead. Make sure the markings are evenly spaced from the edge of the rim. The tire may not be centered on the rim. I have had this happen to me at my very reputable tire dealer, I watch the tire monkeys mount and balance ALL my tires, this particular monkey dry mounted all my tires. I had a severe vibration, turned around and went back to the dealer. I looked at the tires and knew exactly what happened. I showed this to the owner and explained how they where mounted. He promptly had all my tires dismounted and remounted properly!
down_home
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2013
When I said factories I meant auto producers. They won't sell a whole lot of cars that wobble or bang up and down fight off the Dealers' lots.

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