i have a 2400lb Bigfoot on the bed of a dodge 3500 and weigh in at 12000 lbs total.I had 4 bfg all terrain at tires load range E, sway bar and air bags and it was very stable.I blew out a rear tire and replaced both rear tires with the new bfg ko2.Now my truck sways a lot on the highway. Almost felt like before I had a rear sway bar. Rear tires are aired up to the max 85lbs.Front tires are not the ko2 and have 25000 miles on them and 65lbs pressure.What do I need to do to have a stable highway ride again?Thanks!

I'd check the air bag pressure and probably reduce each of them to 20-40 lbs. My guess is the tire dealer "helped" you and added a lot of air to the air bags. The other thing to check is whether the new tires have the same load rating that the previous tires did. Range E is a range and the tire stiffness and load rating could be quite a bit less.

I switched from P rated tires to E rated BFG LT's and for the first 100 miles thought they were terrible. They seemed to settle in and am very happy with them now.

Its not uncommon for new tires to behave badly when new. But....You have the rear tires aired to 85PSI? Is that not already 5PSI over the max posted on the tires sidewalls?You have mixed tire types on the truck?You put the new tires on the rear?I think you need to drive across a set of scales to see what your weights truely are. Put the new tires on the front, unless this is a dually.Unless its a dually and even then it is likely your exceeding the RAWR, and also the trucks GVWR.

First, make sure they are "E" tires.New rubber is often soft and squishy so may need to take a few heat cool cycles to finish the setting. Know some other folks are running the new KO2 without an issue though may be they just don't notice it.Sure hope it settles out quick as I was hoping to go the KO2 when the factory tires wore out.

kohldad wrote:First, make sure they are "E" tires.New rubber is often soft and squishy so may need to take a few heat cool cycles to finish the setting. Know some other folks are running the new KO2 without an issue though may be they just don't notice it.Sure hope it settles out quick as I was hoping to go the KO2 when the factory tires wore out.I had the same issue last year with new Yokohama's AT's.. some what progressive tread. I was so unhappy with them I took a big $$ hit, sold them and bought new M&S Michelin's. I was not happy with them either..I went back to my tire dealer and told him something was wrong. He checked everything out and found no problems He checked air pressure and reduced the back from 80psi to 75psi and the front from 80psi to 70psi. He said as you drive the heat builds up the tire pressure causing the tire to kinda float on the new softer taller/thicker tread. Once we did this my truck drove much better.He has been in the business for 25 years one of the best tire guys in town. Should have bought from him first go round but tried to save a few dollars and it cost me in the end.two sets of tire in 2 months and then the Michelin's cost right at $1100 for four. the Yokohama's were like $750 a set and sold them for $500. So the $$ hit.Good luck randy

Got new rear tires and now my truck sways on the highway

12 Replies

akrv
Explorer
Apr 30, 2016
Move the fronts to the back and let the new tires harden up.
byrdr1
Explorer
Apr 30, 2016
Grit dog wrote:
Byrdr no one ripped you off on tires. Being squirmy when new and adjusting pressure to suit is just normal. Glad you got it figured out nonetheless.

Oh I know no one ripped me off, I screwed up by not getting things worked out on first set of tires.
I had michelins when I put yoko's on. Just was so unhappy with them(yoko's) I did the changing of tires. I have kicked my behind ever since. $1800 in tire expenses and only recovered 500 of it. So i was upside down as they say. I got 25K on the michlins now and they ride great when pulling the 5er. BUT i could have had the same results for my original 750 investment with a better snow and mud tire..
Lesson in life, even at my age i still screw things up from time to time.
randy
monkey44
Nomad II
Apr 30, 2016
Just put new set of BFG 285 KO2 on my 2500HD ... nothing squirmy, no rough ride, and much smoother then the stock tires that came on it. I read some have trouble with these, but not here. Smooth and true from day one, mile one, everything else is stock.

No anti-sway bar, although I have one, and might put it on if I can make it fit - the Lance weighs in a 3500 lbs, and it does sway a bit. The bar is a Roadmaster off a 2003 / 2500, so might need some modifications.
Grit_dog
Navigator III
Apr 29, 2016
Byrdr no one ripped you off on tires. Being squirmy when new and adjusting pressure to suit is just normal. Glad you got it figured out nonetheless.
Glennsgarage
Explorer
Apr 29, 2016
Wow, lots of good information, thank you!

I was at 80psi, I'll weigh the front and rear wheels and drop my tire pressure a bit.

When the tire blew it bent the rim a bit and I'm changing that out.

If I still notice sway I may rotate the new tires to the front.

I'll report back...
Ivylog
Explorer III
Apr 29, 2016
New tires and too much pressure equals a unhappy driver. Weigh the rear axle and reduce the pressure plus give it a couple hundred miles.
Grit_dog
Navigator III
Apr 29, 2016
Pretty much every new aggressive lt tire squirms when new. Even empty. Give it 1000 miles.
byrdr1
Explorer
Apr 29, 2016
kohldad wrote:
First, make sure they are "E" tires.

New rubber is often soft and squishy so may need to take a few heat cool cycles to finish the setting. Know some other folks are running the new KO2 without an issue though may be they just don't notice it.

Sure hope it settles out quick as I was hoping to go the KO2 when the factory tires wore out.

I had the same issue last year with new Yokohama's AT's.. some what progressive tread. I was so unhappy with them I took a big $$ hit, sold them and bought new M&S Michelin's. I was not happy with them either..
I went back to my tire dealer and told him something was wrong. He checked everything out and found no problems He checked air pressure and reduced the back from 80psi to 75psi and the front from 80psi to 70psi. He said as you drive the heat builds up the tire pressure causing the tire to kinda float on the new softer taller/thicker tread. Once we did this my truck drove much better.
He has been in the business for 25 years one of the best tire guys in town. Should have bought from him first go round but tried to save a few dollars and it cost me in the end.two sets of tire in 2 months and then the Michelin's cost right at $1100 for four. the Yokohama's were like $750 a set and sold them for $500. So the $$ hit.
Good luck
randy
kohldad
Explorer III
Apr 29, 2016
First, make sure they are "E" tires.

New rubber is often soft and squishy so may need to take a few heat cool cycles to finish the setting. Know some other folks are running the new KO2 without an issue though may be they just don't notice it.

Sure hope it settles out quick as I was hoping to go the KO2 when the factory tires wore out.
donn0128
Explorer II
Apr 29, 2016
Its not uncommon for new tires to behave badly when new. But....
You have the rear tires aired to 85PSI? Is that not already 5PSI over the max posted on the tires sidewalls?
You have mixed tire types on the truck?
You put the new tires on the rear?
I think you need to drive across a set of scales to see what your weights truely are.
Put the new tires on the front, unless this is a dually.
Unless its a dually and even then it is likely your exceeding the RAWR, and also the trucks GVWR.