Tire vibration

N

NachesPass4x4

Member
I have a situation Id like to get some thoughts on. 2000 4runner sr5 5speed.

I purchased a set of Yokohama Geolander MT's, 265/75R16 E load. I have a bad pulsing vibration at different speeds starting around 50mph. 4th or 5th gear, doesn't matter. I swapped on my Dads BFG AT's E load and the vibration went away. Manager of discount says pulsing vibration it's common with E rated tires on 4runner's and Taco's and suggests I switch to Passenger load M/T Baja boss AT's. M/T told me they don't recommend the passenger load for the terrain I'll be in. I'm trying to decide what to do. I really want to keep my Yokohama G003's but this pulsing vibe is going to be hard to live with. I've had the tires balanced 4 times since I bought them but I'm having a hard time buying that this isn't a bad tire or a balance issue. I put my tires on my Dads 04 Taco and it shook pretty bad at highway speed.

The manager of discount road forced them on friday. One of the rear tires has 6 ounces on it and he said it road forced at 18. The rest have around 2 ounces. The vibration feels like it comes from the back to me. I'm suspicious of that tire. The other rear tire was replaced after I bought them because it road forced at 48.
 
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The manager is lying or mistaken when telling you that E-range tires are problematic with 4Runners and Tacomas. Possibilities: The tires are defective and the manager is resisting returning them to the distributor, or the shop is incompetent at balancing.
I've had two sets of BFG KO2s and one single Cooper STMaxx on my 97. All were stock size (265/70-16), E rated and presented no balancing issues. I've never read here (in 13 years) of the slightly larger 265/75-16s having balancing issues. I suggest going above that manager's head to the regional level or Yokohama itself. Or demand a refund, since they are unable to fulfill their promise the "balance the tires".
Then pick a new tire store.
BTW, the current issue BFG AT/KO3s (in the 265/70-16 size) are now load range D instead of E! I'm very pleased that I'll kiss the lumber truck ride of the E rated tires goodbye on my next tire change.
 
pluton said:
The manager is lying or mistaken when telling you that E-range tires are problematic with 4Runners and Tacomas. Possibilities: The tires are defective and the manager is resisting returning them to the distributor, or the shop is incompetent at balancing.
I've had two sets of BFG KO2s and one single Cooper STMaxx on my 97. All were stock size (265/70-16), E rated and presented no balancing issues. I've never read here (in 13 years) of the slightly larger 265/75-16s having balancing issues. I suggest going above that manager's head to the regional level or Yokohama itself. Or demand a refund, since they are unable to fulfill their promise the "balance the tires".
Then pick a new tire store.
BTW, the current issue BFG AT/KO3s (in the 265/70-16 size) are now load range D instead of E! I'm very pleased that I'll kiss the lumber truck ride of the E rated tires goodbye on my next tire change.
Click to expand...
Everyone I've talked to confirms what you are saying. In this size, range E is what's most available and seems to be what most people are running.
The manager is being cool. He Tried rebalancing them himself and my problem persists. He has offered to let me exchange. At this point I'm considering going with a different tire. Looking at the ST Maxx in E load and the Baja boss AT in standard load. 55lbs vs 42 lbs but Im worried about the standard loads holding up to the terrain I run in.
 
What terrain do you run in? I occasionally visit our local Mojave Desert and more occasionally visit N. Arizona/So Utah. The big concern is sharp rocks and sticks that can punch though a standard thin sidewall. Hence the thicker, tougher 3=ply sidewall of the BFG ATKO or ST Maxx is appealing. I've seen casual adventurers with P rated tires come back from a 1 hour trail run with 2 flats. My 2022 ST Maxx tire (running on the rear) doesn't have as much siping on the tread blocks as the BFG ATKOs do. I think they'd be less than ideal for highway use in the rain on our relatively light trucks. But they appear super-tough and I'd expect no trail-caused tire failures from them. Why not BFG ATKO3 tires?
 
E-load isn't the reason, plenty of us run them with no shake. A road force of 48 on a replacement tire is high though, and 6 oz on one corner says that tire or wheel has something going on. Ask them to match mount the bad ones, meaning spin the tire on the wheel so the tire's high spot lines up with the wheel's low spot. If the number doesn't drop, have them check the bare wheel for runout. Easy test at home: put the worst one up front. If the shake moves into the steering wheel, you found it. Since they're fairly new, Yokohama may cover a tire with a ride complaint early in the tread life. Worth a call.
 
UPDATE

I am exchanging the Yokohama MT's for Baja boss AT E load. The Baja boss AT may be a better choice anyway, assuming they have much better pavement traction. We will see If they solve the problem.

I'm In Washington state and will be doing a lot of exploring in the mountains. Abandoned mining roads, some actual trails and I like to get a bit adventurous. Lots of sharp rocks, roots, sticks to encounter.

I am on stock wheels and I do wonder if they are just not getting a good enough balance because of that. It's hard to tell the tire shop how to do their job when I am no expert.
I will be insisting Discount Tire road force balance from the start. Do you guys think Toyota would know how to properly balance 2000 4runner wheels?
 
I run the baja boss at and really like them, they are heavy though. Good road manners, good rain/wet traction (remember its not a sports car), great offroad traction. It's a wash if toyota will know or still have the adapters to do that type of balance. Might need to call a few places.
 
2TH4IST said:
I run the baja boss at and really like them, they are heavy though. Good road manners, good rain/wet traction (remember its not a sports car), great offroad traction. It's a wash if toyota will know or still have the adapters to do that type of balance. Might need to call a few places.
Click to expand...
Awesome, looks like you are running the same size. Good to know I wont be the only one running them on a 3rd gen and that they work well.
If Discount cant get them dialed in, I found a shop that looks worth trying. They do road force and even have a setup to balance them on the vehicle.
 
I'm running a 265/75 r16, sorry I didn't state that in my post. Haven't had any issues with them in the last 3 years I have owned them. When I hit the trails I air down to 12-15psi. They are e rated but I don't notice a ride difference from the ht passenger (highway tread) tires I had replaced with these.

My next set will be cookie cutters 255/85 or75 w/17 inch rims. But if this stupid tire ban doesn't get eliminated I'll be forced to 35's which I don't want to run but are exempt for the "fuel saving" tire regulations. I'll probably move out of Cali before I replace my tires though.
 
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