Does the Toyo ATIII's with a 115/SL load rating have balancing issues?

Something_Awesome

Something_Awesome

New member
So, there are lots of discussions on various forums about people having balancing issues with the Toyo AT3's. However, not a single person ever mentions the load rating of the tire they are using. One person will complain that they can't get the tire to balance after 3 shop visits, then they get a replacement tire in, and still not getting it to balance after a fourth visit. Another will reply and say they had the same problem. Then like three other people chime in saying they have AT3's and have never had an issue. But nobody ever mentions the load rating.

My suspicion is that the balancing issue is strictly with the 115 load-rated tire. Anyone with the 115 (SL) rated AT3's can confirm? If it is not a problem specific to the 115 rated tires, then it's just a few people getting unlucky. I want the 115 rated tire and don't want to deal with this hassle of having multiple visits to a tire shop for like three straight Saturdays. In that case I'll just go with 115 rated Defenders and call it a day.
 
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Virtually all AT tires present balancing problems for the Toyota 4Runner. It is the result of larger block tread. Road force balancing can reduce or eliminate.

Recently had Cooper AT3s where road force balancing eliminated most of the steering vibration at 60-72 mph. Tires wore out and I threw on a set of used ORP wheels with the OEM Dunlop highway tires at 50% tread life and no steering wheel vibration. Have gone through at least 4 sets of Cooper AT3s and every one of them had balancing issues. Welcome to the temperamental 4Runner.
 
CutthroatSlam said:
Virtually all AT tires present balancing problems for the Toyota 4Runner. It is the result of larger block tread. Road force balancing can reduce or eliminate.

Recently had Cooper AT3s where road force balancing eliminated most of the steering vibration at 60-72 mph. Tires wore out and I threw on a set of used ORP wheels with the OEM Dunlop highway tires at 50% tread life and no steering wheel vibration. Have gone through at least 4 sets of Cooper AT3s and every one of them had balancing issues. Welcome to the temperamental 4Runner.
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Ok, but I have not heard a single complaint about the E-load Toyo ATIII's. Everyone says they are perfect. I also have not heard a single issue with regard to Cooper's A/T tire.

Also, I think almost all places use Road Force balancing be default these days.
 
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I have a theory on balancing.

There has to be a contributing factor for the tires having such a low chance of success of being balanced specifically on a 4Runner.

I am thinking it has to do with suspension having such little positive caster adjustment. Similar to how a grocery cart’s front wheels can literally spin a 360 hitting the slightest imperfection.

I’ve said this before but maybe someone can confirm or dispel:

The low caster situation presents a highly unstable setting for wheels that may balance on the machine, but are still presenting symptoms of imbalance on the road.

Road force balancing may (or may not) correct this. For the ones that don’t, understand that even the road force balance does NOT include the iffy geometry of our OEM suspensions.

The people who have been failed by both, may fall into a third category in which, the weights may line up on axis with the readings of the machine, and pass the test, but the position of the added wheel WEIGHT is so off (a different axis) from the actual tire imperfection that it alllows a judder that is only exacerbated to noticeable levels in a low caster situation.

Those who have failed both types of balancing, have you tried old school clip on weights vs glue on low profile, and even old school weights on the INNER edge of the wheel?

Backspacing on our wheels is different than a lot of vehicles and I wonder if that is a factor for weight placement, too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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Something_Awesome said:
Ok, but I have not heard a single complaint about the E-load Toyo ATIII's. Everyone says they are perfect. I also have not heard a single issue with regard to Cooper's A/T tire.

Also, I think almost all places use Road Force balancing be default these days.
Click to expand...

2014 SR5 with 296K miles and we’ve gone through 4 sets of Cooper AT3s and every single one of them had balancing issues. So you heard it here and I’ve got more experience with this than most. I just haven’t been on here perpetually complaining about it. And no, not all places use Road Force balancing. Also, just because a shop does have the equipment does not mean they know how to do it right.
 
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I purchased a set of the (OEM 115/SL sized) ATIIIs in February at the local Discount Tire.

Was out of there in an hour with no issues whatsoever since.
 
I had a set of SL 285/70/17 AT3’s on my 4Runner for a few months. No balance issues. Went back to 265’s for a few other reasons that had nothing to do with the quality of the AT3’s.
 
Something_Awesome said:
So, there are lots of discussions on various forums about people having balancing issues with the Toyo AT3's. However, not a single person ever mentions the load rating of the tire they are using. One person will complain that they can't get the tire to balance after 3 shop visits, then they get a replacement tire in, and still not getting it to balance after a fourth visit. Another will reply and say they had the same problem. Then like three other people chime in saying they have AT3's and have never had an issue. But nobody ever mentions the load rating.

My suspicion is that the balancing issue is strictly with the 115 load-rated tire. Anyone with the 115 (SL) rated AT3's can confirm? If it is not a problem specific to the 115 rated tires, then it's just a few people getting unlucky. I want the 115 rated tire and don't want to deal with this hassle of having multiple visits to a tire shop for like three straight Saturdays. In that case I'll just go with 115 rated Defenders and call it a day.
Click to expand...

OP,

I can confirm without a doubt less than 2 months ago I purchase brand New Toyo ATIII from Discount Tire SL. They could not get them to balance, I had the 55-65mph shake. They ordered me 2 more tires, swapped the front ones out, same problem. I have a 22 ORP with 200 miles on it when I purchases the AT3's. They didn't work out for me. I purchased factory sized tires. I went with the Cooper Rugged Trek's, perfect the first time.
 
Predatorsniper2005 said:
OP,

I can confirm without a doubt less than 2 months ago I purchase brand New Toyo ATIII from Discount Tire SL. They could not get them to balance, I had the 55-65mph shake. They ordered me 2 more tires, swapped the front ones out, same problem. I have a 22 ORP with 200 miles on it when I purchases the AT3's. They didn't work out for me. I purchased factory sized tires. I went with the Cooper Rugged Trek's, perfect the first time.
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Yikes. I just ordered the tires this morning. 22 ORP with KDSS. OE size. Will report back this weekend as to whether or not the AT3's shake. I bought from America's Tire, which is essentially discount tire.

I am going to be extremely bummed if these tires don't work out. These tires seem to do exactly what I want from a tire. If these don't work out, I'll be going with the Michelin Defenders (all-season). I know it's a different category of tire, but Michelin has always been my preferred brand and every reviewer says that the defenders Punch in to the all-terrain class. That's great, but the AT3's are sexier.

EDIT: What kind of wheels did you mount the AT3's to? OE Wheels? TRD Pro wheels? Aftermarket?
 
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Something_Awesome said:
Yikes. I just ordered the tires this morning. 22 ORP with KDSS. OE size. Will report back this weekend as to whether or not the AT3's shake. I bought from America's Tire, which is essentially discount tire.

I am going to be extremely bummed if these tires don't work out. These tires seem to do exactly what I want from a tire. If these don't work out, I'll be going with the Michelin Defenders (all-season). I know it's a different category of tire, but Michelin has always been my preferred brand and every reviewer says that the defenders Punch in to the all-terrain class. That's great, but the AT3's are sexier.

EDIT: What kind of wheels did you mount the AT3's to? OE Wheels? TRD Pro wheels? Aftermarket?
Click to expand...

If you read this forum enough you will realize that every all terrain tire is either amazing or it sucks, slides in rain or it doesn't, or it balances or it doesn't. Best to just get what you want and pray the Neanderthals mounting and balancing them know what they're doing.
 
Something_Awesome said:
Yikes. I just ordered the tires this morning. 22 ORP with KDSS. OE size. Will report back this weekend as to whether or not the AT3's shake. I bought from America's Tire, which is essentially discount tire.

I am going to be extremely bummed if these tires don't work out. These tires seem to do exactly what I want from a tire. If these don't work out, I'll be going with the Michelin Defenders (all-season). I know it's a different category of tire, but Michelin has always been my preferred brand and every reviewer says that the defenders Punch in to the all-terrain class. That's great, but the AT3's are sexier.

EDIT: What kind of wheels did you mount the AT3's to? OE Wheels? TRD Pro wheels? Aftermarket?
Click to expand...

So my ORP came with the Black TRD Pro Wheels (I love them). I hope it works out. I'm just thankful the customer service from Discount Tire here, it took 4-5 times to get this remediated. I was super bummed about the AT3's as well, that is the tire I thought would fit all my wants...GL and keep us posted!
 
Something_Awesome said:
I have posted this on this forum before, but I am feeling very confident that the issue is referenced in this Technical Bulletin by Toyo:

https://www.toyotires.com/media/0gmnzfwb/tsd-12-015_tips_tire_rim_slip_vibration_complain.pdf
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So, I reviewed this as well and spoke to my Tire Tech about this at DT. They don't use a ton of lube when installing larger AT tires, that is more for large wheels with low profile tires, where the extra lube becomes a thing. But there is a dot on the new AT3's so you can ask your tire store to line those up where your TPMS sensors come through the wheel, HOWEVER: DT uses a more advanced system to balance tires (Road Force Balancing). So if the wheel or tire is a little "out of round" the machine will have the technician spin the tire to orientate the tire to help lower the amount of weight needed to balance the tire.
 
Pedro367 said:
If you read this forum enough you will realize that every all terrain tire is either amazing or it sucks, slides in rain or it doesn't, or it balances or it doesn't. Best to just get what you want and pray the Neanderthals mounting and balancing them know what they're doing.
Click to expand...

This is why I advocate for DT, they will continue to do whatever it takes to make it right, to make sure your experience is stellar. I went through 2 sets of AT3's then went with the Coopers...
 
Captain Spalding said:
I’ll look forward to that report. I’ve been considering the Toyos as well.
Click to expand...

I'll be using the America's Tire in Granada Hills/Northridge. That has always been my preferred America's Tire. Never seemed to like the others much.

So if it works out, you may want to go to the Granada Hills/Northridge America's Tire on Balboa.
 
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