Help, my new BF Goodrich KO's are beating me to death.

[Tbird45]

'05 V8 SR5, stock suspension with new BF Goodrich KO's, 265/65R 17's, Load Range E with about 6,000 miles on them now. I'm running 44 pounds in them, but they are literally beating me and my 4Runner up. No give at all, a lot shake and shimmy and if I hit a pot hole or any type of bump, it jars me to the bone. I've been back to Discount Tire and they are no help at all. I'm thinking that because they are Load Range E's, that is why they are so stiff?

Anyway, great forum and any help or suggestions are appreciated. I'm about ready to buy something else and put them on Craig's List.

 

[4Running Daily]

Lower your tire pressure to like 36 pounds. But yes, load E makes them very stiff.

 

[LTDSC]

E load is why, i run 35PSI in my tires but they're standard range.

 

[Matt fe2o3]

I just put the same BGF's on my 4Runner (06' V8 Sport) two weeks ago and on my 08' Tundra this week. I run both vehicles at 50 PSI.

On the 4Runner it is a stiffer ride and does jumble a little but nothing bone jarring. I have the X-REAS suspension, perhaps that helps out on the 4Runner.

On the Tundra they seem quite normal.

 

[JB.]

Go to 40 psi. If that doesn't do it go to 35. If that doesn't do it, stop lowering pressure and investigate the suspension.

If you're that sensitive to harshness, you should go to a P-metric AT (P265/65/17) and/or consider going to a 70 series tire with a taller sidewall (265/70/17). Many or even most people run that size and the tires are usually cheaper and more widely available. It changes the odo and speedo a little but most people don't care.

 

[gshadow325]

Guys lowering your tire pressure is not a good thing. You need to make sure you have a properly inflated tire to have proper tire wear. Under inflated tire will prematurely wear out the shoulders. Over inflated will wear it the center. I run these tires in 285.65 18 and I have a fresh suspension. I too have about 8000 miles on my set. No complaints like you have. You need to replace your worn suspension.

Also, the shake will not go away if they did not un bead the tire when it went in for rebalanced. The tire is out of round on the wheel already.

 

[ebg18t]

Is there a reason you opted for the load range E version versus something lighter? Load range E are above the requirements for the 4Runner. You can try lowering the psi a tad as mentioned earlier but you need to expect a certain 'stiffness' that is associated with running E's.

 

[Matt fe2o3]

For myself its the xtra sidewall protection and the durability of the tire as a whole. I actually would have rather gone with BFG MT's however they are not great in the rain, by comparison.

We have a lot of camping and off road planned for next few years so for us it was the sensible choice.

 

[TOY2G]

I run load range E Tires also. I run them at 33PSI all 4 corners.
It is printed on the side of the tire the MAX PSI. Max PSI refers to the pressure you would run if the tire was carrying its MAX load. It is far from the max load on your 4runner. People on here are mistakenly giving you advise about lowering the pressure in your tire. The E rated tire does not react like the P metric tire the trucks are designed to run, so lowering and increasing the pressure does not effect the contact pattern of the tire like it would on a C rated tire.

Some people read the side of the tire and see MAX PSI and assume that is what you need to run. It is not always the case. For instance a 1993 4runner running the same tire as a 2014 4runner will not have to run as high of tire pressure to achieve the exact same contact pattern.

So, in short, drop your PSI to between 30-35. You WILL notice a difference. If your suspension is having trouble dealing with your new (much Higer) un-sprung weight you may need to replace some worn components.

Also worth mentioning, your new MPGs are not going to be any better than your ride. The extra 10lbs per tire is going to make a big difference.

But on the plus side, the E rated tires (if you drive a lot of highway mile) will wear much longer than the P metric tires.

 

[KidVermicious]

Web wheelers that want to put on big boy tires need to be ready for their big boy truck to ride like a big boy truck.

 

[gshadow325]

Web wheelers that want to put on big boy tires need to be ready for their big boy truck to ride like a big boy truck.

agreed with you and [MENTION=64685]TOY2G[/MENTION]

considering a 05 should be somewhere in the 100k range by now. it has a worn suspension, not completely worn but enough. now with new tires and added unsprung weight, add in a tire with a stiffer sidewall, more plys.... the suspension problems will be noticed more.

I have plenty of customers that put on 24's on a 03 tahoe with 165k on it and say "yo put on dem rimz on my whip and fuk dup my ride. now my shiz be rattlin" <---idiots, but they be lookin fly.

 

[scw1991]

My rule is to adjust air pressure accordingly to achieve maximum tread life. I had a K1500 GMC with Wrangler TDs or BFG All Terrain's And typically ran them at 30 psi and got about 45,000 miles out of each set.

 

[thatoneguy]

i run like 30-32psi on M/T's for the past two years. This too low or something?

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I run this same size tire on my 4th gen but in load range C. It rides about like stock tires. I run 36 psi. My friend had the same tire in load range E and it rode much rougher. There really is no need for a load range E on a 4runner.

 

[KidVermicious]

i run like 30-32psi on M/T's for the past two years. This too low or something?

I don't think so. I've been running about 35 for a couple years now and my tires are wearing perfect.

There really is no need for a load range E on a mall crawler.

Fixed that for ya.

Which might be a bit snarky, but you get my point. There's a time and place for E-rated tires, but not on a truck that doesn't need them.

 

[Tbird45]

Thanks for the mostly constructive feedback. Buying the Load E tires was an oversight on my part. I needed the tires before elk hunting in November and bought them the day before I left and was in a hurry to get out of town. I lowered them to 35 PSI today and that made a difference. I was running 44 pounds based on Discount Tires recommendation and after reading some posts here on the issue, basically 12 pounds over the recommended pressure of 32.

I have a 192,000 miles on it and although new shocks recently, I suspect some other parts are worn so that will be next.

If that doesn't work I'll sell them and make sure I buy Load range C's.

And for those comments about being a web wheeler and a mall crawler, I'm born and raised in Colorado and have been wheeling here since the early 70's, first in a Willy's CJ3B, then a '73 FJ 40, and then a '84 FJ60 doing all the major trails in Colorado. I put 200,000 miles on my '01 3rd gen and will easily eclipse 225,000 or more on this 4th gen.

Thanks again.

 

[RallyBud]

Web wheelers that want to put on big boy tires need to be ready for their big boy truck to ride like a big boy truck.

Flex those IP muscles!!

 

[hearno]

I have plenty of customers that put on 24's on a 03 tahoe with 165k on it and say "yo put on dem rimz on my whip and fuk dup my ride. now my shiz be rattlin" <---idiots, but they be lookin fly.

Isn't that what it's all about?