Interesting. I had my front swaybar removed the same day I had my Cooper STT Pro's installed, and ever since I've had a wicked pull to driver's side and have been trying to determine the source ever since. I'm talking 50-100yds at 65mph and you'd be in the ditch kind of pull. Really didn't think of attributing it to my tire selection(more steering or frame alignment), but the timing would definitely make sense.
Care to elaborate on your experience or link to a post or thread where you've discussed it before?
I have a few RFQ's out to different vendors for the 285/75R17 flavor of the Ridge Grapplers and Falken A/T3w's, and it would be a huge bonus if, in addition to cutting noise and fuel consumption, they also helped remedy this crazy pull I've been experiencing.
Cheers!
Definitely don't mind discussing it.
In short, I could let go of the wheel on the highway and make a lane change or exit regardless of my 4 alignments and psi.
gm350reratliff told me about the cross caster numbers of about 1.2* on his 4th gen and I thought about getting it aligned again with more cross caster as last resort. But I couldn't go through the hassle. I was done with these tires after only 8000 miles and less than a year.
Loved the ST Maxx's the moment I got them. Looked great. I never thought much of the pull because I always adjusted my front end height. More than several times in the initial month. Finally after a month of having the tires, got it aligned. Wasn't happy with the results. Shop A gave me more than 5* of caster and the pull to the right was just as bad. Got my money back and took it to a different shop.
Shop B did great and gave me numbers most of everyone would expect and say to get on here. They test drove it, put it back on the lift and swapped the tires. They explained to me that the pull was more minimal after doing so, so it's more than likely a tire pull as their boss has the same tire. I didn't want to believe it and I figured it was excuses. But it did feel great on the road. The pull was slightly there but much better.
I only drive 150 miles a week for work and in 2 weeks the pull was noticeably back.
I was about to take my first trip of about 100 miles to an off road park. I swapped the front two tires and headed out. Handling was great and pull was very minimal again. Sucked it up and figured I was being too picky. Maybe this is what comes with owning a vehicle like this.
Fast forward, more suspension adjustments.
Shop C gave me great numbers. Caster was 3.8 and 4.1. Pull was still there. He also noticed my axle was 3/4" off to the right due to my lift and maybe that could be causing it. I started researching here about adjustable panhard bars but found it wasn't needed for my lift height.
They told me if I'm not happy with it, come on back and they'll adjust it again no charge. They hand tightened everything while I specifically asked for 129ft-lb on the lower control arms. I figured whatever, maybe it'll be fine. Still had a pull. Decided to deal with it as I had another trip coming up to the off-road park with some buddies.
I had a lot of popping noises while at the off road park and I knew it was that driver side lower control arm bolt.
Went back to Shop C and they fixed it, torqued it, with a slight bit more adjustments in caster (3.8 and 4.2). During my drive home from the Shop C, the driver side popped one time again while I was making a u-turn. I couldn't believe it. I saw him torque it down to 130 ft-lbs so I couldn't figure it out. I was able to turn it another bit with my torque wrench at home and I called them immediately. It either came down to his torque wrench wasn't calibrated, or something could have been wrong with my eccentric bolts. I left it alone as it still drove better with the numbers he initially gave me, although that pop probably threw something off.
Over the course of the next 2 months, I didn't notice any negative impact in my tires.
I started playing with tire pressures ranging from 32 to 42psi. The higher it got, the straighter it went, but more inside tire wear for the front.
Settled on 35psi with even wear. It was easy to keep the vehicle straight, but I had to point the wheel to the left by half an inch. I sucked it up and left it alone.
Still tolerating the alignment as it was easy to handle on the highway. Again, I just had to hold my wheel more to the left by half an inch. I was used to it at this point.
I started researching into tire pulls and slowly started finding more and more evidence of tire pulls with ST Maxx's. Members from here, TacomaWorld, and a Jeep Wrangler forum.
I went to Discount the next day told them my story and asked them what could be done. One member helped me out and knew it was an issue, heard of a lot of complaints due to the tread and completely understood. He threw a number at me that I was happy with, went in two days later to get them mounted and manager said they made a mistake and I'd be paying $200 more. Wasn't happy with this so they at least credited me for one of my alignments.
Driving away from the store was the best it had felt. No pull, quiet, and smooth at 40psi. After about a week now and they still feel great. Sometimes a bit twitchy around 40-50mph, my guess is the road imperfections around here, but highway speeds are great. No negative tire wear but I do plan on getting maybe one more alignment with these just to be certain. But I don't want to jinx it.
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