Off road vs stock tires

Is it normal for off road tires to transmit a bit of vibration through the steering wheel at speeds between 55~65mph? Off road wheels ride fine below 55mph and above 65mph. Original stock wheels had no vibration. Just curious. Riding 275/55/20 Nittos on Helo HE900 wheels. Balancing is fine. Again, just curious.

 

It can be normal. Is it audible? Are your new wheels hubcentric?

 

If the vibration only happens at specific speeds, that’s a balancing issue.

 

Nitto Tera grappler...non lifted. Hmmm ..not really audible, more of a feel, steering wheel buffeting then settles at lower speeds. Otherwise, trucks feels stable.

 

Def a balancing issue. Are the wheels hubcentric?

 

Most likely a balance issue. I have 35x12.5x18 Ridge Grapplers on mine and they're smooth as butter at all speeds. Make sure the tire shop is doing a road force balance on them. If the shop doesn't have the machine to do that, take them somewhere else.

 

Hubcentric? Forgive my ignorance, but what does that mean?

 

Does the hub bore of the aftermarket wheels match the hub on the truck. If not, that’s your source of vibration and is also a major safety hazard and the number one reason aftermarket wheels sheer off the studs and you lose the wheel while driving.

 

@Sas , what exactly is a road force balance? Hows that different from a regular balance?

 

@Danman34 , Im pretty sure they do...but again forgive my ignorance, what exactly would I be seeing if they werent hubcentric?

 

A road force balancer uses a roller to put a load on the wheel and tire to simulate the weight of the vehicle being attached to it. A regular balancer just spins the wheel and tire w/o any load.

 

No gap between the wheel and the hub when you pull the center cap. The wheel should fit snug around your trucks hub.

 

@Sas , oh ok...cool thanks.

 

@Danman34 , hmm...I believe that they fit around trucks hub, but Ill have to visually verify as I cant recall from memory. Say if it turns out theyre not, can some sort of hubcentric spacer be utilized?

 

Yes. They make hubcentric rings to make up the difference. If you need them, just make sure you get metal.

 

@Danman34 , so if I understand correctly, if not hubcentric, the wheels actually rest on the studs and the wheel doesn't properly shoulder the trucks weight?

 

Correct. You want the weight on the hubs, not the studs. If it’s not hubcentric, then your studs are carrying the full load....and that’s not what they are designed to do.

 

@Danman34 , thank you so much

 

Very welcome. Your hub is 110 mm. Check the hub size of your wheel. It should be a tenth or so larger than that to fit over the hub and be hubcentric.

 

What psi are you running in those tires? Terra grappler g2 is a great tire and is pretty tame as far as tread pattern and road manners. Like others have mentioned, road force them suckers

 

@revtune , should be around 40psi...max i believe is 50psi. The road noise is actually minimal, will look into that road force balance, as well as hubcentricity mentioned by Danman34.

 

@Danman34 , are wheel hub sizes published? Stamped on the wheel perhaps? Or do i have to measure this myself, if so, how?

 

May be stamped on the back. If not check the manufacturer website and it should be listed there.

 

Looks like my balancing was slightly off. Truck runs & feels like stock now . Thank you guys for all your advice & suggestions. Man, love this truck so far

 

Glad it smoothed up.

Are your new tires e rated? If so that will cause you to feel a little more of the road. The stock tires have sidewalls made out of playdoh compared to legit LT tires

 

So it was just a balance issue? Good to hear.

Still check to make sure those wheels are hubcentric though haha.