97 jeep wrangler mismatched tires causing steering problem??
 

Wondering if anyone could help me out here. I just got 2 new tires (BFG
AT 30 x 9.5) put on the back of my jeep. I kept the 2 old ones
(previously from the back) and put them on the front. also 30 x 9.5's.
even though there is some tread wear the tire guy said they should be
good for another 5-10,000 miles.

In addition, when they went to do an alignment, they said I need new
ball joints.

The problem now is that when I'm steering the jeep I feel like it is
wandering a little bit, and not taking corners well at all. feels like
the back end wants to slide out.

So, my question is, is this a ball joint problem, alignment, or the
tires not being matched up or all of the above. What should I get done
first? I am on a budget, which is why I opted for only 2 tires, instead
of all 4.

Re: 97 jeep wrangler mismatched tires causing steering problem??
 

"bspear78" <bspear78@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1163604960.249333.190820@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Wondering if anyone could help me out here. I just got 2 new tires (BFG
> AT 30 x 9.5) put on the back of my jeep. I kept the 2 old ones
> (previously from the back) and put them on the front. also 30 x 9.5's.
> even though there is some tread wear the tire guy said they should be
> good for another 5-10,000 miles.
>
> In addition, when they went to do an alignment, they said I need new
> ball joints.
>
> The problem now is that when I'm steering the jeep I feel like it is
> wandering a little bit, and not taking corners well at all. feels like
> the back end wants to slide out.
>
> So, my question is, is this a ball joint problem, alignment, or the
> tires not being matched up or all of the above. What should I get done
> first? I am on a budget, which is why I opted for only 2 tires, instead
> of all 4.
>

Ball Joints first. It's a safety item. Also, you cannot properly align the
front end with bad ball joints.

Alignment second.

Tires third. No point in putting on new tires with bad ball joints or out of
alignment.

Re: 97 jeep wrangler mismatched tires causing steering problem??
 

"bspear78" <bspear78@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1163604960.249333.190820@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Wondering if anyone could help me out here. I just got 2 new tires (BFG
> AT 30 x 9.5) put on the back of my jeep. I kept the 2 old ones
> (previously from the back) and put them on the front. also 30 x 9.5's.
> even though there is some tread wear the tire guy said they should be
> good for another 5-10,000 miles.
>
> In addition, when they went to do an alignment, they said I need new
> ball joints.
>
> The problem now is that when I'm steering the jeep I feel like it is
> wandering a little bit, and not taking corners well at all. feels like
> the back end wants to slide out.
>
> So, my question is, is this a ball joint problem, alignment, or the
> tires not being matched up or all of the above. What should I get done
> first? I am on a budget, which is why I opted for only 2 tires, instead
> of all 4.
>

Ball Joints first. It's a safety item. Also, you cannot properly align the
front end with bad ball joints.

Alignment second.

Tires third. No point in putting on new tires with bad ball joints or out of
alignment.

Re: 97 jeep wrangler mismatched tires causing steering problem??
 

"bspear78" <bspear78@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1163604960.249333.190820@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Wondering if anyone could help me out here. I just got 2 new tires (BFG
> AT 30 x 9.5) put on the back of my jeep. I kept the 2 old ones
> (previously from the back) and put them on the front. also 30 x 9.5's.
> even though there is some tread wear the tire guy said they should be
> good for another 5-10,000 miles.
>
> In addition, when they went to do an alignment, they said I need new
> ball joints.
>
> The problem now is that when I'm steering the jeep I feel like it is
> wandering a little bit, and not taking corners well at all. feels like
> the back end wants to slide out.
>
> So, my question is, is this a ball joint problem, alignment, or the
> tires not being matched up or all of the above. What should I get done
> first? I am on a budget, which is why I opted for only 2 tires, instead
> of all 4.
>

Ball Joints first. It's a safety item. Also, you cannot properly align the
front end with bad ball joints.

Alignment second.

Tires third. No point in putting on new tires with bad ball joints or out of
alignment.

Re: 97 jeep wrangler mismatched tires causing steering problem??
 

Thanks Steve, makes sense. I'm also running at 25 PSI all around. Is
that a good pressure? I was trying to get more traction by lowering the
PSI.

Steve Foley wrote:
> "bspear78" <bspear78@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1163604960.249333.190820@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> > Wondering if anyone could help me out here. I just got 2 new tires (BFG
> > AT 30 x 9.5) put on the back of my jeep. I kept the 2 old ones
> > (previously from the back) and put them on the front. also 30 x 9.5's.
> > even though there is some tread wear the tire guy said they should be
> > good for another 5-10,000 miles.
> >
> > In addition, when they went to do an alignment, they said I need new
> > ball joints.
> >
> > The problem now is that when I'm steering the jeep I feel like it is
> > wandering a little bit, and not taking corners well at all. feels like
> > the back end wants to slide out.
> >
> > So, my question is, is this a ball joint problem, alignment, or the
> > tires not being matched up or all of the above. What should I get done
> > first? I am on a budget, which is why I opted for only 2 tires, instead
> > of all 4.
> >
>
> Ball Joints first. It's a safety item. Also, you cannot properly align the
> front end with bad ball joints.
>
> Alignment second.
>
> Tires third. No point in putting on new tires with bad ball joints or out of
> alignment.

Re: 97 jeep wrangler mismatched tires causing steering problem??
 

Thanks Steve, makes sense. I'm also running at 25 PSI all around. Is
that a good pressure? I was trying to get more traction by lowering the
PSI.

Steve Foley wrote:
> "bspear78" <bspear78@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1163604960.249333.190820@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> > Wondering if anyone could help me out here. I just got 2 new tires (BFG
> > AT 30 x 9.5) put on the back of my jeep. I kept the 2 old ones
> > (previously from the back) and put them on the front. also 30 x 9.5's.
> > even though there is some tread wear the tire guy said they should be
> > good for another 5-10,000 miles.
> >
> > In addition, when they went to do an alignment, they said I need new
> > ball joints.
> >
> > The problem now is that when I'm steering the jeep I feel like it is
> > wandering a little bit, and not taking corners well at all. feels like
> > the back end wants to slide out.
> >
> > So, my question is, is this a ball joint problem, alignment, or the
> > tires not being matched up or all of the above. What should I get done
> > first? I am on a budget, which is why I opted for only 2 tires, instead
> > of all 4.
> >
>
> Ball Joints first. It's a safety item. Also, you cannot properly align the
> front end with bad ball joints.
>
> Alignment second.
>
> Tires third. No point in putting on new tires with bad ball joints or out of
> alignment.

Re: 97 jeep wrangler mismatched tires causing steering problem??
 

Thanks Steve, makes sense. I'm also running at 25 PSI all around. Is
that a good pressure? I was trying to get more traction by lowering the
PSI.

Steve Foley wrote:
> "bspear78" <bspear78@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1163604960.249333.190820@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> > Wondering if anyone could help me out here. I just got 2 new tires (BFG
> > AT 30 x 9.5) put on the back of my jeep. I kept the 2 old ones
> > (previously from the back) and put them on the front. also 30 x 9.5's.
> > even though there is some tread wear the tire guy said they should be
> > good for another 5-10,000 miles.
> >
> > In addition, when they went to do an alignment, they said I need new
> > ball joints.
> >
> > The problem now is that when I'm steering the jeep I feel like it is
> > wandering a little bit, and not taking corners well at all. feels like
> > the back end wants to slide out.
> >
> > So, my question is, is this a ball joint problem, alignment, or the
> > tires not being matched up or all of the above. What should I get done
> > first? I am on a budget, which is why I opted for only 2 tires, instead
> > of all 4.
> >
>
> Ball Joints first. It's a safety item. Also, you cannot properly align the
> front end with bad ball joints.
>
> Alignment second.
>
> Tires third. No point in putting on new tires with bad ball joints or out of
> alignment.

Re: 97 jeep wrangler mismatched tires causing steering problem??
 

On 15 Nov 2006 08:03:23 -0800, "bspear78" <bspear78@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Thanks Steve, makes sense. I'm also running at 25 PSI all around. Is
>that a good pressure? I was trying to get more traction by lowering the
>PSI.
>

What is the recommended pressure? That's what you should run at.

If you run at lower presures on tarmac and hard surfaces you end up
with the tyres running hot. That destroys your rubber quicker than
anything.

Try this. Drop the pressure to 15psi, and look at the shape of your
tire. Get someone to drive it round slowly and watch what happens to
the rubber around the contact patch.

You get a standing wave in front of and at the rear of the contact
patch, where the rubber is displaced. As your speed picks up that
standing wall moves around the tyre - if you could see a freeze frame
shot at about 100mph (if you got that far) the tire would look almost
triangular.

All those truck treads that litter the highway are not always retreads
that have delaminated. They are often the result of trucks running
with tires at too low a pressure. They get heat build up, the rubber
devulcanises and off comes the tread - at least!

If you are real unlucky in a 4x4 it will wrap itself around your axle,
you will brake and over you go. I think Ford and Firestone might both
have some advice on running tires at a lower than recommended pressure
:-(

Drop your pressures in mud or soft sand, but do remember to get them
back to road pressurs before driving on asphalt or hard surfaces.

Ewan Scott

Re: 97 jeep wrangler mismatched tires causing steering problem??
 

On 15 Nov 2006 08:03:23 -0800, "bspear78" <bspear78@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Thanks Steve, makes sense. I'm also running at 25 PSI all around. Is
>that a good pressure? I was trying to get more traction by lowering the
>PSI.
>

What is the recommended pressure? That's what you should run at.

If you run at lower presures on tarmac and hard surfaces you end up
with the tyres running hot. That destroys your rubber quicker than
anything.

Try this. Drop the pressure to 15psi, and look at the shape of your
tire. Get someone to drive it round slowly and watch what happens to
the rubber around the contact patch.

You get a standing wave in front of and at the rear of the contact
patch, where the rubber is displaced. As your speed picks up that
standing wall moves around the tyre - if you could see a freeze frame
shot at about 100mph (if you got that far) the tire would look almost
triangular.

All those truck treads that litter the highway are not always retreads
that have delaminated. They are often the result of trucks running
with tires at too low a pressure. They get heat build up, the rubber
devulcanises and off comes the tread - at least!

If you are real unlucky in a 4x4 it will wrap itself around your axle,
you will brake and over you go. I think Ford and Firestone might both
have some advice on running tires at a lower than recommended pressure
:-(

Drop your pressures in mud or soft sand, but do remember to get them
back to road pressurs before driving on asphalt or hard surfaces.

Ewan Scott

Re: 97 jeep wrangler mismatched tires causing steering problem??
 

On 15 Nov 2006 08:03:23 -0800, "bspear78" <bspear78@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Thanks Steve, makes sense. I'm also running at 25 PSI all around. Is
>that a good pressure? I was trying to get more traction by lowering the
>PSI.
>

What is the recommended pressure? That's what you should run at.

If you run at lower presures on tarmac and hard surfaces you end up
with the tyres running hot. That destroys your rubber quicker than
anything.

Try this. Drop the pressure to 15psi, and look at the shape of your
tire. Get someone to drive it round slowly and watch what happens to
the rubber around the contact patch.

You get a standing wave in front of and at the rear of the contact
patch, where the rubber is displaced. As your speed picks up that
standing wall moves around the tyre - if you could see a freeze frame
shot at about 100mph (if you got that far) the tire would look almost
triangular.

All those truck treads that litter the highway are not always retreads
that have delaminated. They are often the result of trucks running
with tires at too low a pressure. They get heat build up, the rubber
devulcanises and off comes the tread - at least!

If you are real unlucky in a 4x4 it will wrap itself around your axle,
you will brake and over you go. I think Ford and Firestone might both
have some advice on running tires at a lower than recommended pressure
:-(

Drop your pressures in mud or soft sand, but do remember to get them
back to road pressurs before driving on asphalt or hard surfaces.

Ewan Scott