Gonna need new steers soon

I started out running Michelins...XZE2 on the steers & XDE M/S* on the drives...but they just got stupid over the years on price. Tried a set of BFG's...ST230 up front and DR444 on the drives...and hated them. Mounted some Continental HSR's on the steer and they were pretty good, but the last few years I've been running Kuhmo KRS02 on the steer and KRD03 drives. Traction is everything the Michelins were at half the price, and they last just as long. I just can't justify paying through the nose for Michelins when they really aren't any better.

 

FYI Dunlop is Goodyear's second tier brand, with Kelley being the discount line. I had bought some Kelley steer tires and had ongoing vibration problems not long after buying them. I got a warranty adjustment and rolled the dice by applying the credit on G399 Goodyears. Never had another problem after that.

If you look at them side by side, you can't see a difference. They do use the same tread mold, but the casing construction and rubber compound is different across the lines.

Also, every Goodyear Commercial tire shop I've been to, has a runout gauge and will jack up the steer axle and check it for no charge. You can stand right there and see if the cords are torn up or not. Also helpful to spot a bad mounting job, which can also cause runout/vibration.

+1 on 16 ply (load range H) steer tires. The casings are a little stronger and worth the extra $25 bucks or so, IMO. Whatever you decide on, get them if you can.

I'm a fan of Goodyear tires due to getting the best service I've gotten compared to anywhere else. Smart Fleet pricing is decent too, better than similar programs offered by other tire companies. Individual dealers will either honor that program or beat it. I have had great service from two of the local dealers I've used, as well as a couple of road service call outs. Best one ever was a trailer tire at a shipper in western PA shortly after midnight. The Cranberry dealer came out and I didn't even wake up until I felt him lowering the jack when he was done LOL.

 

When you buy your new tires, make sure to put them on a spin balance machine to check that your rims are not bent. This being a new truck to you, who knows what the previous owner ran into, bad pun intended.

I had a blowout on a steer tire and it bent my aluminum rim. Had to replace rim once I got back to town.

 

Yep. The same thing happened to me a little over 2 years ago.

 

Well, I'll go to bat for Yokohama. With a GOOD alignment they can last as long as the Michelin steers.
I'd think about truing your tires before they hit the pavement. Even though they are new, they may still be out of round. That will cause your vibration due to am egg shape pattern.
I've cut as much as 6/32 off a brand new tire and as little as 1/32. Add in some centering sleeves and you'll be golden! Until the wonderful northeast roads require you to get another alignment......

 

16 ply Michelin XZA3+ is all I'll put on the steers, then it's Yokohamas on the other 4 axles. I've seen the XZA3+'s beaten, neglected, and abused and still run over 200,000 miles on company trucks. I usually change mine at 2 years old because they make me nervous based on age, but I let my last set run all the way down to 8/32" and was pushing 300,000 miles plus whatever miles the PO put on them.

Post pictures of your wear. Could be anything, but it being an old Columbia I'm guessing the kingpins were never greased and haven't been replaced yet. Look into reamless kingpins if you're going to be greasing weekly. The rifling really lets the grease flow along the shaft.

 

Personally I prefer Bridgestone with a set of Balance Master tire balancers. (I think that's the name of the balancers. Their the mercury filed ones they sell at the Bossman shops.)

 

I agree Michelin's are at the top in my opinion. I was talked into a set of Yokohama RY677 steers on a Saturday morning cause one tall Michelin was all they had. I think they are holding up good as any.

 

I remember reading about your unicorn now. Great buy.

I've run 200-400 mile loads with the XZA3+'s for years. If you're planning on bumping curbs, hitting every pothole, and running over all kinds of junk I'd go with a Yokohama all position like RY023, but it looks like they just came out with a 108R this year that's pretty much a successor. Real meaty sidewalls, and not a terrible RR number. I'll be giving them a shot on my trailer layer this year.