New tires won’t balance - Nitto Terra Grappler G3

[Setec_fl]

I just had 4 new Nitto Terra Grappler G3 285/45 r22 tires installed on my 2023 Ram 1500 limited.

I expected some change in how the driving felt from the street tires these trucks come with. But I expected it in road noise and a slight loss to MPG.

But, now the truck has a wobble that seems to start at around 50 mph and gets very noticeable in the steering wheel around 70 to 80.

I’ve now taken it back to the shop 3 times for them to check run-out and balance and they say everything is well within tolerance.

Do these ATV tires just have a wobble at higher speeds and I’m being too sensitive or is there possibly something off on their balancing machine or is something possible wrong with the tires themselves?

For $1800 (with alignment) one would expect the truck to drive similar to when it was new with stock tires.

 

[1923bob]

My tires work great I think they feel better than the tires it came with the truck and very little road noise if any

 

[1923bob]

Maybe go back and take them for a road test.

 

[CHeYeNNe71]

If they have other shops, maybe try one of their other shops.

 

[John Kloehr]

Any yellow or red dots on the tire sidewalls? May be on only one side of the tire.

If a tire has only a yellow dot, it should be lined up with the valve stem.

It the tire has a yellow and a red dot, look on the back of the rim for a mark (or notch or dimple). Red dot aligns with that mark. If the rim does not have the mark for red dot alignment, proceed with yellow dot directions above.

A tire without a dot is rare.

A little more info as to what each dot means can be found at:

What Do Red and Yellow Dots on Tires Mean? | CHT | Chapel Hill Tire

Wondering if the yellow and red dots on your vehicle's tires matter? Chapel Hill Tire can help. Learn how these dots relate to wheel balancing today!

www.chapelhilltire.com

Then spin balance the tires. Road force balance may do a better job. And running 70 to 80 on these tires might be a bit high of a speed for them.

On edit: Just googled and these tires are supposedly rated to at least 100mph depending on size, I'm surprised.

 

[toejam]

Road force balance

 

[WXman]

Nitto

There's your problem.

 

[CHeYeNNe71]

There's your problem.

From what I know, Nitto is a great brand

 

[WXman]

From what I know, Nitto is a great brand

Well, they aren't. They had so many mediocre reviews on their own website that they totally revamped the site and all those 2 and 3 star reviews magically vanished. The products they've launched in recent years have been trash. The Ridge Grappler has the most foul weather traction complaints of any tire I’ve seen. Nittos are expensive, hard to balance, wear poorly, and typically have really awful rain and snow traction. I avoid them like the plague. Is the new G3 all-terrain better? Maybe but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[CHeYeNNe71]

Well, they aren't. They had so many mediocre reviews on their own website that they totally revamped the site and all those 2 and 3 star reviews magically vanished. The products they've launched in recent years have been trash. The Ridge Grappler has the most foul weather traction complaints of any tire I’ve seen. Nittos are expensive, hard to balance, wear poorly, and typically have really awful rain and snow traction. I avoid them like the plague. Is the new G3 all-terrain better? Maybe but I wouldn't bet on it.

I think you're the only complaint I've seen about them, so I guess time will tell. I see many good reviews from people and many seem to run them.

 

[Scram1500]

I just had 4 new Nitto Terra Grappler G3 285/45 r22 tires installed on my 2023 Ram 1500 limited.

I expected some change in how the driving felt from the street tires these trucks come with. But I expected it in road noise and a slight loss to MPG.

But, now the truck has a wobble that seems to start at around 50 mph and gets very noticeable in the steering wheel around 70 to 80.

I’ve now taken it back to the shop 3 times for them to check run-out and balance and they say everything is well within tolerance.

Do these ATV tires just have a wobble at higher speeds and I’m being too sensitive or is there possibly something off on their balancing machine or is something possible wrong with the tires themselves?

For $1800 (with alignment) one would expect the truck to drive similar to when it was new with stock tires.

It might balance on the machine, but when the rubber meets the road so to speak, other factors come into play. I'd find another tire shop, preferably one that is independent and they will tell you what's really going on with the tires. The original shop got the sale and want you gone.

Tire quality is crap today so it's luck of the draw unfortunately. My OEM tires (Bridgestone) vibrated, two had visual run out. Replacement Michelins vibrated slightly but tolerable. Now have Coopers which are smooth as glass. Only took 5 years to get there

 

[2025 Ram Limited]

I just had 4 new Nitto Terra Grappler G3 285/45 r22 tires installed on my 2023 Ram 1500 limited.

I expected some change in how the driving felt from the street tires these trucks come with. But I expected it in road noise and a slight loss to MPG.

But, now the truck has a wobble that seems to start at around 50 mph and gets very noticeable in the steering wheel around 70 to 80.

I’ve now taken it back to the shop 3 times for them to check run-out and balance and they say everything is well within tolerance.

Do these ATV tires just have a wobble at higher speeds and I’m being too sensitive or is there possibly something off on their balancing machine or is something possible wrong with the tires themselves?

For $1800 (with alignment) one would expect the truck to drive similar to when it was new with stock tires.

Any photos with them on the truck? I have used Nitto Ridge Grapplers in the past and got 80k miles on them before swapping to a new pair. My last set had a slight wobble that only happened to be noticeable after tire rotations. it was just one tire I think so I dealt with it.

 

[Ramroo]

It might balance on the machine, but when the rubber meets the road so to speak, other factors come into play. I'd find another tire shop, preferably one that is independent and they will tell you what's really going on with the tires. The original shop got the sale and want you gone.

Tire quality is crap today so it's luck of the draw unfortunately. My OEM tires (Bridgestone) vibrated, two had visual run out. Replacement Michelins vibrated slightly but tolerable. Now have Coopers which are smooth as glass. Only took 5 years to get there

Just put some cooper discoverer strongholds on my 2500, smooth as glass.
Will be the next tires on my 1500.

 

[mdmford93]

ROAD FORCE! I cannot stress this enough. As someone who works in a tire and alignment shop, whoever is doing your tire and alignment work needs to run a road force on them. Guarantee you that one of those tires has a slight separation causing it

 

[jimk hunt]

Vibrations have many possible causes. A road force balance (from another shop) may fix your issue. A tire could have an out of spec runout which is possible to see with a runout gauge. You could also move the front tires to the back and see if the vibration moves. It is very unlikely to have a separation in a brand new tire. A tire may be made out of round and that will be noticeable from the first drive.

 

[1923bob]

I'm glad I got my M/T tires they are great and work good in rain and snow and ride great.