Square tires...OT

[Britcheflee]

Just took the front wheel off my IH down to the local tire shop to have it ballanced - got a bad shimmy on it at about 35 mph - it was out of ballance but the guy also said it was 'square' - the truck has sat for many many years - up on blocks but wheels just touching ground - could this cause it to be flattened off? These are re-treads and have lots of tread left on them - by driving it more will they 'loosen up' and round off a bit?


Thanks lee


Yeah, and I know the joke about the tire only being flat at the bottom.... :roll:

 

[old]

Most of the time a flat spot like that will work its way out if you run it for a while. Best if you can drive it long enough to get the tires good and warm/hot
Hobby farm

 

[DennyF]

If they're old nylon-belted truck tires, they might eventually run better with use. Those things get "square" fairly easily and quickly, when left to sit.

 

[crazy8]

I have a trailer that sat for awile with a oil tank on it, it also has square tires. Just like you say around 30 mph it will rattle the teeth out of your head. It will never stop completly , seems the faster I tow it the less noticeable it is.The side walls on the tires are so cracked now , I think I will replace them.

 

[Dave H (MI)]

Don't know about truck tires but I get flat spots on the tractors in the winter all the time. Take one out to plow and it is one bumpy ride! Usually not resolved until weather warms up but if you make sure to park it so the flat side is not down the air pressure will do a lot to round them back out.

 

[Jeff-oh]

I have the same issue with me MF-65.

 

[Too Tall]

It is posible, and likely that they have flattened out in one spot. Radials are more resistant to this than the old nylon bias ply tires (still commonly used in trailer tires).
When this happens to my trailer I usually check to be sure the tires are inflated properly and try to run them for a while on a hot road. They smooth out in short order. With a load, they smooth out sooner.
I can avoid flat spots by not storing the trailer with a load on it.
TooTall

 

[Dean]

Lee:

I have a 68 GMC 2500 series PU that my Father bought new. It has 7.50x16 bias ply tires on the original split rims.

I drive it infrequently, and when I do, it will beat me to death for 10 miles or more before the flat spots work out of the tires but they do eventually.

I suspect yours will too if you drive it a few miles but it may take more than 10.

Dean

 

[Britcheflee]

Those are exactly the same tires on this old gal - started shaking so bad I thought something was coming loose - but jacked up truck and nothing wobbling or loose - all connections tight so must be the tires - so, will go for a longer run now that they are ballanced and at least I know that is not the problem.

I guess they used harder rubber compounds back then?


Thanks,

Lee

 

[HanksterV]

You have to think of these tires in REVERSE....tire is, well, woven with a (nylon) "plastic" cord. When you park it, the "plastic" is both warm/hot, and soft. The tire, like ALL tires will be "flat" on the bottom!! The plastic "cools and stiffens" back up over nite, you hop in, start to move...and thump,thump, thump.....you FEEL that "flat" spot....because it IS!!! Once warmed up, it'll go away..until you park it, and it cools and stiffens....and you get in in the morning and..... for that style tire, its normal. However, you now know why (well one reason anyway) that type of tire isn't used much anymore!!!

 

[gahorN]

Nylon isn't as bad as Rayon...which isn't as bad as Polyester. But they all will take a "set". Driving it on hot pavement will "round" it back out jsut fine, but take it slow for a mile or two. It's not the tire's fault. It's not the driver's fault. It's the asphalt.