New tires - squirm?

Just replaced the BFG Long Trail T/A tires with Bridgestone Dueler H/T on my 2002 Mountianeer. It has ~180k miles and the Long Trail T/A's were down to the wear bars, but drove and handled great, for a SUV.

From mile one, the Duelers have been 'squirmy' in the corners. It has lessened somewhat, but on moderate to high speed corners, think a sweeping turn on a freeway or exit ramp above 45-55 mph, I can feel them squirming underneath me. It feels like they move side to side and "catch" themselves then correct back to the correct line. I don't think this is tram lining or following groves in the road, straight sections feel great.

Is this "normal"? Will it go away? Or Is something wrong and should I take these back? I don't think it could be due to suspension wear or alignment as the previous tires felt great and I immediately noticed the difference on the way home from the tire shop (Costco).

Next step is to double-check the install by re-torquing the wheels, I haven't had a chance to do that yet. Any other suggestions?

Full tread-depth tires usually feel more squirmy than bald ones, simply because of the tread blocks ability to deform. That said, it's usually somewhat subtle. I guess there's a chance that there's something wrong with the internal construction of the tire if the feeling is very pronounced or unsettling. Just one of those things that's hard to tell over the interwebz.

New tires also have a mold release on them. Maybe that's what you're feeling?

It might just be the tires period. Why else do you see these tire tests in the mags? Just because StarSpecs work on ABC, doesn't mean they work on XYZ when the RS3's do. I'm betting you don't have the tires inflated high enough to counter a softer sidewall or the tires just aren't really made for a SUV.

Not sure on the specific tires, but there can be a difference between a tire with a closed shoulder and one with an open shoulder. The open shoulder will typically be more squirmy. I'd give some break-in time, though, I think they say they should be broken in after 500 miles. Definitely know what your return period is if you're not happy with them...

I used to work at a tire shop, and I remember a customer coming back after purchasing brand new BFGs. On the test drive, they did feel very "slippery". It could very well be the chemical that they use to release the tire from the molds, or just a diff in tire design in general.

+1 on finding out how the return policy works if it doesnt go away or lessen in a few days.

You have found what a soft-walled truck/suv tire feels like to drive on. Part of the reason I only put LT rated tires on trucks.

Agree with Hitempguy. BFG's tend to have pretty stiff sidewalls. The new ones probably aren't as stiff, making them feel a little off. Up the air pressure 5psi and see if you notice a difference. If it's compound or tread it should feel the same. If it's the sidewall flex, you'll notice a difference with the added psi.

Could also be that the tires are just squirmy. They look to be OEM for several mfr's and most owners apparently don't care for them per Tirerack .

compair the number of plys & load ratings... The load rating of the BFG is about 600 lbs over the stone.

BFG... http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Dueler+H%2FT+D684

Bridgestone... http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Dueler+H%2FT+D684

You didn't allow the tire shop to sipe them did you? Every set of siped tires I have driven on felt squirmy to the point of unsafe.

Which H/T, there are several?

Regardless, they all have tall skinny tread blocks. So yea, it's going to squirm quite a bit for a long time. That's part of the reason they have such bad reviews.

ditchdigger wrote: You didn't allow the tire shop to sipe them did you? Every set of siped tires I have driven on felt squirmy to the point of unsafe.

Wikipedia said: Siping is a process of cutting thin slits across a rubber surface to improve traction in wet or icy conditions.

Well cool-I learned something new today.

I don't want to be a downer here, but I have had issues with even road force balancing Bridgestone Duelers at the tire shop I work at. That is a completely different scenario than having a tire feel "squirmy" during turns.

We actually do not sell either of the tires you mentioned at the shop I work at. But I will tell you from my experience of "fixing" the discount tire shop's tire jobs that I can tell a difference in tire roundness of the Duelers. I can only assume that there maybe something to the handling characteristics as well.

Re-torquing the wheels will probably not help anything, but it sure as hell wouldn't hurt.

If there is some sort of return policy, check into the Michelin Latitude Tour. It's about $7 more a tire than the Dueler H/T. Whatever you do STAY AWAY FROM PIRELLI! Those tires roll up like eggs.

Why didn't you stay with the BFG's? Go with what you know.....

Anti-stance.....just to specify.....Dueller H/T is a lot different from the Dueller Revo2.....they are definitely not squirmy. Love them on our 4Runner. Bigger/beefier tread blocks than the H/T and IIRC a higher load rating (=stiffer sidewalls).

IDK about the H/T but the Revo2's balanced out on the stock 17" wheels with minimal weights.

These are the Dueler H/T 684 II.

Sometimes trying to save a buck doesn't pay off in the end. There was a nice discount at Costco on Bridgestone tires. I was hoping they would be decent.

irish44j wrote: IDK about the H/T but the Revo2's balanced out on the stock 17" wheels with minimal weights.

There is more to it than it balancing out with very little weight. If it roadforces like E36 M3, you need to trying indexing the tire. Some of the cheaper tires just won't come down on the roadforce no matter how many times you index them. I think some of the discount tire shops don't even pay attention to the roadforce weight.

And I was referring to the H/T.

one of the versions of the duelers looks more like an A/T tire, while the other looks like a highway tire, the highway one has a ton of siping in it from the factory, which i'm sure makes them feel squirmy.

Also: you didn't go from an LT to a P-rated tire did you?

Props to Costco. The took the old tires back and I had them replaced with BFG Long Trail Touring, the tire I had on there before. On the short drive home the seemed better, the true test will be on the freeway commute to work. Lost the Bridgestone discount, but didn't have to pay for mounting again.

Going from no tread to full tread can make a noticeable difference

I used to notice it more on cars without power steering.

I loved me some BFG Long Trail T/A. I had them on my Frontier. After I wore those out, I got some yokohamas. I kept checking my pressures because teh truck felt squirmy in teh corners. I actually put the truck up on a lift to jiggle everything. Everything was tight.

I just recently got a set of Fuzion sumthin or others. Once I had about 300 miles on them, they feel better. I am either getting used to it, or they squirm less.

I think I will go back to the BFG's in two years when I wear these out.

Rob R.

jeffmx5 wrote: These are the Dueler H/T 684 II. Sometimes trying to save a buck doesn't pay off in the end. There was a nice discount at Costco on Bridgestone tires. I was hoping they would be decent.

I have sold these to people before, but not without protest and pleading them into almost anything else.

Yes even a small difference in tread depth has a drastic affect on steering feel and squirm. When I rotate my tires, I continue to be amazed at how much only 2/32" inch of tread depth makes in the feeling of the car.

Zombie canoe!