Has a new tire and wheel package given you a better ride?

I have a good reason to ask this.

I went to the dealership today to have their service manager check my 2019 TRD Sport. I complained about what seemed like a miss at 50 mph. Although I've tried high test fuel, pushing the ECT Button, using the sport shift. Nothing worked to get rid of this issue? I even noticed this at 65 and 70 mph today.

This what feels like an engine miss is so intermittent, it's hard to put a finger on it. I know what the converter feels like, it's not that. The truck has no codes indicating anything wrong. Can this be a simple mechanical issue?

At the request of Toyota Corporate, the service manager drove the truck saying he believed it was not a driveline issue? As we traveled at 50 mph the truck continued to do it's normal thing. The dreaded intermittent miss continued! He shifted the transmission in neutral (tranny is an automatic) at speed. What felt like a miss was still there. No pressure on the driveline. But definite ride issues.

The service manager then asks what the air pressure in the tires were? I told him since the truck was new, no pressures had been changed, and they were all 38 psi from the factory. I pulled the pressures up, and it indicated the pressures I quoted him.

The service manager had one of his guys drop the pressures down to 32 psi. Then drove it again, this time saying he felt a noticeable difference? I told him I didn't feel any difference?
He asked I drive it for 1000 miles before rendering judgement. If I felt there was no improvement after that time? They would dive deeper. His theory is the TOYO tires are a harder compound, and they may have flattened out sitting after the truck was built, then sitting on the lot for some time. They may need time to work their way out?????

I would say this theory is bunk! Why would an out of balance tire or wheel not show up consistently? Before I jump to conclusions, I want to research this farther before making any decision as to what my next step is? This is why I'm asking if anyone has replaced their stock tire and wheel package for a different manufacturer's tires and non OEM wheels and achieved a better vibration free ride at all speeds? If you had vibration or what seemed like a miss? Did your new wheel and tire package remedy this?

I know, if others have this same issue of what either is, or seemingly a miss. You may ask yourself why am I asking these questions? Sorry, I gotta ask as dumb as it sounds?

Thanks for any answers,
Siiverstreek

 

Total bullshit.

 

Occasionally, I feel what seems to be a very slight stutter in transmission. It's no though. I did what he did, throw in neutral over that same stretch of pavement and the feeling is still there. On mine, I think it's a minor vibration coming from the suspension. It's rare and only over just the right pavement finish so I just don't worry about it. I drive over these same spots on my daily commute. This could be your situation but maybe not. FYI, mine does it with both my General Altimax Artic winter tires and summer Falken Wildpeaks just the same.

 

I appreciate your input! Nice to know tires aren't making the difference. You think it's something n the suspension?

Very interesting!

Thanks

 

I agree! Unfortunately, Sometimes you gotta play the game to get through the BS!

 

I think it could be possible if your intermittent issues are only in certain areas. For example, only roads smooth enough to show this imperfection. Rougher roads would hide the slight imperfection. Additionally, he didnt say the wheels/tires are out of balance. He’s saying they are out of round/flat spot.

With thay said, wheels and tires can definitely affect ride quality. Ride in a truck with the same tires but E sidewalls vs C sidewalls and you can usually feel a difference. Those cars with 1” sidewall tires... you feel that in your kidneys.

If it really bothers you, get some better tires now and see if it solves the problem. If it does, you have better tires and the problem is gone, yay! If not, you still have better tires and your service manager will look deeper in to the issue, double yay!

 

If it is the tires, there are ways to test that rather than palm you off. So that’s kinda shitty. It could be tires, but from your description I doubt it. But if it is a “flat spot” it will never work it’s way out, only get worse, so that’s complete crap. Flat spots on tires are just like the inverse of a washboard road, the movement in the suspension they create will simply make them worse over time, not better.

 

Coming from my GTI with the performance package (which includes 18” wheels with 225/40/18 tires)...I can assure you that it’s entirely possible that tires can affect ride. The factory Hankook’s rode pretty stiffly compared to the Continentals I replaced them with. I also went wider on different width (7.5->8”) rims at the same time. That said; I highly doubt on a setup with as much sidewalk as the Tacoma you’d be hard pressed to see that drastic of a difference unless you went to a much harder compound tire. I would make sure the tires and wheels have been balanced appropriately at a good reputable tire shop, they’d be able to tell if a tire is out of round at the same time.

 

My 2 cents? Skip the dealer and bring that truck to an alignment shop, not just any tire shop. You may be surprised what a professional can do. I hope you get your truck squared away and enjoy it.

 

The issue with tire flat spotting from sitting is to be believed if we were talking about the old bias ply tires. We had a one ton van with bias ply's that if it sat for a week would bounce you around until the flat spots worked out after a very few miles. Modern day radials? Not so much.

Thanks,
Silverstreek

 

Good Idea,
Thanks!

 

The most basic, least expensive thing you can do: Try rotating the tires and see if that changes anything.

 

I think so. If it was tire related, it'd do it way more often and more consistent with higher speed. Also, it did it with both sets of new tires so that's out. Not driveline or tranny since it's isolated to a few sections of pavement I drive over daily where it always does it, also in neutral. My guess is there's some undulations in the pavement in just the right way to cause some vibration through the suspension. I'd bet different shocks would change it but it doesn't bug me and I like the ride otherwise. Some day if I lift it, it'll change.

 

20 mile commute and it only does it over two 25 yard sections. I can then take it on 3.5 hr road trips to different cities and it'll never do it.

 

Tires!

Good luck with solving this. Not going to debate the issue at hand any further with you. Glad to see you are trying to get it “fixed”.

With that said, if they honestly feel its the tires, than its complete BS that they are making you drive 1000 miles before they come to any conclusion. I would press them further and tell them you want brand new tires installed if they feel tries are the issue.

I am highly doubtful tires are the issue and im sure they are too. They are just trying to delay the issue and hope you just deal with it. If the tires were an issue, you would feel the “miss” all the time regardless of speed and road traveled.

 

You're absolutely correct! I told my case manager I was not pleased with the lack of professionalism this service manager showed yesterday. Remove air pressure then tell me how awesome the truck felt? Didn't take the time to put the truck on the lift, no scanner to see any stored codes, no rotation of the tires, and no checking balance?

One thing I keep in mind, every dealership is independently owned and operated. They get the customer in, sell them something. Then when you need service for an issue? You come back in for diagnosis and repair. If their hand held scanner doesn't point them in the right direction, or parts aren't falling off at their feet making the problem obvious? It's the customer who has an issue, not the vehicle. Many don't take pride in their work, nor do they care about getting involved in actual troubleshooting and repairs. They want to act like they're setting the world on fire by talking a good game telling us how important they are and how qualified they are. When things don't work out accordingly, they just pass the buck on down the line to someone else. Or they hope the customer will drop The Whole issue and accept a sub par vehicle.

Don't get me wrong. I'm sure there are talented people working at dealerships, but they seem to be few and far between. I expressed my displeasure to Toyota this afternoon. Now I'm in the process of taking it to a completely different dealership not related business wise to the first one I purchased the truck from, the same dealership I took the truck in for service. The case manager completely agreed! Will keep everyone informed as to what if anything is found or changes.

I'm hopeful they can tell me something that makes sense? And just maybe, it might help others in the process?

Thanks for your thoughts,
Silverstreek

 

One thing constant about mine. It will do it all of the time.

I appreciate you taking the time giving as much info as you have!

Thanks,
Silverstreek

 

Great idea! Thanks! I'm going to mark the inside of each wheel to their current location. When I take the truck back in to this other dealership to have checked out. If they say anything about tires? I'll ask if they rotated them? If they say yes? This way I can check to see if this was actually done.

Thanks again