Question about tires...I have two 2002 Explorers

[DC DEAR]

No, switching tires will not change the alignment. If the tires were balanced previously and wore evenly, this swap will not cause a rebalancing to need done either.

Since it shakes/vibrates, I would try to figure out of you can determine which wheel it's coming from, swapping the wheels to different positions if that might help locate the suspect wheel.

Are the tires on both explorers the same size? If so, or nearly the same actual circumference, you could swap one old wheel at a time back onto the running explorer to see which swap makes the difference, then have a shop inspect (in case it's bent) and balance that one suspect wheel instead of all 4.

I assume you carefully inspected the tires for uneven wear.

How long did the non running ex's tires sit? they could have gotten square from sitting for a long period of time... see if they can be balanced.

 

[J_C]

^ If the tires are deformed to the point that they won't come back to shape after being inflated and driving them a bit, (re)balancing won't fix that. Granted in some areas, it's been severely cold so it might be worth waiting a bit till it warms up to make the decision if that's possible.

 

[Mbrooks420]

How long did the non running ex's tires sit? they could have gotten square from sitting for a long period of time... see if they can be balanced.

It’s helpful to actually READ the thread, and not just post your reply after reading the first post only.

 

[relgro]

Mystery solved folks! Finally got back by the tire place today so they could replace the weight that fell off. It was a different guy this time. Without saying a thing to him about my situation, he comes out and asks, "Has this tire sat for a while?"

"Ha, maybe."

"Well it's warped..got a flat spot like it been sittin'. I can balance it, but it ain't gonna do nothin' to help that bumpy ride."

So there you have it, the tires must all have flat spots from sitting for so long. Lesson learned. I still can't really see it, but it was noticeable spinning on the balance machine. Other guy probably just didn't gaf to say anything seeing as how it was end of day right before xmas.

Good news is I don't have to buy tires, the other set with the ugly rims are virtually new. Just need to get them switched out and onto the nicer rims.

Any recommendations on what is sufficient to hold the weight of the broken explorer so I can take all 4 tires off it at once? It's parked on very soft ground..I have a sheet of plywood that I used to jack it up while I switched out one tire out at a time before. I only have two jack stands. It seems like cinder blocks wouldn't be able to hold the weight but I don't know. I don't really wanna have to buy two more jack stands too.

Thanks everybody for all the help itt!

 

[J_C]

^ How far is the travel to the shop to do it? Might be easier to just use the two jack stands on plywood and take in two wheels at a time.

Cinder blocks are risky. Some people have had success but they can suddenly crumble, aren't designed for this type of single-point load on them. If it were an emergency, I'd put a piece of 2x4 or larger wood on top of the cinder block to distribute the load better, but it's better still to just not use cinder blocks.

 

[relgro]

^ How far is the travel to the shop to do it? Might be easier to just use the two jack stands on plywood and take in two wheels at a time.

Cinder blocks are risky. Some people have had success but they can suddenly crumble, aren't designed for this type of single-point load on them. If it were an emergency, I'd put a piece of 2x4 or larger wood on top of the cinder block to distribute the load better, but it's better still to just not use cinder blocks.

Yea I thought so. I'll buy two more jack stands before I'd try cinder blocks.

 

[Stynx]

Yea I thought so. I'll buy two more jack stands before I'd try cinder blocks.

Jack stands are cheaper than tires.

 

[donalds]

Yea I thought so. I'll buy two more jack stands before I'd try cinder blocks.

Cinder blocks do hold up my house

 

[Mbrooks420]

Cinder blocks are fine to let it sit on. Put a piece of wood on top if you’re scared of chipping it. Just don’t crawl under it.

 

[Motorhogman]

Cinder blocks work fine with a piece of wood under them and on top of them. Just make sure you place them in the load bearing direction. When they crumble it's usually because they are set on their side. Friend of mine had an old 60's vintage telephone company utility body truck sitting on cinder blocks for more than 10 years. It never gave a bit. Probably weighed 1000 #s more than any Explorer.

 

[DintDobbs]

I'll join this little battle and say three things:

1. If I had seen this post when it was originally made, I could have told you it was a flat spot on the tire. Two years without moving? Flat spot. Period.

2. I've crushed cinder blocks with my '99 Sport. All cinder blocks are not created equal. Jack stands exist for this purpose - I used two layers of 3/4" plywood to firm up the ground under my jack stands, and sat my '03 Durango on it for a year. The weight on the jack stands deformed the plywood.

3. I wouldn't cheap out on tires; they're the only part of the vehicle that connects it to the ground (well, unless one blows out and you're sitting on the rims). Safety and reliability every day is worth everything it costs. Which is more expensive, a $250 tire or a $25,000 hospital bill and the cost of a new car? And get a matching spare.