newbie tire questions

[blu_rhino]

Hi,
brand new ...first post.
I have a Cherokee sport, 4WD
1. I have noticed a loud squeal when turning in parking lots. Is this normal?
2. I am looking at getting new tires, 235/75R15 seem the ones to go with...is there a good brand to select? I was looking at goodyear, Pirelli, and Bridgestone.
Thanks

[Wally]

I personally am a big fan of goodyear. I prefer the Wrangler AT/S. I just heard that they have discontinued the Wrangler GSA so you may be able to pick up a set of those rather cheap. If you go with the Wrangler GSA, I would go with the 245/70-15 rather than the 235/75-15.

Again, that's just a personal preference. The 245 is just a touch wider and a hair shorter.

[Yucca-man]

GSA? = Get Stuck Anywhere! 8O

blu_rhino - First of all, welcome to ILJ!! :beer: if you're eligible...

Where is the squealing coming from? On smooth surfaces like sealed concrete it's not unusual for the tires to squawk a bit. If it's from somewhere else, try to narrow it down and give us an idea of the decription

Thanks!

[blu_rhino]

Thanks,
I'll look into the goodyears.
I will take a long cool drink...maybe later...I'm at work at the moment.
The squawking is coming from tire contact on the blacktop, sealed cement, etc. It doesn't happen with other cars...and I get strange looks 'cause it sounds like I'm tearing around when all I'm doing is turning into a parking spot.

[jrsxj98]

Welcome


check out the BFG AT's or ProComp AT's

[blu_rhino]

Please forgive me....I'm sorry ProComp? I'm not familiar with those...is it short for something?:confused:

[Wally]

Pro Comp is a company that specializes in lift kits, but have ventured into the arena of tires in the last few years. I'm not too familar with them, I only know that their tread patterns are VERY similar to BF Goodrich, basically, they are a cheap alternative.

I personally stay away from cheap tires. They tend to not wear as well, they can sometimes be more difficult to balance and depending on the compound, can be really bad in the rain and snow due to less traction.

Just my 2 cents on the topic, I'm sure someone else will completely disagree with me, but I'd stay with a bigger name such as BF Goodrich and Goodyear, the later being my personal choice.

[Yucca-man]

Originally posted by blu_rhino
The squawking is coming from tire contact on the blacktop, sealed cement, etc. It doesn't happen with other cars...and I get strange looks 'cause it sounds like I'm tearing around when all I'm doing is turning into a parking spot.

I've had that on both Cherokees (89 and 96) , and have heard it from others. It seems to be a function of the caster of the axle while turning. The math escapes me right now, but it's fairly normal from plenty of other Jeeps I've heard as well.

Jim

[XtremeXJ]

Originally posted by Yucca-man


I've had that on both Cherokees (89 and 96) , and have heard it from others. It seems to be a function of the caster of the axle while turning. The math escapes me right now, but it's fairly normal from plenty of other Jeeps I've heard as well.

Jim

"normal"? Im not calling you a lair but a squalling of the tires loud enough to turn heads is not normal. Mine on 235's, 31's and 33's never squallled like that, neither does either one of my brothers or any other one "I" have heard. Have you aligned it? Sounds to me (personal experience) like the toe-in is off and when you are turning the tires are pulling away from each other, just another suggestion maybe not the answer. As for tires in a 235, I dont really have much from experience. Owned a set of Liberators from WalMart for about a year before I went to 33's. For the price I think they were well worth it. went through one winter of snow and ice (mostly ice) with no problem and out to the local stomping grounds several times again with no problem, nothing hardcore mind you, just trailriding. Sold them to a friend and he has run them for the last yearand there is lots of life left, mainly highway miles from him. Wife had a set of BFG AT's for several months on her ZJ and she never complained, they never saw off road. Good Luck, and welcome to the BB. XXJ

[Dookie]

If it is not "normal," then something has been wrong with all three XJ's I've had. From my personal experience, most vehicles with both a solid front axle and a narrow turning radius (like the XJ...) have a tendency to 'push' the outside front wheel when turning. Basically, if you are turning left - hard - your passenger tire is moving left, but also slightly forward, causing it to have to break traction (making burn-out like noises) or else...break! Most cannot turn in a perfect arc at high angles. And that is indeed normal. It is a trade-off for having an awesome turning radius - and the larger the tire you have, the more noise it can make, since it will be more rubber grinding on the pavement.

[blu_rhino]

That's the explaination I was looking for. I knew there had to be some "reason" for the noise. The solid axle plus the turning radius makes sense. I imagine the tires have something to do with it too.
Thanks Dookie....

[Dookie]

No problem. That's what we're all here for!:bigsmile:

[XtremeXJ]

Like I said I am not calling anyone a liar, if you hear it bark when you turn then you do. It just doenst seem right to me that mine or any other one I have heard doesnt do it.
Mine '92 & 235's, 31's, & 33's
Brother 1 '87 & 31's
Brother 2 '96 (? could be wrong but it is the new front clip) &235's
I understand your reason for the solid axle and the force of the turn pushing the outside tire out but to make it squall you would have to be turning awful hard and pretty fast. He said "I get strange looks 'cause it sounds like I'm tearing around when all I'm doing is turning into a parking spot.". Again, alittle bark does not turn heads. In all due respect I am going to just say im sorry if I hurt anyones feelings. I must turn that perfect arc ;) . XXJ

[Dookie]

Seriously, your rig actually might! Keep in mind, all the XJ's will come from the factory somewhat different - no two, especially after they're used, will have the same toe, camber, track, etc. And, just 0.5 of a degree can make a big difference. When my '99, with 31's, is hard-over, one way or the other, my outside tire makes a TON of noise. Especially on the slick 'crete of a parking garage. Even if I'm going REAL slow. Sounds like I'm flying - but I ain't! It is far more so on this one than on the '85 I had, which did the same a little. Sucks, but what're you gonna do?:)

[Chris S]

Rigs with the axle disconnect squeal less, but all of my Jeeps have done it to some extent.

[XtremeXJ]

I can admit when Im not right, never wrong, just not right sometimes :D Have one on me guys... :beer: When I get the beast running again I am going to go tearing around a parking lot just for you :twisted: . Have a good weekend guys!! XXJ.

[wizbang]

My .02, I have an 86 and 235 all weather tires and yes mine chirps when making a tight turn. I like it:lol: reminds me of when I was young!:silly:

[SamFromCO]

Another possibility on the tire squeal that I didn't see mentioned is that blu_rhino has limited slip diffs. They can give you some chirping once in a while.

[victor]

Yokohama's 31" any good?

[nonobaddog]

I had 30/12.50X15 Mickey Thompson Baja belts on my 90 Yj, replaced them with a set of generic yokohomas 31/10.50X15 (tire pattern resembles BFG mud Trac) and since have not had any problems on the pavement,, also have not been off road since,,will not wheel by myself,, buddy sold his 99 Tj for a 2 wd dodge 1500 with a Six cylinder.. my braking is better not as much pull, nor slide on wet pavement and i don't sound like a hummvee coming down the road.....

[lekmedm]

Ummm... I'm no expert on Jeeps since I have yet to own one (SOON! :D ), but it has been my experience with cars that loud sqealing noises when you completely lock the stearing often come from worn/loose belts. Again, I'm no expert, but I'd check 'em out. It's just a thought.

Peace.

lekmedm

[Dookie]

You're right, that can happen, but that's not what the issue is here in this case. Some XJ's simply make tire noises under hard turning. After owning three, and having the same issue in each - IT HAPPENS!!! And if it doesn't happen in yours - when you have some experience with one - then right on!:eatit:

[Yucca-man]

Originally posted by lekmedm
Ummm... I'm no expert on Jeeps since I have yet to own one (SOON! :D ), but it has been my experience with cars that loud sqealing noises when you completely lock the stearing often come from worn/loose belts. Again, I'm no expert, but I'd check 'em out. It's just a thought.

Peace.

lekmedm

Goodluck on the 'soon to own' part, and welcome to ILJ! A loud squealing or humming when you have the power steering at full lock can also come from the bypass on hte power steering pump. Back off a 1/4 turn when that happens.

I'm pretty sure we were talking about a squealing noise from teh tires though - right??

Jim

[anorakish TJ]

could you elaborate on that pump bypass noise a bit? e.g. if you hear that noise often, does it pose a problem?

TIA!

[recondoii]

1998 Cherokee Sport, 235R75 15 (LT), Big O All Terrain. Tires have app., 3/32 tread left, got em in trade for services rendered. Tires in general suck, lousy on the road and off... never again. BTW the guy I traded with told me that my UN LIFTED jeep was listed on the books for use with a P225 75 R15 and not the slightly wider 235. I opted for the wider but have not noticed any problems. My guess for squeel is a loose belt or worn belt or tensioner (serpentine belt systems).

[blu_rhino]

Um...just to settle this question.
It was the tires. I replaced them with Perelli Scorpion 235's and the sqeal dissappeared. The scoropins were awesome. I say "were" because 2 months after I got them some lady mashed my jeep. I've recently picked up a 99 grand cherokee....now I have to start reading up on them. :)