Not sure if this belongs here but it has to do with wheeled tires... Most of you offroaders should have an idea of what I am referring to as well.

I picked up a five used FIRESTONE DESTINATION MT tires for $345... They have over 70% thread left... Got them from a reputable member of another wheeling board. He wheeled with these tires and the lugs have chunking on the outside parts of the thread... On one, one of the lugs is completely chunked off and on another, two thirds of a lug is chunked off... The guy swore it wouldn't have any effect on the way the tires rode and that it would be great... It won't vibrate or shimmy. I had my doubts but at the end he talked me into buying them and I had my chick with me in the car and could tell she was irritated so I just bit the bullet and purchased them. He did say if I didn't like the way it rode after getting them mounted that he would take them back...

These would be a good set of tires for wheeling but I need them more for daily driving... So before i waste my money on mounting and balancing... I was wondering if this will have any ill effect on the ride of the tires? Would I be fine or is this going to vib/shim every time the chunked lugs come into contact with the highway?

 

They should balance up just fine. The little amount of rubber in the lugs is minor compared to the rim and the belts, even though it is farther out on the diameter.

If they don't balance perfectly, look into some Dyna Beads or other dynamic balancing aids.

 

You should be ok... they're mud tires. I doubt the slight difference in contact area will effect anything, a lot like grooved tires. If you want to try and get high miles from them on the road, rotate them religiously.

 

thanks for the info guys!

 

the only chunked tires I rode on were super swampers...and to be honest i didn't notice anything.

 

just a quick update. The tires with the missing lugs required alot of weights to balance but the guy got them balanced...

As far as ride goes, at low speeds... 5-25, I could feel the missing lugs, slight bump feel every rotation. Anything faster and I don't feel it at all...

Thanks again for the help guys.