Method Wheel Question

My local shop just installed my Method wheels. These are on a 2020 Crewmax with off road package. I've been back twice because they can't seem to get the balance right. I have vibration in the steering wheel at highway speeds which wasn't there with OEM Off-Road wheels.

My new wheels are 18x9 on 275/70/R18 KO2 load range E. I am taking them to another place in a couple of days to see if they can get them balanced correctly. I have been reading about hub centric wheels vs lug centric wheels and I believe that my Method 701s are hub centric but I can't really find any concrete info on them.

I am wondering if maybe the vibration is a new normal with these rims or is the balance is actually off. I am also thinking it's possible I got a defective wheel.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

Have them measure runout when they’ve got the wheels on the balancer. Should show if you have a wobbly wheel…

 

I have 2 sets of Methods, no issues and it's not something I've ever heard of with Method wheels. That said, there are always outliers with every product. My guess is it's a LOT more likely an issue with a tire than a wheel.

 

Is this something that any tire shop can do? I apologize for my ignorance here.

 

I do have bad luck, the DS2 steps I put on today have a factory issue. The driver side has a bow in the middle.

 

As for hub centric vs lug centric, look at the wheel. Remove any sort of center hub cap and see if the wheel sits in the hub. It may require pulling the wheel off to remove the hub cap as I don’t have Method wheels. Could even measure the center bore of the wheel to compare to the Tundra which is 110mm.

You will know quick if the wheel is hub centric vs lug centric unless the shop installed hub centric rings, but I doubt it.

See example photo below showing the difference. I also thought I read somewhere on this forum not long ago when I was shopping for tires that the KO2s didn’t seem to balance well. I believe @Tundra234 mentioned it?

Hope this helps!

 

In my limited experience with M/T and A/T tires, the KO2s have been the ones I see the most that are hard to balance. I would bet good money it’s a shitty tire and not the wheel itself. As soon as possible I would get rid of them or get new ones. I’ve always had good luck with Toyos myself.

 

What balancing medium are they using for your wheels? Weights? Beads?

 

Are your Method wheels new? I've never heard of a wheel causing that problem, unless it is damaged. I would suspect the tire is the problem, which is wayyyyyy more common.

 

so 2 things.
1. you may need hub centric rings for your wheels to mount properly on your truck's wheel hubs. i've ordered a couple wheels and they seem to come with these if the hub bore of the wheel is slightly larger than the factory wheel's hub. they usually look something like this that just snap in.

2. KO2 tires seem to get a bad reputation for balancing poorly. i've been seeing and reading about it for years. that being said, between my family and I, we have been through about 8-10 sets of tires and never had mounting issues. and that's being mounted by a wheel and tire company doing it then mailing them to me as well as having a local shop mount and balance them.

i'd look into both of these as potential culprits.

 

I have Method 701's with Cooper ST Maxx 295/70/R18. No vibration at all. Actually smoother than OEM DuraTracs.

I'm going with the issue being the KO2s. I've heard several complaints regarding balancing...

 

I am still under the 60 day guarantee from BFG so maybe I’ll take them back and have them look at them. The problem is, they were fine on the OEM rims.

 

They are using wheel weights.

 

Bought them brand new direct from method.

 

OK. I will call my tire shop and set an appointment to get my tires looked at.

 

I had balancing issues with a set of KO2s a couple sets ago. I bet they didn't balance them properly. Pretty easy fix.

Any chance you can take some photos of your truck? I'm pretty sure I'm getting the 701s. It's between the 701 and new 706. I'm definitely getting KO2s again, so your setup is what I'm planning.

 

There are many forum members running Methods and I highly doubt it’s a hub issue that you’re worried about.

If you’re getting vibration, it’s definitely not due to the wheel (especially if they’re a brand new set).

I’d really recommend you find a competent tire shop that has a Hunter Road Force balancer.

What state do you live in?

 

I live in Morgantown, WV

 

Let me know if you need more pics!

 

It's time for new tires...

 

I’d say call some local off road shops and see if they have a recommendation for a tire shop.

Brand new tires and brand new wheels doesn’t result in vibration unless if they sold you a set of new tires without sticker.

Get it balanced again and ask if you can watch them while they do it.

 

I'll take some more pics. Sweet ride.

 

So you could have them dismount the tires and just check the rims for balance. And you had the same tires on the factory wheels or you had the same brand and model, but not the same exact tires?

 

KO2’s suck and are widely know for poor balance.

 

I had the same tires in factory wheels. Kinda a knee jerk purchase after I bought tires, I wanted rims.

 

I didn’t know this. What would you have gone with?

 

Nitto all day, every day, for the past 20 years.

It’s all about how a tire is constructed. Nitto builds their tires with a continual spiral would base layer versus the competition using overlapping layers. The spiral wound base is very uniform creating a superior balanced tire.

Not to say that any manufacturer can’t have an error but BFG KO2’s have a lot of them.

 

Ha... We've got just about the same truck. You ever get your balance issues worked out? I'm having a similar issue and suspecting the KO2's. Guess that's what I get for switching from Nitto.

 

Yes. My local Toyota Dealer apparently didn’t know how to road force balance. They put 10oz on one wheel and 9oz on the other side. Rear ones were at 6oz and 7oz.

Three replacement sets of tires from Sam's Club later and all is good. Sam’s did break a valve stem and scratch up my rims pretty good.

Got the valve stem replaced at Toyota and reimbursement for two rims that they scratched.