The Toyota Tundra is in a new class of pickup trucks that have extremely rigid frames and chassis. In contrast to flexible-chassis pickups of previous model generations, the modern pickup is very sensitive to the causes of vibration. A leading cause of vibration felt on the road comes from the wheels and tires, so if you want a glass-smooth ride in your Toyota Tundra, you must learn to be meticulous about your tire maintenance.
Even brand-new tires can and will have issues. Once they are on the road, imperfections in the road surface and varying load from the vehicle constantly work to alter a tire's tread and overall roundness. Vibration sets in quickly and will do so more readily as a vehicle ages and suspension components like shock absorbers wear out. If your Tundra has vibration problems, chances are your tires need help.
Tire pressure is a serious safety issue. Using a tire pressure gauge, check your pressures against what is listed on your vehicle. Usually, tire pressure specs will be on your gas door because you are intended to check pressure regularly. If you still have vibration after that, it may be time to rotate your tires. The Tundra owners' manual will have that interval. Rotation may not fix the issue right away, but you may notice the vibration has now moved to another part of the vehicle, which tells you you're on the right track.
If you still have vibration after letting a rotation settle in for a few hundred miles, you may have tire damage like cupping where the tread is severely distorted and the tires might be out of round. At this point it's time to go talk to a tire professional and make sure he understands that you are trying to track down a vibration. He may recommend tire balancing or even replacement. Before you spend any money make sure your tire dealer is willing to guarantee that your purchase will resolve the vibration.
Your tires may be getting a bad wrap and your wheels are the real culprit. Just like tires, wheels will have imperfections even when brand new. Even if you can account for every mile your vehicle has been driven, you may have one or more slightly bent rim and new tires will not solve your problem. For this reason, you may have to have your tire dealer spin your rims on the balancer before the new tires go on. If your rims fail, the good news is you will have found your problem--but the bad news is you may have to replace them.
