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Tire size and a smoother ride???

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13K views 8 replies 8 participants last post by  Hallie64  
#1 ·
Will changing my wheel size from an 18 inch wheel to a 16 or 15 inch wheel (hence bigger tires, more rubber) improve the rough and bumpy ride I experiance today? Will it affect anything in a negative way like tight turns?
 
#2 ·
Years ago I bought a Scion xB, 2005. It had 185-55x15 tires and rode very rough. I switched to 195-65x14 tires and it was amazing how much smoother the ride became. My current 2016 Soul has 205-65x16 tires and is also very smooth and steady. I am very pleased with the ride and several friends have complimented me on how well the car rides. I would say that changing to a larger aspect ratio tire in a smaller diameter, probably 16", would definitely provide a better ride quality. Also, look for tires with a softer compound. These generally will also give a smoother ride but with a slight reduction in total milage expectations. Talk it over with the sales people at a reputable dealer and they should be able to pick a product you will be much happier with. Softer tire compounds also generally give better traction characteristics as well.

Walt
 
#3 ·
I imagine it'll improve it, but as someone who has the 15s on the base 2013 Kia Soul, I can tell you it still rides rough. Short wheelbase, cheap suspension, rear torsion beam, there's nothing you can do about that. I don't think the extra money would justify the small gain in comfort.

If you do make the switch though, your steering might feel less precise if you corner at high speeds. The 15 and 16 inch tires will have more sidewall ("taller"), while 18 inch and above typically have less sidewall ("low profile"). Low profile tires give better handling but ride rough. Taller tires have poorer handling while cornering but ride a bit better.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Getting off of that miserable 195 width and going up to 215 really helped my car ride and perform much better.

Then changing to an asymmetrical tread pattern really helped too. They never Hydroplane on wet streets.


I went to the "Hercules Tour 4.0 Plus " tire in the 215/65/R15 size and it's the best tire I've ever run on my Soul., and I've tried several. The OEM tire was the worse. I still have one of those, as a spare.

Everything I could say about the Hercules tire is said much better in this ad.
https://tirereviewsandmore.com/hercules-tour-4-reviews-php/

Wishing you all Happy and Safe motoring,
FL Hamster :cool:
 
#7 ·
Getting off of that miserable 195 width and going up to 215 really helped my car ride and perform much better.

Then changing to an asymmetrical tread pattern really helped too. They never Hydroplane on wet streets.


I went to the "Hercules Tour 4.0 Plus " tire in the 215/65/R15 size and it's the best tire I've ever run on my Soul., and I've tried several. The OEM tire was the worse. I still have one of those, as a spare.

Everything I could say about the Hercules tire is said much better in this ad.
Hercules Tour 4.0 Plus Tire Review & Rating - Tire Reviews and More

Wishing you all Happy and Safe motoring,
FL Hamster :cool:
What is your tire pressure?
 
#6 · (Edited)
There is size and there is the individual tire's characteristics.

Going from a rubber band-thick 18" tire to a taller narrower 15" or 16" tire, given the same tires, should make for a smoother ride.

Individual tires also have harsher or smoother rides. TR and CR rate tires for smoothness and quiet ride, etc.
That said, my BFG are claimed to be noisy and harsh-riding by CR, but I find them the opposite in the real world. But I don't have eight different sets of tires to compare them to. CR does.

Without the funding to try a new set of tires every week for a few weeks, it's a bit of a crap-shoot. But yes, the consensus here and just about everywhere is that taller sidewall/skinnier tread rides better than shorter sidewall/fatter tread.

I went from the stock Korean 195.65.15 Nexen Classe Premier 662 to 215.60.15 Michelin Defender and it was like a new (better) car. Amazing difference, for the better.

Ditto my 2015+, went from Nexen CP671 to Pirelli P7 Cinturato stock size, the improvement was yooj.