Best 18” tire for ride quality?

[jastevenson]

Hi all,

I will be replacing my tires, and would like to know which tire has the best ride quality.

I have been unimpressed by the ride quality of my XLT, and am looking for the tire that would provide the most improvement.

If you’ve switched out your tires for a different brand and have been satisfied with the results, please share!

Thanks!

 

[Calidad]

What quality are you looking for?

 

[jastevenson]

As soft as possible. The ride quality in the front is pretty good, but rear seat ride quality is simply awful, so I plan to buy some 18s to improve ride quality. Since I’ll be buying from the tire store, I can choose which ones to get, so am hoping to make the best choice.

Our current tires are inflated to the correct pressure so it’s not that.

 

[dlcorbett]

You may have bad shocks, the back shocks are supposed to be firm but not awful. I do believe the std shocks are too firm, if you wanted soft, the ccd wouldve been the way to go. The std springs have huge variances, but mostly stay on the comfy end. Tires. And smaller wheels will filter out some texture and smaller road imperfections, but they wont soften your ride much.

 

[Mothnuts]

I have 22” tires, but regardless I believe the Michelin Defender is the best highway tire available. I swapped the Hankooks out before it left the dealership.

 

[scottdm]

I also agree on the Michelin Defender LTX M/S for ride quality. I swapped my stock Toyo's early on for these tires and noticed a big improvement in ride quality. I have 20" wheels with CCD.

 

[inmanlanier]

When you say rear seat - are you speaking to the 3rd row? I've owned several large 3 row vehicles - in all instances regardless of the ride smoothness, for some reason the rear of the car appears to move around and is felt more than the middle row and front row (smooth and quiet). This includes up and down undulations as well as side to side. If you have a harsh ride - by that I mean bumps are readily transmitted from road to vehicle, you'll likely feel it in the entire vehicle. I have Firestone LE2s on my 2012 EL XLT (2nd set now), OEM rear shocks and Bilstein front shocks. The car is very smooth, quiet and comfortable. Having said that - in the back seat you feel more movement of the car.

 

[Deadman]

The 3rd row is just like sitting in the back of the school bus. You are behind the rear axle and on a lever, every bump is magnified.

 

[dlcorbett]

Im actually surprised by how well my expy rides in the back except for rough pavement where it bounces and booms more than id like. I think op is just disappointed with the ride in general.

 

[duneslider]

Put 600# in the rear and then give it a drive. It should ride significantly better back there. Its designed to handle a payload and without the payload the ride is going to feel stiff and bouncy. Just like an F350, rides like crap until you drop 2k in the back then it rides pretty nice.

I felt the ride seemed better after I put bilsteins in all 4 corners, not as bouncy anyway, more controlled feel. I can't complain about the ride though, best riding SUV I have ever owned!

 

[NukeLife]

I purchased my Platy as a certified pre-owned, and the Ford dealership put a set of Michelin Defender LTX’s on it. They are extremely quiet, and the ride is quite good considering the 22” wheel. Of course the CCD suspension has a lot to do with that.

The ride in the back is not as plush, for sure. For some reason I feel much more of the lateral motion when I ride back there. Could be because my wife doesn’t understand the word smooth, and is constantly sawing back and forth on the steering wheel like she’s driving a 1960’s Jeep.

 

[jastevenson]

It’s the middle row, not the third row, which is one reason I am disappointed. My kids sit there, as do I sometimes.

Ride in the front isn’t amazing but it is pretty good.

Thanks for the recs on the tires!

 

[Calidad]

Michelins are basically the industry standard in comfort and performance. If those don’t help not sure what will other than the CCD system. My Platinum is very close to grandpas old Buick in ECO mode. Giant floaty boat.

 

[duneslider]

It’s the middle row, not the third row, which is one reason I am disappointed. My kids sit there, as do I sometimes.

Ride in the front isn’t amazing but it is pretty good.

Thanks for the recs on the tires!

Just curious but what are you comparing the ride to? Ride is extremely subjective but I have found the ride in the expy to be fantastic. Just curious, what is your tire pressure all around?

 

[Lou Hamilton]

Also, tire pressure.

My stock tires say max pressure is 50 psi, but I run them at what the door sticker says -- 39 psi.

In my old vehicle, when I ran my tires at max pressure, it was like riding a go cart on a dirt road. When I lowered to the door sticker, the ride was much smoother.

 

[jastevenson]

Just curious but what are you comparing the ride to? Ride is extremely subjective but I have found the ride in the expy to be fantastic. Just curious, what is your tire pressure all around?

I'm comparing it against a current-generation GMC Yukon (basic model with springs, like my Expedition).

The Expedition should ride better due to its independent rear suspension, and the professional reviewers agree. But the ride in the rear (middle row; haven't tested 3rd) is unquestionably worse than my Yukon, so I'm thinking there may also be an issue with my specific truck.

 

[Deadman]

I'm comparing it against a current-generation GMC Yukon (basic model with springs, like my Expedition).

The Expedition should ride better due to its independent rear suspension, and the professional reviewers agree. But the ride in the rear (middle row; haven't tested 3rd) is unquestionably worse than my Yukon, so I'm thinking there may also be an issue with my specific truck.

You have an issue. The Yukons ride rough with their ancient straight axle in the back.

 

[dlcorbett]

You have an issue. The Yukons ride rough with their ancient straight axle in the back.

Maybe not. I had a rental tahoe on 18s and regular shocks and was surprised how good the ride was. It felt like a new impala, which is surprising considering the solid axle. The gm units with 20s and above or with the magnetride have terrible rides in comparison(new escalade/suburban with those feature for ref). The tahoe was more isolating, cushy, and less jittery compared to my expy. It also felt less trucklike as well. The expy was more stable and less buoyant but considerably more stiff esp in the rear. The ccd doesnt have the same stiff ride characteristics the reg shocks have, or they are way less pronounced.

 

[Calidad]

I nearly bought the 2019 GMC Yukon the non active suspension was terrible it would wallow for a 1/4 mile after a highway woop. The active suspension on the Denali was much better no wallowing but the interior quality and materials were lousy. GM has been doing lots of sound insulation on their trucks and cars it was quiet. The Expedition can be noisy I suspect the huge glass roof is a big part of the noise. Especially after hearing my ski boots tip over in my ski box last week.

The turning radius and driving aspects the Expedition was much nicer. ECO mode is way way soft ride much like the wallow king Suburban.

The ride between the two is very similar except the interior seat shape, padding, materials in the Ford is light yrs better. Even the Denali was mehhh. Whe I couldn’t get the local dealers to deal I went and looked at the Expedition. Yeah game over for the tired 2019 GM twins. They needed a refresh badly.

 

[Modelcarguy]

The wider the sidewall, the better the ride to a point (a 70 sidewall will ride better than a 55) however it’s the “to a point” that you need to consider.

you don’t say if you have a conventional rear end or air ride. My ‘08 with air suspension is like driving in my living room. Very comfortable.

If it’s air ride, have the system checked out.

If it’s conventional, you may want to look at your shocks and spring set up back there. (It is for all intents and proposes an F150 rear end)

You’re going to have to fiddle astound a bit and do some shopping to find the correct combinations of shock, spring and sidewall.