Can I soften ride after fitting new tyres

[Skoda789]

Hi everyone 

 

I recently had 4 new tyres fitted and the ride is now much harder than before.

 

Previously I had hankook on the front and kumho on the rear and had them all replaced with Hankook (exactly same spec as existing fronts)

 

Anyone have any ideas on softening the ride as it’s definitely less compliant than before. 
 

thanks

for info the hankooks are Ventus v 12 evo 

 

 

 

[Carlston]

Have you check the tyre pressures aren't overinflated?

 

Are they one of these tyres?

 

Hankook Ventus V12 Evo 2 K120

225/45R17 94Y XL

 

Hankook Ventus V12 Evo 2 K120

225/40R18 92Y XL

 

Edited 22 July, 2023 by Carlston

[Skoda789]

Thanks @Carlston 

 

pressure is 32 psi which I think is right?

 

Tyres are the top ones (94y) 

 

 

[Carlston]

35 minutes ago, Skoda789 said:

Thanks @Carlston 

 

pressure is 32 psi which I think is right?

 

Tyres are the top ones (94y)

 

At least you have the 17" tyres and not the harder riding 18" tyres.

 

With the 225/45R17 tyre size, 94 is eXtra Load XL which is harder riding than 91 standard load.

 

Y speed rating is harder riding than W speed rating, which is harder riding than V speed rating.

 

So 225/45R17 91V would have been much better for comfort than 225/45R17 94Y XL.

 

Those Hankooks are UHP summer tyres, ie. Ultra High Performance summer tyres. Compared to summer touring tyres, their sidewalls tend to be stiffer which results in a harder ride.

 

Below, is one example of a summer touring tyre that's 91V rather than 94Y.

 

One other thing that would help soften the ride, is to fit the 225/45R17 tyres to a slightly narrower 7J rim rather than the 7.5J rim. Bear in mind that 7.5Jx17 ET49 is the standard 17" rim specification for the Superb MK2, although the standard 18" rim specification does use an ET46 offset...so ET45 is only 1mm different from that. And the 16" rim specification is normally 7Jx16 ET45 (with 6Jx16 ET50 being a winter tyre specification).

 

Michelin Primacy 4+ 225/45R17 91V

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m54b0s16p209569/Michelin_Tyres_Car_Michelin_Primacy_4%2B_225_45_R17_91V_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_C_Wet_Grip%3A_A_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_69dB

 

7Jx17 ET45 5/112 57.1 alloy rim (from Karoq)

https://eshop.skoda-auto.cz/cs_CZ/alu-kolo-ratikon-17-karoq/p/57A071497C+8Z8

 

Edited 22 July, 2023 by Carlston

[Skoda789]

Thanks @Carlston, this is great information.

 

The thing I’m a bit confused about is that the fronts are exactly the same as what was fitted before and the backs (although a different make) were also 94Y. 
 

I guess I wasn’t expecting such a change when the rears are the same spec but a different manufacturer. 
 

 

[chimaera]

Tyres evolve, so they might be called the same thing but might have subtle changes over your previous ones. You also have more tread on the new tyre so the carcass is going to be a little bit stiffer than on the worn tyre that came off.

 

Correct pressure for this size is 2.1 bar front and 2.3 bar rear under normal load conditions, and 2.3/3.0 for fully laden. This should be printed on a sticker inside the fuel filler flap as well.

 

I've done a detailed drill down on stock wheel/tyre combinations in this thread:

Be very careful about going to a lower load index tyre. Depending on model year and engine, your car may only be type approved for 94W in the 17" size and going lower than this could be tricky in the event of an accident, depending on how vigilant an investigator might be.

[Carlston]

1 hour ago, chimaera said:

Tyres evolve, so they might be called the same thing but might have subtle changes over your previous ones. You also have more tread on the new tyre so the carcass is going to be a little bit stiffer than on the worn tyre that came off.

 

Correct pressure for this size is 2.1 bar front and 2.3 bar rear under normal load conditions, and 2.3/3.0 for fully laden. This should be printed on a sticker inside the fuel filler flap as well.

 

Be very careful about going to a lower load index tyre. Depending on model year and engine, your car may only be type approved for 94W in the 17" size and going lower than this could be tricky in the event of an accident, depending on how vigilant an investigator might be.

 

The 2014/11 (ie. 2014 November) edition of the Superb MK2 owner's manual shows that 225/45R17 91V is approved for all models, except for the 3.6 which needs 225/45R17 91W.

 

Skoda owner's manual

https://manual.skoda-auto.com/004/en-com/Models

 

Edited 22 July, 2023 by Carlston

[Skoda789]

Thanks for the additional information.
 

Model is a 2011 1.8 tsi …. (with a new engine replaced under warranty btw)

 

 

[Ootohere]

Fair enough that the tyres have been changed and feel different, but could your suspension also be a bit tired and needing a refresh?

[chimaera]

2 hours ago, Carlston said:

 

The 2014/11 (ie. 2014 November) edition of the Superb MK2 owner's manual shows that 225/45R17 91V is approved for all models, except for the 3.6 which needs 225/45R17 91W.

 

Skoda owner's manual

https://manual.skoda-auto.com/004/en-com/Models

 

Yes, there was a change to the type approval for the 2013 model year for the facelift, which is obvious from the tables I included in that thread.

[Carlston]

1 hour ago, Skoda789 said:

Thanks for the additional information.

Model is a 2011 1.8 tsi …. (with a new engine replaced under warranty btw)

 

Over the years, many Superb MK2 owners who weren't happy with the ride comfort on their 17" and 18" wheels, have changed to 16" wheels. There have been many threads on this, and the general consensus is that the 16" wheels transform the ride.

 

Here's an example of 16" tyres and rims. I've listed 205/55R16 91H (winter rated because it has the 3PMSF symbol, so you're allowed to drop the speed rating) and 6Jx16 ET43 rims (from the Karoq.

 

Others, who don't like to deviate from the specifications that Skoda officially approve of would probably choose 205/55R16 91V or 205/55R16 94V XL fitted to 6Jx16 ET50 rims (or 7Jx16 ET45 rims). However, that choice would make the ride a little harder (particularly with the much wider 7J rims), and the 7mm extra offset will make the wheels look rather sunken in the wheelarches.

 

Vredestein Quatrac 6 205/55R16 91H

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m139b0s8003p202103/Vredestein_Tyres_All_Season_Car_Vredestein_Quatrac_6_205_55_R16_91H_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_C_Wet_Grip%3A_B_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_70dB

 

Alcar 6665 6Jx16 ET43 5/112 57.1 steel rims (from Karoq)

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rims/details?vehicleId=1302234084152546416&rimCode=ALCAR6665

 

Wheel trims for 6Jx16 ET43 Karoq rims 57A071456 Z31

https://eshop.skoda-auto.cz/cs_CZ/poklice-borneo-16/p/57A071456++Z31

 

Edited 22 July, 2023 by Carlston

[katiemolina43]

Hello!

It's not uncommon to experience changes in ride quality when fitting new tires. If you've replaced all four tires with Hankook Ventus V12 Evo, and the ride feels harder or less compliant than before, there could be a few reasons for this:

Tire Pressure: Ensure that the tire pressure is set according to the manufacturer's recommended specifications. Overinflated tires can lead to a stiffer ride.

Tire Type: Different tire models and brands can have varying ride characteristics. The Hankook Ventus V12 Evo might have different ride properties compared to the previous Hankook and Kumho combination.

Tire Tread: The tread pattern and depth can affect ride comfort. Some tire designs prioritize performance over comfort.

Suspension: The condition of your car's suspension components can also impact the ride. Worn-out shocks or struts may make the ride feel harsher.

Break-in Period: New tires may require a short break-in period to fully adjust and optimize their performance and comfort.

To potentially soften the ride, you could try:

Checking Tire Pressure: Make sure all four tires are inflated to the correct pressure as specified in your vehicle's manual.

Give It Some Time: Sometimes, new tires need some miles to settle in and provide a smoother ride.

Suspension Inspection: Consider having your car's suspension components checked by a mechanic to ensure they are in good condition.

 

Please keep in mind that different people have varying perceptions of ride comfort, and what feels harder or softer to one person might differ from another's experience.

[Skoda789]

Just an update on the issue …..

 

So we’re a month down the line and a good 1500 miles on the new tyres.  
 

Subjectively, they may have softened a bit but still think the ride is harder than before but not enough to warrant either new tyres again or different size wheels. 
 

 A final query for @chimaera - where did the info on the tyre pressures come from?  The fuel filler cap on the car has 32 psi all round. 
 

Also, does anyone know what was fitted to the 2011 1.8tsi estate at the factory?  
 

 

 

Edited 22 August, 2023 by Skoda789

[chimaera]

1 hour ago, Skoda789 said:

Just an update on the issue …..

 

So we’re a month down the line and a good 1500 miles on the new tyres.  
 

Subjectively, they may have softened a bit but still think the ride is harder than before but not enough to warrant either new tyres again or different size wheels. 
 

 A final query for @chimaera - where did the info on the tyre pressures come from?  The fuel filler cap on the car has 32 psi all round. 
 

Also, does anyone know what was fitted to the 2011 1.8tsi estate at the factory?  
 

 

 

The service manual lists all of those settings.

[SuperbMk2guy]

I have fitted 205/60 r16 6.5J et46 2.4psi 92H

 

and its 20% more softer than my previous 205/55

 

just an option to think about