I had a long couple of drives yesterday - one with the seats out and the rear loaded with plastic storage containers full of household stuff like glassware and pottery. I could hear and feel every bump and shock that was coming through the rear suspension.

 

The suspension is normal, firm Yeti, so it must be tyres - it has new Falkens on the rear from when we bought it, and Cross Climates on the front. The plan was to fit 4 x matching All Seasons in the autumn, but I'm open-minded now if someone has found really, very comfortable tyres for the Yeti?

 

Any recommendations ?

For me it's pressures that make the most difference. When towing I up the pressures to the loaded setting (2.4/3.0bar) and when not towing it crashes about.

Normal loads it's down to 2.2bar and a much smoother ride.

I would like to use the eco pressures of 2.5bar to save fuel but it's just to hard a ride for British roads.

I run Nexen N-blue all season tyres and they give a reasonable ride.

Best thing for a smoother ride is to swap to 16" wheels 

What age were the tyres? They can get less complaint with age.

 

Most owners found Michelin Cross Climate 2's to offer considerably better ride than most Summer tyres.

2 hours ago, logiclee said:

What age were the tyres? They can get less complaint with age.

 

Most owners found Michelin Cross Climate 2's to offer considerably better ride than most Summer tyres.

New Falkens on the rear when we bought the car 4 months ago. I like Cross Climates which is my go to plan for the Autumn, or Goodyear Vectors which We've had before.

 

Just wondering if anyone's found anything more comfortable for 17s ?

I currently have the Nexen Nblue hd plus on mine, paid £111 per tyre fitted and I must say they are a vast improvement over the more expensive Pirelli’s that they replaced.

Edited 29 June, 20241 yr by Mikek3111

I always liked the Goodyear Efficient Grip, I towed with them and did a lot of solo miles, I really rate them. 

?

What age / miles is the rear suspension, springs / dampers? 

Jan 18. 58,000 miles. We replaced the suspension at 96k on our last one. It's definitely a tyre thing.

Seats out and no people in just your household stuff likely would count as lightly loaded so that would be where you would not up the tyre pressures up near the ECO / high weight / load pressure.

1 hour ago, Ootohere said:

Seats out and no people in just your household stuff likely would count as lightly loaded so that would be where you would not up the tyre pressures up near the ECO / high weight / load pressure.

You're probably right. I had a very stiffly sprung Volvo V60 diesel hybrid for a couple of years and that was very susceptible to tyre pressures and weight. It rode better with 4 people in it. 

 

However, the ride on poor surfaces spoiled the car and after much research, I ended up gambling and buying some (never heard of before!) Debica Presto tyres made by Goodyear, rather than my usual Michelin Cross Climates. It rode "20%" better. Softer sidewalls made a difference.

I assume it is XL tyres fitted.  But the proper All Season XL in my experience even though reinforced sidewalls can by more compliment than Tyres.   I would call the everyday tyres cars even SUV,s come on as  SUMMER tyres and XL.   But truth be told they are fitted to cars in the UK and are supposed to be for All Seasons.  Just not all seasons or all weathers suitable for many.  

Edited 1 July, 20241 yr by Ootohere

In my experience with our Yeti Goodyear Vector All Season tyres provide a quiet more comfortable ride. 

Michelin Cross Climates reputedly are also comfortable. Basically good all season tyres have a softer compound that does translate to a comfortable ride.

15 minutes ago, Expatman said:

In my experience with our Yeti Goodyear Vector All Season tyres provide a quiet more comfortable ride. 

Michelin Cross Climates reputedly are also comfortable. Basically good all season tyres have a softer compound that does translate to a comfortable ride.

I liked the Vectors on our last Yeti, and have Cross Climate 2 on our Audi, so it will come down to best cost in 3 months time, I think. I've reduced the tyre pressures a bit but we live with rubbish estate and local roads.

1 hour ago, Prezafab said:

I liked the Vectors on our last Yeti, and have Cross Climate 2 on our Audi, so it will come down to best cost in 3 months time, I think. I've reduced the tyre pressures a bit but we live with rubbish estate and local roads.

The way things are going with our roads we'll all end up driving cars with tractor tyres! UK roads are an absolute disgrace but I can't see any political party is committed to extensive resurfacing. Pothole filling is a joke, botched work filling potholes within potholes.

Sticking with 17 inch wheels, any other All Season recommendations ?

We had an hour's drive on a particularly dreadful cross country road yesterday. The car was rocking, banging and crashing - stiff necks and shoulders for the two of us.

The suspension is fine and I normally run 32 psi. The front 2 Cross Climates are getting worn on the outer edges now, so I'm hoping two (soft?) New tyres will help.

Like the Yeti, the Karoq FWD uses 215/60R16 for its 16" tyre size.

However, the Karoq FWD uses 215/55R17 for its 17" tyre size instead of the Yeti's 225/50R17.

Interestingly, both the Karoq FWD and Yeti use the same 17" rim specification, ie. 7Jx17 ET45. So one possibility for a better ride is to fit 215/55R17 instead of 225/50R17...if the insurance company doesn't mind.

215/55R17 has the same load index as 225/50R17...so the same tyre pressures can be used.

Example of good 215/55R17 all-season tyre

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m140b0s8825p220589/Continental_Tyres_All_Season_Car_Continental_Conti_All_Season_Contact_2_215_55_R17_94V_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_B_Wet_Grip%3A_B_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_70dB

As you can see in the chart below, the 215/55R17 is the second most comfortable tyre size out of the four standard Karoq FWD tyre sizes. The ride comfort of 225/50R17 is similar to 215/50R18...and it would be easy to feel the improvement of 215/55R17 compared to either of these two tyre sizes. When it comes to ride comfort, the 225/40R19 is a truly dreadful tyre...and is by far the worst out of the four tyre sizes shown in the chart below.

Karoq FWD tyre sizes

215/60R16

215/55R17

215/50R18

225/40R19

Edited 26 September, 202526 Sep by Carlston

I hadn't thought about 55 profile...

You have reminded me though that the worst riding car I've ever had was also on 40 profile 19s.

It was a Tiguan 2.0 TSi R line 210 DSG on 255 40 19. No suspension travel, rock hard all the time. Hated it. Also, the gearbox and engine were really badly matched. Holding onto gears too long or dropping down a gear or two when not needed. Great on paper, crap on the road !

Back to 55 profile - any recommendations ?

Edited 26 September, 202526 Sep by Prezafab

25 minutes ago, Prezafab said:

...the worst riding car I've ever had was also on 40 profile 19s.

It was a Tiguan 2.0 TSi R line 210 DSG on 255 40 19...

Dropping 1" in rim diameter to the 235/50R18 7Jx18 ET43 wheels would have improved the ride a lot. The difference in ride between the other sizes is incremental.

Often with VAG cars, going for the most extreme wheel option can cause the ride quality to drop off a cliff.

Tiguan MK1 wheels

215/65R16 6.5Jx16 ET33

215/60R17 6.5Jx17 ET33

235/55R17 7Jx17 ET43

235/50R18 7Jx18 ET43

255/40R19 9Jx19 ET33

Edited 26 September, 202526 Sep by Carlston

Living in France I still use Michelin Sport SP01's, I have gone from 50 profiles to 55 profiles and yes, I think the ride is a little softer but then again French roads are kept in better condition than are uk roads

5 hours ago, Frenchtone said:

Sport SP01

Dunlop?

Thanks. AG Falco

^ Yeap, sorry about that --- tired after a morning log splitting and stacking!! :-(

In the end I managed to find a set of good used 215 60 16 Michelin Cross Climates and winter wheels.

This is unscientific, but as the car had 225 50 17 Cross Climates on the front before, I think a fair comparison can be made on the same roads.

I reckon they are '15%' more comfortable than before.

Experiment is over with. My other half would rather put up with a harder ride as the Monte Carlo wheels 'make the car look so much better' - she does have a point though.

Anyway, I'll stick with the view of 'a 15% better ride on 16s' and put them on eBay !