Ways to smooth bumpy rides?

[slackerinabox]

My wife's new to her tiburon has been quite a lot of fun, but the ride's a bit harsher than I'm used to. Of course I'm used to suvs and my hulking minivan, so the problem could be me, but it does feel a bit excessive (we can feel when segments of roads come together - we really feel the road). is this just how sporty cars ride? The tires are a brand I"m not aware of (komho? komodo?) - should upgrading help, or is it something i'll just get used to. everything else about the car's pretty fantastic, especially for the deal I got.

 

[Jimzz]

You can get softer tires.

How many miles are on it?

 

[Yuriman]

Softer tires will eat your fuel economy, but they help a lot with ride harshness.

 

[NutBucket]

If you wanted a smooth ride you should have bought a Caddy...maybe an El Dorado Touring Coupe

 

[ino uno soweno]

Just guessing, but, check your current tire pressure, Check the recommended tire pressure, and begin dropping that pressure by say 2psi, and test drive, drop another 2psi and test drive again, and so on. perhaps you will find a happy medium, I would not drop 8psi overall, if not, buy the caddy. haha,

 

[NutBucket]

That's a good suggestion. Start with the pressure listed on the jamb and drop it.

If you really want to go to extreme measures you can look for smaller wheels. Smaller wheels mean taller sidewalls which will definitely improve ride quality.

 

[slackerinabox]

You can get softer tires.

How many miles are on it?

108K, brand new looking tires though. I know, lots of miles but I got it cheap.

Thanks for the suggestion to decrease the tire pressure, will give that a try. though the wife actually likes feeling the road. I'll just get used to it I guess (though when it's time to replace the tires maybe softer tires)

 

[phreaqe]

I feel the same way about my Santa fe. Its a very harsh ride. I also had the same problem with an older santa fe i had. i love the car overall but its ride leaves something to be desired. It may just be a Hyundai thing.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

108K, brand new looking tires though. I know, lots of miles but I got it cheap.

Thanks for the suggestion to decrease the tire pressure, will give that a try. though the wife actually likes feeling the road. I'll just get used to it I guess (though when it's time to replace the tires maybe softer tires)

Any clunking or noises from the underside when you go over those bumps? With over 108k on the clock, you could have a loose something.

 

[NutBucket]

And the struts should likely be replaced.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

And the struts should likely be replaced.

Likely as not.

I just had my sway bar links replaced. It was like $150 at the local indie mechanic, and it actually cleaned up a lot of the clunks and bumping I had just kinda gotten used to. Actually surprised the heck out of me.

Not sure I'd want to make the tradeoff going with softer tires or lowering inflation - would have a negative impact on tire lifetime, fuel economy, etc.

 

[slackerinabox]

Likely as not.

I just had my sway bar links replaced. It was like $150 at the local indie mechanic, and it actually cleaned up a lot of the clunks and bumping I had just kinda gotten used to. Actually surprised the heck out of me.

Not sure I'd want to make the tradeoff going with softer tires or lowering inflation - would have a negative impact on tire lifetime, fuel economy, etc.

Drove around a bit today and it's mostly in the back - when we hit a bump the back wiggles more than I like. I am getting used to it, but it's the sorta thing that makes me extra cautious around pot hole. I'm enjoying the car enough that I'll take it in, though it'll probably cost more than I spend on it after new shocks/struts/ tires/ etc! really fun car though, not as fun as mustangs i've rented but an oddly great commuter car