Tire/level options without affecting ride/noise?

[khigh]

Not really a "lifted" question, but this seems to be the defacto 4x4 tire & suspension forum.

I drive about 50% highway, 45% city, and 5% mud/off road. I'm going to need new tires in the next 3K or so. There are Pathfinders on there now.

I guess I've reached official "old man" status. I Love the smooth and silent luxury ride of my 2015 Lonestar, and don't want the ride or handling affected in any way. I'm perfectly willing to accept the answer to all of this is "No".

Can I get a more aggressive tread without increasing noise? I was talking to someone at the tire store last night, and he said Toyo and Nitto (sp?) use "softer rubber", and that more aggressive tires would be quieter in those brands. Any thoughts on that?

Can I go larger on the stock 20" rims? More on the height, really. I'm sure these terms aren't right, but I prefer a "straight up and down" sidewall look to "ballooned out".

I'm sure a lft is right out. Every lift I've ever done would be a negative experience by my current (old man) standards, but I've been reading on here about the Bilstein leveling struts. Do these affect the riding or handling at all?

Thanks for looking!

 

[quietpeen]

ride quality and how noisy a tire is can be rather subjective. Generally the more aggressive the tire the more you will feel it and it can be noisier.

 

[Jrod]

You want stock size Falken Wildpeak AT3. Your stock tires are 4 ply. If you go wider or taller you automatically jump into more ply's and therefore a stiffer ride. The AT stands for all terrain. The tread is more aggressive and snow rated yet 4 ply if you keep stock size. I run these on my RAM. They are quiet, still feels like a Cadillac, and look great!

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/new-shoes-falken-at3-275-60-r20.118327/

 

[BWL]

I will confirm the nitto ridge grappler is reasonably quiet compared to most at tires. I also like my quiet, but need more aggressive tread. They will not be as quiet as the factory tires or other more street orientated ones, but I don't notice them.

 

[BWL]

I also ran spacers in my old truck, but only 1.5" front and 1"rear. Didn't notice any ride quality difference.

 

[WilliamS]

I have the Ridge Grapplers in the 295/65-20 on my truck and they are a tad louder than the crap goodyears I took off. They are only louder at full highway speeds on fresh asphalt, other than that they are the same to me. They ride the same, but I also increased my sidewall height which helps soak up some road imperfections.

 

[hodge-xj]

Continental terrain contact at, bridgestone dueler revo 3, cooper at3 (3 different versions of the same tread as well) hankook dynapro atm (new model being released) pirelli scorpion at, nitto terra grapplers ....etc. All are a more mild tread design that should do well for your intentions. Tho they aren't necessarily as popular so it's hard to find alot of reviews, a member here revitupmoto flogs his truck offroad more than any of us as swears the continentals are great at everything, even if they don't look as cool. Anything that looks agressive is gonna have some audible noise change from a street based tread, it's all relative, some guys hate it, some guys swear super swampers aren't loud.

I'm in the same boat as you, and I've been nerding out on tires since it's a pricey decision you have to live with for quite a while. I like simple tire and tire rack as they usually have the specs available to compare weights and load ratings as well.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[james.price.58]

I also run the Continentals in stock size...best AT tire I've ever owned and just as quiet as the stock Goodyears. Slightly stiffer ride

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[james.price.58]

I did a basic review here
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?ur...share_tid=128427&share_fid=17770&share_type=t


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[ThunderMug95]

I love my Falken Wildpeak AT3W’s, but it is very much an AT tire. A bit louder than the stockers, but its a 55k tire with great traction. A lot of members here who want a more “subtle” tire swear by the Michelin Defenders.
And yes, if you do a Bilstein level, you will definitely notice a firmer ride because it levels by pre-loading the stock coil on the new Bilstein adjustable height strut. You trade better handling/height due to a stiffer setting on your coils for a rougher/firmer ride. You can use just a spacer lift on top of the stock strut assembly and retain the stick ride plus leveling, but it changes the geometry of the front end.
Regardless of which way you level, you will need an alignment. Hope this helps.

 

[khigh]

Thanks all for the responses!

Sorry for coming back late. I thought my post was pulled. I guess it was moved. I just now found it again.

I think I'm tempted to cheap out.

I'd never SEEN my tires with full tread pattern and never had the original Goodyears - got the truck in July. Everything I've done is compare to my current tires which I love, but wanted a more aggressive look. Turns out they look fine when they're new.



They're Pathfinders - a Discount Tire exclusive brand. And get this - $165. I went and talked to the store yesterday and looked at a fresh one. It's like I told the guy, if I didn't ALREADY HAVE them, I'd be super suspect, but I'm already sold on ride and noise, and the tread is fine. I can swap them out at half tread for the same money - OR get a set of wheels.

I'm not super driven to any particular wheels. Chrome seems a bit much, and all black is kinda "done to death". So presumably something in the black with chrome/steel/aluminum highlights. Is there a wheel and tire gallery on here?

I believe the current wheels are 20x9+19?

I'd never considered wheel spacers til it was mentioned here. That would help stance. Does it tax the suspension or change the ride? Seems like every truck I get is longer than the last and I have to learn how to park in town all over again - can't imagine it would help with that.

Thanks for the answer on the Bilstein firming up the ride. How about the front height spacers? Do they do the same?

Thanks for looking. Glad I found my thread again!

 

[ThunderMug95]

If its a preload spacer, it would firm up the ride...if its just a spacer on top of the oem strut, then no, ride remains same.
As for the wheels, I struggled to find a set that I had to have...I found them though. Black, chrome, and silver that matches my truck.