Tire suggestions for medical issue

[Carlostrece]

Just try to run your tires 3-4PSI lower than what OEM suggested. They will run much quieter and with less vibrations.

Agreed (if they're not low profile tires). 3 psi less than recommended on sticker in driver's door frame would be safe, IMO.

I used to do that with my Buick Park Ave tires before I had Hankook All Season tires. The Hankook All Season tires ride so nice that I now run the full 30 psi recommended on my door frame. I've also experienced (on other cars) excellent comfort ride quality with Cooper and Uniroyal All Season tires. Uniroyal are very affordable too.

 

[Japanese]

3 psi less than recommended on sticker in driver's door jam would be safe, IMO.

Anything above 25 psi should be save. The tire pressure on the door sticker is calculated for max. passengers + max. trunk load.
When driving alone that pressure could be easily 3-4 psi below. At least at the rear wheels.

 

[Carlostrece]

Anything above 25 psi should be save. The tire pressure on the door sticker is calculated for max. passengers + max. trunk load.
When driving alone that pressure could be easily 3-4 psi below. At least at the rear wheels.

For my car, wheels, and tires, I'm confident having 3 psi less than recommended by sticker on drivers door-frame is safe (and effective). I'm also confident that 3 psi less would be acceptable and safe for any car with stock wheels and tires.

4 or 5 psi low might be fine for some cars, maybe even most cars, but I don't know the specifics of the OP's car well enough to know. For one thing, I don't know his sidewall height.

So I can't agree, or disagree, with you about 4 or 5 psi lower than recommended on his door frame. I don't know.

What I do know is 3 psi low won't hurt anything and will ride much smoother. You're suggestion to lower psi is a good idea.

 

[MParr]

True, but wages and taxes go to USA, Mexico, and Canada. So I'm fine with that. Unfortuneately, I didn't like either of the 2 sets of General tires (AT or AS that I owned). So it's irrelevant to me who owns or makes General tires because I won't buy them again.

I won't buy General Tires again either. I got a bad set of Altimax RT43, made in Romania.

 

[D.P.R.]

Hi everyone. Quick update. Unfortunately for me, my finances dictate this purchase has to be postponed until stock tires are worned out. I have to prioritize other expenses at the moment.
I did lowered the tire pressure by 3 psi as suggested. It helped a little. I also bought a cushioned steering wheel cover (which reduced some of the vibrations coming in through the steering wheel) This plus some old-fashioned foam cushioning on the seat will have to do for now.
I appreciate all the comments/suggestions. Thanks.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Hi everyone. Quick update. Unfortunately for me, my finances dictate this purchase has to be postponed until stock tires are worned out. I have to prioritize other expenses at the moment.
I did lowered the tire pressure by 3 psi as suggested. It helped a little. I also bought a cushioned steering wheel cover (which reduced some of the vibrations coming in through the steering wheel) This plus some old-fashioned foam cushioning on the seat will have to do for now.
I appreciate all the comments/suggestions. Thanks.

There might be some good deals for Black Friday/Cyber Monday, so check again then

 

[mdtn952]

Also don't over inflate tires. I run 33 psi on my tires when at road temp. Sticker says 35 cold but it is too stiff for my comfort.

DItto....this is the time of year where pressures will swing a bit depending on ambient temps.

 

[Carlostrece]

Hi everyone. Quick update. Unfortunately for me, my finances dictate this purchase has to be postponed until stock tires are worned out. I have to prioritize other expenses at the moment.
I did lowered the tire pressure by 3 psi as suggested. It helped a little. I also bought a cushioned steering wheel cover (which reduced some of the vibrations coming in through the steering wheel) This plus some old-fashioned foam cushioning on the seat will have to do for now.
I appreciate all the comments/suggestions. Thanks.

If money is tight, then save up and when you have the scratch buy Uniroyal All Season tires. Those are the best quality and softest riding of all the low-cost brands I ever owned back in the days before I could afford Cooper or Hankook tires.

You might also be able to find more comfortable shocks when you have the money. For comfort and price combination I prefer Monroe mid tier (mid performance) shocks. Avoid Monroe high tier, high performance shocks that are designed to give sporty cornering and ride because they ride rough. I'd also avoid Monroe's cheapest shocks because they don't dampen well enough and ride too mushy.

My Jeep Cherokee and Buick Park Ave have a well rounded combination of adequate cornering/performance with good comfort when using Monroe's middle tier shocks. I forgot the product name of the mid tier Monroe shocks.

That ^ same advice might also apply to other brands of shocks, but it's the Monroe that I'm most familiar with.

 

[Carlostrece]

Another thing that softens the rear wheels ride is a full tank of gas. i.e. - more weight in the rearend. When your gas tank is half full, it's time to refill gas tank to full again to maintain a softer ride. This is also prevent your fuel guage sensor from rusting, which will keep your fuel guage working accurately long term.

In an earlier post, I said 3 psi low tire pressure safely improves ride comfort. I actually meant front tires when I said 3 psi low is good. Now let's talk about rear tires.

Assuming your car has engine in front and is 2 wheel drive like mine is...

Run front tires 3 psi lower than specified on door frame sticker. Rear tires 6 psi low. Never let gas tank get less than half full. The more gas in tank the better for softer ride at rear tires. Those are free things I did on my Buick Park Ave, which helped ride quality a lot. For my Buick, I had 27 psi front tires, 24 psi rear tires before I bought Hankook All Season tires.

After buying Hankook All Season tires (which ride softer) I started keeping my front tires at full recommended 30 psi that's specified in door frame sticker. 30 psi front. 27 psi rear. Rides great, handles good, gets good gas mileage, no low tire pressure warnings.

If you have a front engine, 2 wheel drive, 1/2 to full tank gas, and aren't carrying heavy cargo in rear; then try front tires 3 psi low, rear tires 6 psi low.

Automatic low tire pressure sensor warning on dash is triggerend when one front tire and diagonally opposite rear tire are more than 3 psi different. At least that's how my Buick tire pressusure monitor works. So as long as I keep the front to rear psi difference to 3 psi (or less) I don't get tire pressure warnings on my dash nor warning bell alarm.

Also, my ABS works fine with a 3 psi difference front to rear.

If your car is front engine and works somewhat similar to mine, you can safely run front tires 3 psi low and rear tires 6 psi low with no problems and get a smoother ride. If you need to haul heavy cargo, add 1 psi per 100 lbs to rear tires up to a maximum of psi recommended on door frame.

For convienience, don't worry about adjusting rear tires psi for loads in trunk that are under 100 lbs.

Note: After lowering rear tires 3 psi lower than front tires... Reset your electronic tire pressure monitor (in the hope that it will remember and accept this psi configuration without setting off tire pressure warnings). I don't know if this is really necessary or helpful, but I did this for my Buick and I have no tire pressure warnings or problems (as long as the front to rear difference is within 3 psi).

I don't know if resetting your tire pressure monitor is necessary or not, but it can't hurt, might help it accept your new tire pressure configuration without it squawking.

If your tire pressure monitor still squawks (even after reserting it) about a 3 psi diiference beween front and rear tires, then try running rear tires only 2 psi lower than front tires (and reset tire tire pressure monitor again).

Notes and Warnings: My tire pressure advice to run rear tires lower psi than front tires is good advice only for front engine, 2 wheel drive cars. i.e. - front heavy, 2 wheel drive cars.

Do not follow the above advice in this post for rear engine cars.
Do NOT follow the above advice in this post for all wheel drive cars. If your car is all wheel drive you can run front and rear tires 3 psi low, but the front and rear tires psi must be same psi. i.e. - For all wheel drive cars, all tires need to have same psi.

 

[jadmt]

Another thing that softens the rear wheels ride is a full tank of gas. i.e. - more weight in the rearend. When your gas tank is half full, it's time to refill gas tank to full again to maintain a softer ride. This is also prevent your fuel guage sensor from rusting, which will keep your fuel guage working accurately long term.

In an earlier post, I said 3 psi low tire pressure safely improves ride comfort. I actually meant front tires when I said 3 psi low is good. Now let's talk about rear tires.

Assuming your car has engine in front and is 2 wheel drive like mine is...

Run front tires 3 psi lower than specified on door frame sticker. Rear tires 6 psi low. Never let gas tank get less than half full. The more gas in tank the better for softer ride at rear tires. Those are free things I did on my Buick Park Ave, which helped ride quality a lot. For my Buick, I had 27 psi front tires, 24 psi rear tires before I bought Hankook All Season tires.

After buying Hankook All Season tires (which ride softer) I started keeping my front tires at full recommended 30 psi that's specified in door frame sticker. 30 psi front. 27 psi rear. Rides great, handles good, gets good gas mileage, no low tire pressure warnings.

If you have a front engine, 2 wheel drive, 1/2 to full tank gas, and aren't carrying heavy cargo in rear; then try front tires 3 psi low, rear tires 6 psi low.

Automatic low tire pressure sensor warning on dash is triggerend when one front tire and diagonally opposite rear tire are more than 3 psi different. At least that's how my Buick tire pressusure monitor works. So as long as I keep the front to rear psi difference to 3 psi (or less) I don't get tire pressure warnings on my dash nor warning bell alarm.

Also, my ABS works fine with a 3 psi difference front to rear.

If your car is front engine and works somewhat similar to mine, you can safely run front tires 3 psi low and rear tires 6 psi low with no problems and get a smoother ride. If you need to haul heavy cargo, add 1 psi per 100 lbs to rear tires up to a maximum of psi recommended on door frame.

For convienience, don't worry about adjusting rear tires psi for loads in trunk that are under 100 lbs.

Note: After lowering rear tires 3 psi lower than front tires... Reset your electronic tire pressure monitor (in the hope that it will remember and accept this psi configuration without setting off tire pressure warnings). I don't know if this is really necessary or helpful, but I did this for my Buick and I have no tire pressure warnings or problems (as long as the front to rear difference is within 3 psi).

I don't know if resetting your tire pressure monitor is necessary or not, but it can't hurt, might help it accept your new tire pressure configuration without it squawking.

If your tire pressure monitor still squawks (even after reserting it) about a 3 psi diiference beween front and rear tires, then try running rear tires only 2 psi lower than front tires (and reset tire tire pressure monitor again).

Notes and Warnings: My tire pressure advice to run rear tires lower psi than front tires is good advice only for front engine, 2 wheel drive cars. i.e. - front heavy, 2 wheel drive cars.

Do not follow the above advice in this post for rear engine cars.
Do NOT follow the above advice in this post for all wheel drive cars. If your car is all wheel drive you can run front and rear tires 3 psi low, but the front and rear tires psi must be same psi. i.e. - For all wheel drive cars, all tires need to have same psi.

Mazda cx5's have a 15 gallon fuel tank and mine rides no different full vs on empty....half a tank would weigh about 47 lbs less than if full....CX5's are AWD and spec 35psi for both front and rear on my 2023 CX5. On newer CX5 unfortunately I don't think you can lower the psi threshold for the warning light and at 32psi you probably get the light. CX5's are sprung to ride and drive on the sporty side compared to most CUV 's in it's class. The OP did not state how many miles were on the vehicle but on my 2023 i get no vibrations through the steering wheel...I wonder if they the OP needs the tires rebalanced and possibly an alignment...

 

[D.P.R.]

Mazda cx5's have a 15 gallon fuel tank and mine rides no different full vs on empty....half a tank would weigh about 47 lbs less than if full....CX5's are AWD and spec 35psi for both front and rear on my 2023 CX5. On newer CX5 unfortunately I don't think you can lower the psi threshold for the warning light and at 32psi you probably get the light. CX5's are sprung to ride and drive on the sporty side compared to most CUV 's in it's class. The OP did not state how many miles were on the vehicle but on my 2023 i get no vibrations through the steering wheel...I wonder if they the OP needs the tires rebalanced and possibly an alignment...

Its a 2022 CX5 AWD with 21K miles. You are correct, Mazdas are tuned on the sporty side which means slightly stiffer ride. Car drives straight and tires are even so no alignment issue. Also vibrations bother only me. My son and wife both said car feels normal to them. Yesterday I drove my wife's 2021 Toyota Venza hybrid and I did not experienced as much discomfort even when the gas engine kicked in and that Toyota gas engine is known to be on the "rough" side. I guess we will switch cars. The Venza still aggravates my condition but not as much as the CX5 so Venza it is for me. Funny thing is I thought the vibrations from electric motors would be worse for me but I was wrong. I guess it has to do with the specific frequency of the vibrations, perhaps the venza is more isolated/insulated. Whatever the case it seems to vibrate less.

 

[Carlostrece]

Mazda cx5's have a 15 gallon fuel tank and mine rides no different full vs on empty....half a tank would weigh about 47 lbs less than if full....CX5's are AWD and spec 35psi for both front and rear on my 2023 CX5. On newer CX5 unfortunately I don't think you can lower the psi threshold for the warning light and at 32psi you probably get the light. CX5's are sprung to ride and drive on the sporty side compared to most CUV 's in it's class. The OP did not state how many miles were on the vehicle but on my 2023 i get no vibrations through the steering wheel...I wonder if they the OP needs the tires rebalanced and possibly an alignment...

OK. So based on what you said above, to safely get a smoother ride from a CX5 without spending any money, I suggest putting in 32 psi for all tires and then resetting tire pressure monitor warning. Then try driving it that way.

If the tire pressure warning monitor still squawks, then put 33 psi in all tires and reset the tire pressure monitor warning again. Then try driving it that way.

I don't think the tire pressure monitor warning system will care how low the tires are, as long as they're all the same. I could be wrong though. My experience is with older cars.

 

[Carlostrece]

Its a 2022 CX5 AWD with 21K miles. You are correct, Mazdas are tuned on the sporty side which means slightly stiffer ride. Car drives straight and tires are even so no alignment issue. Also vibrations bother only me. My son and wife both said car feels normal to them. Yesterday I drove my wife's 2021 Toyota Venza hybrid and I did not experienced as much discomfort even when the gas engine kicked in and that Toyota gas engine is known to be on the "rough" side. I guess we will switch cars. The Venza still aggravates my condition but not as much as the CX5 so Venza it is for me. Funny thing is I thought the vibrations from electric motors would be worse for me but I was wrong. I guess it has to do with the specific frequency of the vibrations, perhaps the venza is more isolated/insulated. Whatever the case it seems to vibrate less.

IME electric motors don't vibrate much, if at all. Gas motors vibrate. It's probably the gas motor in the hyrid that vibrates it, especially right when it starts the gas motor.

Is the Venza 2 wheel drive or all wheel drive?

 

[D.P.R.]

IME electric motors don't vibrate much, if at all. Gas motors vibrate. It's probably the gas motor in the hyrid that vibrates it, especially right when it starts the gas motor.

Is the Venza 2 wheel drive or all wheel drive?

The venza is AWD (small electric motor on the back). I feel less vibrations even with the gas engine running. My wife does not notice a difference and she is ok switching cars.

 

[Carlostrece]

The venza is AWD (small electric motor on the back). I feel less vibrations even with the gas engine running. My wife does not notice a difference and she is ok switching cars.

Then I suggest try running all Venza tires 2 psi lower than recommened on door sticker. That might be low enough for good comfort.

If 2 psi low isn't comfortable enough, then try 3 psi low.

Just make sure all 4 tires have the same psi (because AWD). After each change in tire pressure, reset tire pressure monitor.

Also, I recommend refilling gas tank when it gets to half full. With gas tank anywhere from from 1/2 to full, you will probably notice a slightly smoother ride.

Then you could be riding with improved comfort without needing to spend money.

 

[124via126]

Also don't over inflate tires. I run 33 psi on my tires when at road temp. Sticker says 35 cold but it is too stiff for my comfort.

If you're doing 33 PSI when at road temp, then it's likely 27 PSI when cold and that's severely under-inflated than suggested 35 PSI cold.


If you do 39 PSI at road temp, that translates to ~33 PSI cold.

 

[Ranger83]

In summary, buy new wheels (smallest wheel that fit the caliper).
Then replace the tire with the appropriate size for that smaller wheel with taller sidewall to provide better cushion.
Make sure you buy good brand tires not the cheap tires.

To add to your excellent point, lots of people are going to larger rims these days, so they sell well, and sma;let diameters sell for low prices.

Our older (2000’s) Hondas came with 16” wheels, while same year Acuras were 17. There were tons of Acura 17 takeoffs for sale locally.

Usually cheaper trim levels come with smaller donuts.

 

[D.P.R.]

Greetings everyone. I wanted to provide an update.
1) Dr. changed my prescription medication schedule/interval and I have felt a slight improvement.

2) tire pressure was lowered to 32 psi (from 35 psi) as many of you suggested. The suspension feels less "stiff" over impacts from potholes/bumps but the ride "smoothness" (think of the feeling while riding over good, flat pavement) doesn't seem to have improved.

3) installed a cushioned steering wheel cover. It may have made a slight improvement or maybe it is placebo effect. I figured it wouldn't hurt to try it.

4) I have continued to drive the car to try and get aclimated to the vibrations. I'm only driving 4 or 5 times a week and very short distances.

I'm trying a couple of things next (don't call me crazy, I'm experimenting here)
1) a thicker engine oil on the next scheduled oil change. Currently on 0w-20...will try 0w-30 to see if it makes a difference on engine vibration.

2) premium gas to see is it smoothess out the engine.

 

[altaylar]

First of all, glad to hear you are doing better now. I noticed you opened your account back in 2023 but haven't been too active later on, i guess we know why now. I hope you will get better even better soon.

Michelin and Continental. Don't look elsewhere.
Check the Michelin Primacy lineup. That is basically their comfort-oriented lineup of tires.
If you need snow performance, Michelin CrossClimate2.

This is spot on.

Also, tire pressures does effect the vibration as well. Think of tire walls like springs, and tire pressure as spring rate. Higher the pressure, harsher the ride (or more feed back, depends on your perspective).

For your car, a quick google search tells me factory recommendations are 34 psi for 17 inch wheels, and 36 psi for 19 inch ones. Whichever you have, i would consider targeting about 3psi lower than the recommendation and see how it is doing. They will wear faster, but that is a marginal cost considering the comfort added. You just need to make sure the sidewalls are not wearing down, which could happen if the pressure is too low. Considering you will not be pushing the car for a spirited drive, i think you will be safe with a good margin if you decrease by 5 psi.

Smaller the wheel, taller the tire (they both should sum up to the same diameter). So 17 inch wheels should ride more comfortable. If you have 19 inch wheels i would strongly recommend going down to 17 inches, or even lower if they clear your breaks, which i am quite sure 16 inches woul be very safe. The wheel has no capacity to absorb the vibration (in practice), but tire does. So adding 2 or 3 inches of vibration absorbing material is huge.


One last thing, you can consider getting a tire with linger walls. My car calls for 215 40 18, and i have 225 40 18. Even that super small change in wall diameter effects the ride quality. In your case i would consider increasing the second number by 5 or 10. Your odometer will be off a couple percent, but again, considering your situation i expect that to be fine.

 

[IndyIan]

I see your car can fit 17" rims with 225/65R17 tires, which are very common, cheap, and ride smooth, especially a few psi low. And a tire with that much sidewall can take being run low a bit better than a low profile tire. You probably could just trade someone with a base CX-5, even for their rims and nearly new tires.