[chadrockey]

I have a 2017 Volt with 5000k on the stock tires. These tires are by far the noisiest and most uncomfortable part of the car. I went over a bouncy highway section and started to feel nauseous from the motion and rigidity of the bouncing. My app says that my tires are 39 PSI front and 38 rear. I haven't tried lowering the pressure 3psi, but I don't expect a huge difference.

I'm thinking about buying new tires to get a more comfortable ride

It looks like the Continental PureContact with EcoPlus or Pirelli P7 are the top choices from a lot of research, but I'm definitely open to other suggestions.

My priorities are less road noise > comfort > EV range/fuel economy > cost.

I'm in SoCal, so winter isn't really an issue. Are Summer tires an option or should I go with All Season?

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4/19 Update. Planning on making recordings of the current road noise, checking and releasing pressure down to factory recommended, and making a 2nd recording. Will post here with the videos.

For reference, I am the on the stock Michelin Energy Saver A/S.
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4/23 Update. The Pirellis are installed. Brand new < 10 miles on them, so it's hard to give a good first impression. I did make some comparison videos the best I could with my iPhone in my ProClip USA Mount. Sorry I couldn't get good video, but you can see some of the bouncy/rolling shutter. These three videos were all taken on the same stretch of road at about the same speeds.

Videos removed because recorded with iPhone. The iPhone seems to be really only intended for voices. I couldn't find a mic and tried the best I can. Maybe I can make some future comparisons by going on a "test drive" at a dealer or having someone else in Orange County come by if I can get a good mic. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to record or a mic they could let me borrow?

There's obviously some frequencies missing from this Spectrum Chart of the audio:

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4/25 Update. A few commutes in and the tires are a much better ride. I'm very satisfied with how well road transitions and bumps are handled now. It feels much more comfortable.

While we couldn't verify any real sound improvements, I do believe there are some. I just noticed this morning that I only turned the radio up to 1/3 of max volume listening from CarPlay. Before it was at or slightly above 1/2. So I think there is some improvement, but I am disappointed I can't share it with the community right now.

Current feelings:
Ride comfort on a scale of 1 being my 2014 Prius c and 10 being a Lincoln MKZ Black Label:
Energy Saver A/S: 3
Pirelli P7 Plus: 8

Noise coming from the back of the Volt, 1 being my Prius c flooring it 0 to 60, 10 being how I feel at a Bose QC35 demo:
Energy Save A/S: 2
Pirelli P7 Plus: 4

 

[quirkySquirt]

When my tires go, I'll be getting the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus tires. The only independent video I could find highlights it's noise reduction compared to an OEM Continental ContiProContact: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bap0Y2UIJZ0

If you wouldn't mind, I'm sure plenty here would appreciate a before/after recording on a similar road when you get whichever tire you settle on.

 

[bentbiker]

My app says that my tires are 39 PSI front and 38 rear. I haven't tried lowering the pressure 3psi, but I don't expect a huge difference.

3-4 psi over the recommended pressure will make a significant difference in ride quality. Don't rely on TPMS for pressure -- use a pressure gauge.

 

[Kraven]

OP, what kind of original tires do you have? I have the Michelin Energy Savers and they are fine, I'm also running them at 44PSI and find no issues with comfort or noise. I thought all 2017s had the Michelins...

 

[blimo]

The Michelin Premier A/S is pretty hard to beat. Very quite, great wet and dry weather performance. Compared to OEM Energy Savers, they aren't as harsh on the bumps, they have much better steering response, they are much quieter, and they have a greater load rating. Compare them on Tire Rack to what ever else you are considering buying.

 

[Coppersnowboarder]

Michelin Premier or Michelin Defender are good all-season tires. Safety is comfort. http://www.michelinman.com/US/en/homepage.html?&cid=PSH%7c%5BTVTY%5D+Branded+-+Evergreen+-+Exact%7cGOOGLE%7c176675871305%7cc%7cMichelin%20tires%7ce%7c&utm_source=GOOGLE&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=%5BTVTY%5D+Branded+-+Evergreen+-+Exact&utm_term=Michelin%20tires&utm_device=c&gclid=CPbUodWYstMCFQUIaQodOdgJmg&gclsrc=aw.ds#

 

[Kraven]

The Michelin Premier A/S is pretty hard to beat. Very quite, great wet and dry weather performance. Compared to OEM Energy Savers, they aren't as harsh on the bumps, they have much better steering response, they are much quieter, and they have a greater load rating. Compare them on Tire Rack to what ever else you are considering buying.

With the Michelin Premier A/S I've read you lose about 10% range, is that your experience?

 

[chadrockey]

@bentbiker Thanks for the advice. I'll make a comparison video and see if I notice any difference after confirming the tires to be at recommended pressure with a real gauge.

@Kraven I'm on the stock tires, but I'm not really satisfied with how it rides. Maybe I'm spoiled by the ultra quiet drivetrain so the road noise "seems" more severe, but the combination of the noise seeming severe and being bounced makes me suspicious.

@blimo thanks for the suggestion. I'll def consider the Premier A/S vs the P7 in my search.

What I might do is go to the Big O that has a buy 3 get 1 free offer with my employer and buy them there. They stock both the P7 and Premier A/S. If I don't like one, maybe they'll exchange for the other.

 

[firehawk72]

3-4 psi over the recommended pressure will make a significant difference in ride quality. Don't rely on TPMS for pressure -- use a pressure gauge.

I have a quality pressure gauge. I have found the TPMS systems in GM vehicles to be spot on perfect.

 

[firehawk72]

I put a set of of Continental TruContacts on my 2012 Volt. I lost a little bit of range, but they are an extremely quiet tire and give a buttery smooth ride. I would recommend them. TireRack pretty much said they were the perfect tire.

 

[alfon]

Our 2016 Volt Premier came with Michelin Energy Saver AS tires. We have them at 44 PSI, and with nearly 15,000 miles they are wearing perfectly, quiet, and our last trip when running on just the gas engine returned over 58 mpg. I believe no tire available in the U.S. is as fuel efficient as the Michelin Energy Saver AS tires.

If there is a more fuel efficient tire, with the overall quality of the Michelin, let us all know.

 

[Dutch]

Everything I have to say on this is here
Continental True Contact w/Eco Plus - Running review

 

[bentbiker]

I have a quality pressure gauge. I have found the TPMS systems in GM vehicles to be spot on perfect.

And the only reason you know this to be the case with your particular sensors is that you have that quality gauge. Plenty of people here have reported that their sensors were not spot on.

 

[firehawk72]

And the only reason you know this to be the case with your particular sensors is that you have that quality gauge. Plenty of people here have reported that their sensors were not spot on.

True ...

 

[Tomt]

I'm very happy with the Michelins that came on my Premier... Not the grippiest but that is part and parcel with LRR tires... I run them at 40 pounds.

 

[hellsop]

With the Michelin Premier A/S I've read you lose about 10% range, is that your experience?

Compared to what? Gen 2 come from the factory with Michelin Energy Saver A/S 215/50R17 all-season.

 

[Kraven]

Compared to what? Gen 2 come from the factory with Michelin Energy Saver A/S 215/50R17 all-season.

Compared to those Michelin Energy Savers you just referenced, the OEM tires on Gen2 Volts.

 

[hellsop]

Compared to those Michelin Energy Savers you just referenced, the OEM tires on Gen2 Volts.

Oh, Premier vs ES. Got it now. 10% may be the most loss than you'll actually see, based on other LRR-to-regular comparisons. Almost all of those report somewhere between 5% and 10%, which feels ... exaggerated. Most of the manufacturers only claim saving about 1-2% fuel savings, and I can figure out how that can be stretched to 10% by the time you get to actual distance on roads, even accounting for the 1/3 efficiency you usually see coming out of ICE cars. The 5-6% number seems more reasonable. As for "comfort", I've not really ever seen anyone say that there was a notable difference in that area. Only much praise for Premier's wet stopping distance under wear. That seems a reasonable trade for the slightly smaller range, but only your wallet can tell you if that's worth the extra $200 a set...

 

[Kraven]

Thanks Hellsop, yes some range loss, maybe not quite 10% and better wet handling. In So Cal this past winter we've actually had some rain and the OEM Michelin ES performed just fine for me in wet conditions. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I've been happy with the ES in terms of road noise, reasonable handling (not driving it too fast in corners anyway) and the price is right compared to the Premiers.

I'm a long way off from needing new tires and will revisit the issue at that time. If I needed new tires now I would probably lean toward the ES that I'm currently rolling on. If it's not broken...

 

[quirkySquirt]

FYI, I'd still be careful accelerating up an incline in the ES tires. I get more rain here in the PNW and can tell you, they will slip. Perhaps I'm ruined by my hand-me-down Maxima Wagon with the extra traction from the wagon profile, but I've had to adjust to my Volt's extra torque and front wheel drive when accelerating up hills (especially in downtown Seattle, hills galore!).