[rhodomel]

It's 2 years now of owning my 2017 Chevy Volt, and nearing 48,000 miles come mid-August. I've been carpooling with a Prius owner, so we take turns with our cars.

Lately, I feel that the Volt ride has gone rougher, that I now think that her old Prius now rides better than my Volt. It feels like I can sense every stone, pebble, and cracks on the road as my Volt tires passes over them and can feel those stuff on my spine. And it gets irritating the longer the road trip is. It can be that I am just getting old or the California freeways are getting more dilapidated, but then again, when riding on her Prius, I don't feel those roughness as much as in my Volt.

Anything that needed adjustments in my Volt? The 2-year free maintenance checkup has just expired. I keep my tire pressure constant at 38 psi cold reading.

Thanks!

 

[dznf0g]

Try it at the recommended 36psi. Couple pounds could make a perceptable difference to you. I wont give up ride quality for a tiny bit more range. Tires are a vehicle's PRIMARY shock absorber. Struts and shocks are a vehicle's SECONDARY shock absorber. Automotive 101 from my very first automotive course low these many years ago.

 

[jcanoe]

Maybe it is time for a new set of tires. I set my Michelin EnergySaver AS tires to 37 - 38 PSI and the ride is noticeably smoother than when I set the pressure to 40 PSI.

 

[somms]

Continental True Contact w/Eco Plus - Running review

FWIW: When I moved from the driveguard very stiff sidewall runflats to the TrueContacts late last year on my Gen1 the ride difference was night and day. The wife even commented how much smoother the ride now was. It felt like I was driving another car.

Just goes to show you what you can get 'used' to given enough time I suppose since the ride was so much harsher with the runflats compared to the Continentals!

 

[barich]

With 48k miles, I assume you've replaced your tires. Did you get the same tires that came with the car (Michelin Energy Saver A/S)? If not, what did you get? A different model of tire can make a huge difference in ride quality.

Whether or not you got another set of the Energy Saver AS tires, decrease your cold tire pressure to the label pressure (36 PSI). A few PSI can have a significant effect on ride quality and as long as the tires are not underinflated won't impact your range much if at all.

The Prius also just has a softer ride than the Volt does. However, it doesn't handle nearly as well. There's always a ride/handling tradeoff and I think the Volt makes a good compromise, but of course you can feel differently.

 

[obermd]

I also would be looking at the tires. 36 vs 38 PSI shouldn't make that much difference in ride quality, but worn tires or shocks will destroy the ride quality.

 

[dznf0g]

I also would be looking at the tires. 36 vs 38 PSI shouldn't make that much difference in ride quality, but worn tires or shocks will destroy the ride quality.

I would disagree here. Tire and wheel combinations, as produced, are the result of a lot of research and are matched to the suspension tuning during development. That goes for tuning the the suspension to specific tires pressures. I can tell a bit of difference on any vehicle when filled above door placard pressure. Now, I understand why Volt owners, in particular, run higher pressures but for folks who are ride sensitive, they will feel a difference. And, yes, tire brand and model does make a difference as well, even when run at the same pressures. I am certainly one who can tell the difference on my Volt, especially on the choppy broken roads up north here. If I lived in the south where roads are consistently better, probably not so much, generally speaking.

 

[obermd]

I would disagree here. Tire and wheel combinations, as produced, are the result of a lot of research and are matched to the suspension tuning during development. That goes for tuning the the suspension to specific tires pressures. I can tell a bit of difference on any vehicle when filled above door placard pressure. Now, I understand why Volt owners, in particular, run higher pressures but for folks who are ride sensitive, they will feel a difference. And, yes, tire brand and model does make a difference as well, even when run at the same pressures. I am certainly one who can tell the difference on my Volt, especially on the choppy broken roads up north here. If I lived in the south where roads are consistently better, probably not so much, generally speaking.

Two PSI is the variance from one air pump to the next. Also, 36 PSI measured in the morning will easily rise to 40 PSI in the afternoon heat, especially during summer driving. While possible, I seriously doubt many people can feel the difference between 36 and 38 PSI in the Volt.

Tire brand and model definitely makes a difference. So do worn shocks or struts, which do the bulk of the work to dampen bumps in the road. A failed shock will cause the ride to fell exactly how the OP reported.

 

[rhodomel]

Thank you all!

Yes my tires are new, and I bought continental true contact AS and they're now 6,000 miles on the new tires. I think I would have the shocks or struts inspected. Our roads here have been bad, many potholes last late winter.

 

[obermd]

Thank you all!

Yes my tires are new, and I bought continental true contact AS and they're now 6,000 miles on the new tires. I think I would have the shocks or struts inspected. Our roads here have been bad, many potholes last late winter.

Continentals tend to transmit more road feel to the suspension than the OEM Michelins - this may be your entire issue. To do a quick check on your suspension push down hard on each corner of the car on level ground and let go. The car should come up, overshoot the mark, and drop back into place (may have just a slight bounce back up to finish). If it goes more than one up/down/up cycle it's worth having someone look at it. The up/down/slightly up cycle is normal for a properly working suspension.