[UncleScotty]

I almost don't care about handling.....if the new tires reduce noise in the car by at least 15 or 20 percent.

The tires on it NOW are seemingly major contributors to cabin noise, and it's driving us crazy.

Anybody here ever put General Alti-max's on?

Any other "quiet contenders" in an all-season?

 

[Turbonut]

Best advice I can offer is to check the various tires out on Tirerack.com

I just installed the Altimax (225/45-17) a couple weeks ago on the Optima. Seems like a decent tire, but too early to know if, down the road, the tires will become noisy. I purchased "T" rated tires this time to try and soften the rock hard ride. They helped some but the ride is still not to our liking.

Also, just installed some Goodyear Eagle Sport (245/45-17) on the wife's car. Must say that these seem excellent when considering ride, handling, comfort and noise, but once again, too early to tell whether they will stay that way throughout their life.

 

[SXexcess]

I've had the generals on for a while now, much better than the oem crap.
Kia could have done a better job on sound insulation IMO.:thumbsdown:

 

[1st timer]

I've had the generals on for a while now, much better than the oem crap.
Kia could have done a better job on sound insulation IMO.<img src="http://www.optimaforums.com/forum/images/smilies/thumbsdown.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Thumbsdown" class="inlineimg" />

Tires help with noise but I agree...Kia could've insulated better.

 

[UncleScotty]

I just installed the Altimax (225/45-17) a couple weeks ago on the Optima. Seems like a decent tire, but too early to know if, down the road, the tires will become noisy. I purchased "T" rated tires this time to try and soften the rock hard ride. They helped some but the ride is still not to our liking.

Also, just installed some Goodyear Eagle Sport (245/45-17) on the wife's car. Must say that these seem excellent when considering ride, handling, comfort and noise, but once again, too early to tell whether they will stay that way throughout their life.

So, Turbo, enlighten me: our SX has Continental 225/45/18's on it.
Why would you (your car) call for 17's?
1. Personal choice?
2. Smaller diameter for different model of Optima? (makes no sense to me)
3. Better sound reduction on 17's over 18's? (again...logic?)

As for someone's comment about the OEM "crap" Kia put on the car......what were those? (I HAVE to assume that when I bought our car last October, with 135,000 kliks on it, the Conti's were at LEAST the second or third set of replacements.)

Who IS the authority on quiet tires for this car? KIA? Canadian Tire? TireRack?

No offense to fellow forum members, but there doesn't seem to be much consensus here.

 

[tonester]

Can't speak on what OEM tires are on 2018 Optima SX(L)s up in Canada but here in the U.S. my 2018 SXL came with 18" Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires. My memory ain't all that great anymore but IIRC they are bit noisier on concrete than on asphalt but overall not too noisy at highway speeds, IMHO. Definitely not an excellent handling tire as far as traction and grip are concerned, but that shouldn't be too much of a surprise since they are all-season tires.

 

[Turbonut]

So, Turbo, enlighten me: our SX has Continental 225/45/18's on it.
Why would you (your car) call for 17's?
1. Personal choice?
2. Smaller diameter for different model of Optima? (makes no sense to me)
3. Better sound reduction on 17's over 18's? (again...logic?)

As for someone's comment about the OEM "crap" Kia put on the car......what were those? (I HAVE to assume that when I bought our car last October, with 135,000 kliks on it, the Conti's were at LEAST the second or third set of replacements.)

Who IS the authority on quiet tires for this car? KIA? Canadian Tire? TireRack?

No offense to fellow forum members, but there doesn't seem to be much consensus here.

The'11 EX-T came with 17" 215/55-17 tires as standard equipment, so I use 225/55-17.
I've mentioned this before that the glass used in the Kia is not what I consider good "sound resistance" glass. The windshield in the wife's Acura is double the cost of the Kia glass, and I don't recall the thickness/structual difference of windshield, side windows.

 

[SXexcess]

The 2012s came with Hankooks IIRC, definitely the low bidder...lol.
If they come with Michelin Primacys now, good on kia.

 

[tonester]

The 2012s came with Hankooks IIRC, definitely the low bidder...lol.
If they come with Michelin Primacys now, good on kia.

I'm guessing that Kia opted for the Hankooks on the 17" OEMs and Michelins on the 18" OEMs--my co-worker's 2017 Optima EX came with OEM 17" Hankooks whereas my 2018 Optima SXL came with the OEM 18" Michelins (18" is also a factory option for the Optima S trim).

 

[hlf gasd]

I just got Yokohama Avid Ascend AT for my hybrid. My gas mileage has gone up and they're a great ride! Highly recommended and cost effective with great warranty to back them.

 

[Strykar]

The '14 SXT came with Nexen CP662s .. awful, awful tires in my opinion. I just ordered a set of 225/45ZR18 BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S. They should be here for a weekend install, but I can't imagine I could like a tire less than the Nexens.

 

[JasonS]

The Optimas came with either 17" or 18" tires from the factory. The early models had a Hankooks line which was super noisy. Newer models have other brands which are far greater. ANY tire as it wears increases road noise. There are a couple stickied wheel threads here in the Forums, have you gone through them?

As for brands, there are a lot of Yokohama fans here (me included), as well as Continental, and I just recently purchased a set of 19" Nexen NFera AU7's which are pretty nice as well.

 

[abrown0809]

I switched the stock nexens to generals and they are much better. Better traction during wet weather and the ride quality is better.