Looking for a nice, quiet set of all seasons. Recommendations?

Turbonut said:

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.

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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.