Solid tires on 2006 Sonata LX

My GL with the 16" wheels and Michelin tires rides quite well.

Matt

not when you compare it to a grand marquis. i have my reserves about the 30 mpg on a v8, though.

Sorry, but I don't consider the "land yacht" feel to be a good ride. Yes, I think the 30 MPG is smoke also, but if you drive on the level, at a constant 55 MPH, you might be able to come close. I've seen large Buicks get 30 MPG on the highway, but that was with a V-6, not a V-8.

Matt

Our GLS rides quite well on the 16" Michelins, but it is definitely firmer than you're going to get on a traditional full-sized American sedan. I have not driven an LX so don't know how it compares.

Highest we've gotten so far (according to trip computer) is 29.7 mpg, this was on a trip driving 65 mph for the most part, using cruise control. Current average is in mixed driving is 24.3 mpg. This seems pretty respectable to me for a vehicle of this type, the Sonata is hardly a tiny economy car. We found that the gas mileage increased noticably after putting a couple of thousand miles on the car.

Ya, they're "sporty". Not much in the comfort department. It's a normal characteristic of low profiles. You give up quiet and comfort for performance.

My Sonata V6 has the 16" wheels, and the tires have a pretty good ride and are quieter over expansion joints. You may be able to trade even with someone. Talk to your dealer and ask him to put you in contact with someone that wants 17's. The 16's are still somewhat low profile, so don't expect a

100% improvement.

When you're used to riding in a land yacht, any sporty mid size car is quite a comedown in comfort. You'll get used to it, and come to appreciate the firm ride and precision handling that your Marquis couldn't come close to.

I went for a short trip last weekend, and nearly broke 30 MPG at 29.68. I only have 2600 miles on the car, so I have no doubt I will get 30+ on long stretches. You'll get there!

The lower the profile (aspect ratio) of the tire, the rougher the ride. As you increase the diameter of the wheel, the tire sidewall dimension, and aspect ratio, must decrease. The tire's sidewall functions as a spring, just as does your suspension.

Early radial tires had an aspect ratio of 80, a.k.a. 80-series tires - a rather narrow treadwidth on a 15 inch tire, for example. The ride was generally very good. As the ratio dropped to 78-series, 75-series,

70-series, 65-series, 60-series, 55-series, and so on, the sidewall height continually became smaller. There is less sidewall to absorb the road imperfections, and certainly pot holes, etc. Wheel damage is much more likely with the newer designs with very low profile tires. Tire sidewall technology has improved, but it doesn't change the fact there is less "spring" available at the tire to absorb impact forces.

Yes, a GLS will provide a smoother ride than the LX. That said, you probably could find a tire that will provide a better ride than the stock tires on the LX. Your Mercury probably had either 15" or 16" wheels with either 70-series or 60-series tires. And, the suspension system is certainly more supple (by design) than the Sonata, plus the wheelbase is longer, thereby providing a decent ride.

IMO, the move to larger wheel diameters has a practical limit. The giant wheels seen on some cars today, i.e. 20" or 22", are not only impractical for every day use, but look stupid on the cars on which they've been installed.

Have you checked the tire pressures? The cars are shipped with 45-50 psi in the tires and sometimes the dealers forget to lower it to correct operating pressure.

Did you check the air pressure??????????????

Never Forget!!!

Although I do not (yet) own one, there is more and more data suggesting that your better bet are the 16" tires and wheels.

I know how many of you feel about Consumer Reports, but when they tested both the GLS 4-cylinder (with the 16" tires) and the V6 (with the 17" tires), the higher profile 16" tires actually braked the car in a significantly shorter distance and gave a solid level of comfort, while not giving anything up for handling.

But since you have the 17" tires, if one does not like the OEM tires, your only other choice may be to go to a reputable tire dealer and "trade the tires in" on something you like better. Most better ones will do that, since they can always sell nearly new tires at a fair price (though you may be a tad disappointed what you get for them).

One suggestion for a softer ride is a relatively new tire called the Goodyear Eagle ResponsEdge. It comes in your size and speed rating (V) and looks to be a tire in the type of family that their Assurance ComforTred is. It is VERY new (hence a relative unknown), but looks promising. And among the possible alternatives (not a ton with a 'V' rating) this may be your best bet.

Just remember - a 'V' rated speed tire will always be firmer than the typical tire they put on those big Mercury's (usually an 'S' or 'T' rated tire.

Hope this helps.

Tom Wenndt

I know the Merc was a land yacht. but I put in over 20000 miles a year on LOOOOng trips.I consistantly averaged 28-30 MPG on the merc driving speedlimie+ 5MPH across the USA. One trip from San Diego to Chicago averaged 29.8 MPG for the entire trip and this included driving in Albuquerque, Flagstaff and Kans City. another thing about the Sonata: when I called Hartford Insurance they upped my premium by $520 per year 'cause this is a "sports car"!!! The car is ideal, cute and classy for driving to the grocery store, church and going to see aunt Nellie but a road car - it ain't! I can go see aunt Nellie in my Elantra and it rides better!

I recently went for a little road trip, and I hit some stretches of highway that were absolutely PUNISHING. The worst road was concrete Interstate, and the joints were badly mismatched. For a 20 mile stretch it was Whack-A-Whack-A-Whack, and they tried their best to destroy my kidneys. On better roads, the car is always jet smooth and eerily quiet. So, when you hit some decent roads, you'll be a lot happier.

Yes, I love to see people derive conclusions based on a sample size of one (one car with each size wheel/tire). Any statistician worth a hoot would laugh long and hard at this "test."

Matt

Deck, you have a problem. No one would expect the sonata to float like the merc, but it is known to be reasonable supple........the lower aspect ratio of the 17" tire is going to be more stiff than the 16".......but things are relative. My lx rides quite smooth compared to my S60t with its monster low/wide toyo's tires, but not as soft as my buick! (also toyo)

Check your tire pressure, and,........ your expectations..... Enjoy the overall handling, ride, and performance of the sonata. ps I'm getting over

28 mpg on the hiway now, 26 around town. pps If you got 30 mpg on the merc, I'll eat my hat.....or its got really long hiway gearing......and 0-60 in a minute! ppps I'm not overly impressed with the michelins on my lx, maybe you'll want to try something else once they are worn.

Well I guess they say evryone lies about gas mileage. Since I don't own the car any more I can't prove it to you but, I'm not real happy about bening called a liar. My wife has been with me on several trips where I made OVER 30MPG as well as my daughter and son inlaw. Last trip I made that I checked the mileage was from Macon Missouri to Bolingbrook Il and averaged 30.1 MPG. want mayo or catsup on the hat??

Well, since you've never lied to me before, I believe you.

You must admit that's extreme mileage for that car. Is it possible that you filled up with a pump nozzle that cuts off a lot earlier than most?

Unless you run your tank all the way out of gas, add a measured amount, and run it out again, your MPG figures are a little flaky. The best we can do (being practical) is to fill up with a certain pump, do not top off when the nozzle clicks off, then fill up with the same pump and nozzle. Even that is not likely to repeat within +/- .5 MPG, but it's certainly close enough among friends.

Deck,

Other posters have given good advice. I will not comment on the mpg issue.

As noted, ride quality of any car with even a slightly "sporty" suspension, 225/50 series, V-speed-rated grand touring tires and

17-inch wheels will feel quite rough compared to a Grand Marquis. Anyone who suggested otherwise was less than candid.

If I may ask, why did you choose the Sonata LX for your next car after a Grand Marquis? They're pretty far apart in most buyers' eyes; I doubt too many new car shoppers look seriously at both. The Sonata that's (relatively) closest to the Marquis is the GLS with the V-6. That has

16-inch wheels and higher, slightly narrower tires along with a slightly softer suspension than the LX.

Maybe the change from RWD to FWD plays a part in it, too.

As others have said, if you want to spend the money, switching tires and/or wheels might help. Here's a thought: A switch to 16-inch wheels and 205/60/16 tires would almost perfectly match your OEM tire size, in re speedometer reading. It would also come closer to the tire/wheel size you had on the Merc. (Would also be better in the snow/ice, all else equal, if that's an issue.)

Of course the car would handle differently, which is something to consider....but that seems to be what you want. And this would not be cheap.

Also you might want to bag the grand touring tires and switch to regular all-seaon radials. At 205/60/16, you could try something like Goodyear Comfortred or Michelin Harmony. The Comfortred is H-speed rated and the Harmony is T, if that matters to you.

Tire shop clerks will tell you it's bad to buy a tire with a lower speed rating than the OEM tire---which may be true in general, especially for spirited drivers---but I don't think dropping from V to H is a big issue, considering what you want out of your car.

(Also since the Comfortred and Harmony are high-quality tires. The Harmony is supposedly a tad rougher and noisier, per tirerack.com reviews. The OEM Michelins on the Sonata LX get poor reviews on that site, BTW.)

Anyway, good luck. I hope you work things out so you get a ride you enjoy with your new car.

Regards, Eric M

Thanks guys for all the info. I have had 4 lincolns and 6 mercurys, therefore I am used to them. I guess I was just venting my spleen as my wife was gritching about the back seat ride on sorta bad highway. I bought the Sonata 'cause I liked the new look and I already have a 2003 Elantra tha I really like. I checked tires and one had 40 lbs and other 3 had

35-37 lbs. reduced to 3o lbs and now seems to be better. we'll get used to it!!

Thank you..thank you. not that evryone will believe you...! I am also a Hyundai fan or I wouldn't have two of them!! I have 4000 miles on the Sonata and the ride on rough roads is probably my only complaint. That and the fact that my Insurance co raised my rates $520 a year because it's a "sports car"??? My son has a Tiberon and they didn't raise his rates ..guess it's not a sports car...!

============ People, people...

I'm a Hyundai fan all the way, but I can tell you that Ford's 4.6L engine can easily get 30 MPG in moderately favorable conditions. In a

1994 Lincoln Town Car (even heavier than the Mercury) I was able to exceed 30 MPG often. Set cruise control at about 70MPH on level roads without much headwind and it will happen. My max MPG was 33+ on a trip from Albuquerque to Oklahoma City one night, with a good stiff tailwind. Remember, the Lincoln (and other Ford products) has a computer module that computes gas mileage, so it's not subject to WAGs about how full the tank was, etc.

There are tons of reasons to buy Hyundai -- we've got three of them right now -- but we need to maintain a perspective here...

Harry

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