how to get a softer ride

[rogerdodger]

We love our 2009 vibe GT but want a softer ride...with the stiffer ride we feel every bump!...what can we do to get a softer ride?....get rid of those thin tires?

[star_deceiver]

Quote, originally posted by rogerdodger »....get rid of those thin tires? Yup! Or you could swap the shocks to something softer...

[tpollauf]

Quote, originally posted by rogerdodger »We love our 2009 vibe GT but want a softer ride...with the stiffer ride we feel every bump!...what can we do to get a softer ride?....get rid of those thin tires? Welcome .... another 09 Vibe GT owner It's a trade off. You either can corner on a dime (curved off & on ramps @ 80 mph are so sweet with the 18" rims & GT suspension ) yet feel the bumps, OR Sway like hell when turning corners yet gently feel a bump here or there. You likely bought your GT for it's appearance and not for the performance, otherwise an 09 base model would have been better for you. On a more serious note, you can downgrade to some nice looking 16" rims & tires which will make a BIG difference when hitting bumps and yet not take away the sport look of the car. I'll be doing this exact thing this fall as I'll be taking my 18's off for the winter and getting a set of 16" for winter driving only. Hitting chunks of ice/snow and potholes will be more pleasant on the smaller rims. Post pics of your 09 GT. I'm curious of the color & options. Again ... Welcome

[Zimm]

my '10 base has 16"s on steelies, and honestly, there are times when i wish i had 15"s and a more forgiving tire. but that's michigan roads for ya!btw-welcome! there's all sorts of useful stuff you can learn about your vibe here.

[jkm311]

Quote, originally posted by Zimm »my '10 base has 16"s on steelies, and honestly, there are times when i wish i had 15"s and a more forgiving tire. but that's michigan roads for ya!I'm right up the road from you, and I outfitted my Vibe in that EXACT fashion and for the EXACT same reason! During the winter, I switch over to 15" steelies and VERY cushy Blizzaks. I think the sidewall is 65. Big difference over the 55 sidewall on the stock all-season Goodyears.And during the summer, I have upgraded the sidewall (from the 205/55/16) and now have taller 205/60/16 Bridgestone Potenzas on the stock 2006 16" alloy rims.I still have all the original suspension (53k miles), and simply switching to the taller tires in both sets (winter/summer) has made ALL the difference, and for the same price I was needing to pay for new tires anyhow. In fact, 60-sized sidewalls were $15 cheaper per tire over the OEM 55s when I needed new ones back in March.

[Zimm]

howdy neighbor!

[LedFootin]

The GT is a performance based vehicle. Performance based drivers want to feel every bump in the road. You might want to look at trading it in on a nice tame base model.

[keithvibe]

sell it and buy a buick

[lowincash]

changing out the stock tires do help...i changed to some yokahoma yk520 and they ride smoother and a lot quieter compared to stock. the ride will still be stiff but it's cushier over bad roads now. the stiff ride might also be because of the vibe's short wheelbase. speaking of buick, that'll be my next car hahaha i'm thinking of getting the new buick regal...looks pretty good =D