Final conclusion - ride on rough roads???

[Parrotguy]

I'm close to buying, probably a 3.6 with tech and premium. I've read so much about the "jittery" ride on rough roads I've come to the conclusion that It has been improved in 2012, but the suspension still needs improvement. I'm thinking about trips from San Diego to LA on the 5 and 405, where the concrete freeway is in horrible shape. You feel every divider. (I'm not a fan of decreasing tire pressure,as some have done).
Should I wait for the 2013 and hope some improvement is made? Hyundai hasn't leaked when the 2013 can be expected, so I don't know how long the wait would be.
Appreciate your thoughts, thanks.

 

[homeofstone]

Check out the new Azera. It will give you a better ride and still get all the options.

 

[Mark_888]

Most of the comments about jittery ride were the 2009 models. Hyundai improved it noticeably in 2010, and again in 2012. Also, the OEM Dunlap tires on 2009-2011 models made things worse. But If you want a car that has a cushy ride, I would look elsewhere, because Hyundai (at least on USA Genesis models) is aiming more for the German type (BMW/MB/VW) of ride.

The 2013 model year for Genesis sedan (probably available late 2012) will be the same as the 2012 model. Rumors are that the 2014 model (available late 2013, at least in Korea) will be a major redesign, but I doubt it will be cushiest ride on the road.

If you want a cushy ride, look at the Equus, or as others have suggested maybe the Azera, or an American model. If roads are as bad as you say and comfort is that important to you, I would look at Chrysler 300 or something.

 

[scottdk]

(I'm not a fan of decreasing tire pressure,as some have done).QUOTE]

People have decreased their tire pressure to the recommended PSI per what Hyundai states for the Genesis. The Genesis is shipped with inflated PSI to decrease chances of flat spots on the tires, and many dealers have failed to let air out in order to comply with the factory psi specs.

 

[Glashub]

I drive that route on occassion and I'm fine with it in my 2012 4.6. The 4.6 i.e. now the 5.0 is better for SoCal imo than the R-Spec.

Keep in mind that no matter what many may say here, the Genesis ride is odd regardless of the model. IMO The steering is numb, the body rolls when the car is tossed and you feel the bumps. The good news is that I've gotten used to it and the car is sooo solid, and it really is firmly planted so you'll soon forget that you're feeling every bump and learn to trust the car is not going to go out of control.

It's like driving a virtual luxo/sports car. It's neither here nor there and is not firmly planted in either category.

I'm coming from an Acura TL SH-AWD which is one of the best handling cars going.

FLAME SUIT ON!

 

[OneFunGenesis]

(I'm not a fan of decreasing tire pressure,as some have done).QUOTE]

People have decreased their tire pressure to the recommended PSI per what Hyundai states for the Genesis. The Genesis is shipped with inflated PSI to decrease chances of flat spots on the tires, and many dealers have failed to let air out in order to comply with the factory psi specs.

^^ This. Many times when I worked for Hyundai the Techs would forget to set the tire pressure. The PSI the ship with is in the mid 40's. Makes for one bouncy ride but some GREAT MPG's lmao

 

[CamarilloBrillo]

^^ This. Many times when I worked for Hyundai the Techs would forget to set the tire pressure. The PSI the ship with is in the mid 40's. Makes for one bouncy ride but some GREAT MPG's lmao

So, what is the upper limit on tire pressure? If I wanted to skew towards MPG instead of comfort and vice versa? Where in that range is tire wear affected?

As it is now I keep my tires at 33 per the manual and it looks and feels like I'm always driving with tires with low pressure. It looks like the tire would hit the rim with the smallest of pothole but I haven't had larger wheels like the 18's. Is this normal?

 

[Effin Ponderous]

Parrot, I held off buying the 09 specifically for that reason. I sat in the 2012 and knew it was different. Took it for a test ride and bought. Liked my 3.8 so much, I also just bought an R-Spec.

 

[Mark_888]

So, what is the upper limit on tire pressure? If I wanted to skew towards MPG instead of comfort and vice versa? Where in that range is tire wear affected?

As it is now I keep my tires at 33 per the manual and it looks and feels like I'm always driving with tires with low pressure. It looks like the tire would hit the rim with the smallest of pothole but I haven't had larger wheels like the 18's. Is this normal?

You could try 35 psi cold tire pressure (70 F ambient temp and not driven the car for 4 hours).

What do you mean "but I haven't had larger wheels like the 18's"? Do you have 17" rims?

I would recommend that you have a knowledgeable friend look at your tires. Either your tire gauge is not accurate, or you don't understand what radial tires look like. But make sure you measure cold tire pressure (as defined above). As soon as you start driving, you tire pressure increases by 2-3 PSI, and also increases by 1 PSI for each 10 F above 70. So if your tires pressure is measured hot, you actual cold tire pressure may be well below 30.

 

[OneFunGenesis]

Tire pressure depends on wheel size and tire size. I run 225/45/18 on my car right now and its recommended to be a 36PSI cold. So thats where she sits. Cold PSI is where its at. Look for the recommended pressure and keep it there. The reason being is because its what they have figured out is that the recommended PSI wears the tire evenly.

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[CamarilloBrillo]

What do you mean "but I haven't had larger wheels like the 18's"? Do you have 17" rims?

Every other car has at 15 or 16 inch wheels and it seems there's so much more rubber between the outside tire and the rim. Visually there seems to be very little distance between the surface of the tire and the rim if a pothole is hit. Maybe it's just a visual thing.

 

[OneFunGenesis]

Mainly visual. Thats why the tires need to be a touch harder. Like I said, my 18's recommend 36PSI

 

[CamarilloBrillo]

Mainly visual. Thats why the tires need to be a touch harder. Like I said, my 18's recommend 36PSI

On the tire or the manufacturer? Which one are we supposed to go by?

 

[Midnightsun]

On the tire or the manufacturer? Which one are we supposed to go by?

You cannot go by the tire as it is a nominal figure. If you have a 2000lb car or a 5000lb car running the same tire, obviously the tire inflation will need to be different to suit the application.

 

[OneFunGenesis]

^^^ That. My tires I am going by my performance shop specs. My OEM tires are 16's and recommend 32PSI so these AM Wheels/tires are 18's lol

 

[Mark_888]

Every other car has at 15 or 16 inch wheels and it seems there's so much more rubber between the outside tire and the rim. Visually there seems to be very little distance between the surface of the tire and the rim if a pothole is hit. Maybe it's just a visual thing.

I have finally figured out that you don't own a Genesis yet, and are talking about some other car.

The distance between the edge of the wheel rim and the road depends on the aspect ratio of the tire. A 50 aspect ratio tire has more distance than a 45, and therefore the 50 is going to be a smother riding tire do to the extra cushioning effect. The "ratio" is the tread width divided by tire height (between the rim and road). So the lower aspect ratio tire will have a wider tread, which makes it handle better, but makes the ride more jarring if you hit a bad spot in the road.

A particular car is built for a specific total wheel/tire diameter (otherwise optional size wheels might mess up speedometer, MPH readings, torque, etc), so the bigger the rim, the smaller the distance between the edge of the rim and the road, so that a 17" wheel should be the same total diameter (with tire) as a 18" inch wheel (assuming both sizes are offered or approved by the manufacturer for the same car).

There are lots of websites that explain this better than me, and with pictures, etc.

 

[CamarilloBrillo]

^^^ That. My tires I am going by my performance shop specs. My OEM tires are 16's and recommend 32PSI so these AM Wheels/tires are 18's lol

Ah ... OK. Sorry for the senior moment but I thought that, somehow, you had the same size tires as original and got a different target pressure.

Just to be clear, the door panel has the correct target pressure regardless of tire manufacturer IF it's the same size and speed rated tire, right?

So I should make sure it's 33 psi.

 

[nextcar]

Check out the new Azera. It will give you a better ride and still get all the options.

yes, i agree with the new Azera.
also check out:

new camry
2013 lexus ES (coming soon)
buick lacrosse

 

[waveman]

I'm close to buying, probably a 3.6 with tech and premium. I've read so much about the "jittery" ride on rough roads I've come to the conclusion that It has been improved in 2012, but the suspension still needs improvement. I'm thinking about trips from San Diego to LA on the 5 and 405, where the concrete freeway is in horrible shape. You feel every divider. (I'm not a fan of decreasing tire pressure,as some have done).
Should I wait for the 2013 and hope some improvement is made? Hyundai hasn't leaked when the 2013 can be expected, so I don't know how long the wait would be.
Appreciate your thoughts, thanks.

I agree with many of the suggestions for alternatives to consider. But you're in the best position to decide if the ride of the 2012 Genesis will suit you. So if you haven't taken an extended test drive over the type of roads you'll be driving, you should do that. As for '13, Hyundai might make some minor changes to the suspension. However, they wouldn't want to draw attention to them, so you'll have to wait for write-ups from the automotive press, who get new models to drive sooner than the rest of us. I suspect we'll know something by this summer.

It'll be interesting to see what Hyundai does for '14, but that's more than a year off. I hope they offer some type of adjustable ride.

 

[Ruissimo]

It'll be interesting to see what Hyundai does for '14, but that's more than a year off. I hope they offer some type of adjustable ride.

I'd say more like two years. Late summer 2014 is my guess, same as the '12 redesign schedule.