rLx77

How many of you dislike the firm ride of the Touring edition?

Did anyone actually change the suspension (sprints or struts) to either have 1) better ride quality or 2) better handling? How did you like it? Would you do it again, or keep the stock suspension?

Also, what PSI do you run your tires? I've decided to run mine at 35psi, and at least have the better handling, rather than a softer ride but with crappy handling. (I have 17" Falkens 512 which aren't exactly known for handling bumps well)

MetaOrbit

iTrader: (19)

I35 sport package suspension = I30t suspension too

My stock I35 sport suspension never seemed like a firm ride, and never bothered me.

I changed my springs and struts really for aesthetic reasons only. The ride quality has of course degraded and I think handling has only marginally improved.

I run factory recommended tire pressure on my Toyo Proxes TPT 225/50/17 tires.

rLx77

How are the Toyos? I have the 225/50/17 as well, and I opted for Falken 512's a few months back. They aren't great, but for the price they were okay. I should have spent more for a better tire, like the Bridgestone Turanza. Didn't know about Toyo at the time. Was it a huge difference with the Toyo's? I heard the ride quality increases immensely with Toyos as opposed to Falken (weak sidewall).

I rode in my friend's stock 2001 Maxima SE and he was zooming over bumps in Manhattan and the suspension soaked it up mostly. He had the Toyo Proxes 4, so it seems like Toyo gives a better ride quality. I asked what tire psi he ran at, he said whatever the factory is at, and that they set it for him when he gets an oil change.

So interestingly enough, cars with Toyo have better ride quality. We'll see how the car is after I get the new struts in. If anything, I hope it's more stable and responsive. I'll get Toyo's in another 25k miles or so.

MetaOrbit

iTrader: (19)

Well, I'm on my third set of tires. I had the OEM Bridgestone RE92s, then I got the Kumho KH11s, and now have the Toyo TPTs. I can tell you that I liked the Kumhos better than the RE92s in every aspect, except for the summer only tire rating (not that the RE92s were that much better though).

I can really only compare the TPTs to the KH11s I had previously. I can tell you that they're giving me what I was seeking: Good wet/dry traction (not quite as good as the Kumhos, but still pretty damn good), long treadlife (Kumhos were pretty short-lived, these are holding up much better), ice/snow traction (head and shoulders better than KH11s, that's not saying much though, they were summer tires), and a comfortable ride.

The Toyos definitely have a softer sidewall than my previous Kumhos. I can't say as to they're stiffer/softer than Falken 512s as I've never ridden on them. But the TPTs are much softer, and as such, give a much more compliant, comfortable ride. The handling isn't as good as the Kumhos, but I don't really care about that anymore. I've accepted the fact that I drive a FWD luxury sedan and don't really try to race/corner/etc. like a demon anymore.

Oh, and on another note, I was going to buy Turanza LS-Vs but couldn't find them in stock when I bought tires, so I got the TPTs instead.

attomica

Well, my previous car was a Mazda RX-7, so the ride of my stock I30t was a dream. I have yet to encounter a situation where I thought the ride quality could be better. It seems to soak up railroad crossings and all but the worst potholes with ease. The handling, of course, is dismal compared to the RX-7, but then I don't drive the I30t the same way I drove that car, so I figure it's a wash. Overall, I'm pleased with the handling behavior considering the size and power of the I30t.

I'm currently running Nitto 450s and I think they're fantastic. They weren't expensive, they're M+S rated, and they have a good tread life and traction ratings. I've had a lot of experience with them in the rain with these tires and I feel very confident with them. The reviews I read on the 450s (after I bought them) didn't paint a great picture, but they're working great for me. I keep tire pressure at 35psi.