Technical Harsh ride.Mk2b punto

[Fiatpuntomk2b]

I recently upgraded from steel wheels with crappy budget tyres, putting on sporting alloys with Toyo Proxes T1-r all round. The ride seems quite harsh on some roads . Is this normal when going from steel wheels to alloys ?

 

[Ziggy122]

Yes and no

Alloys are heavier and smaller profile of a sidewall

The sidewall does alot to help absorb the bumps with your suspension

The smaller the sidewall the harder the ride

Also do a suspension test
Bounce it and does it keep bouncing? Or does it absorb and stop in like 1 oscillation

Ziggy

 

[Ziggy122]

Another thought is the tyre choice

Some tyres arw known for soft sidewalls
Some are kniwn for been hard

Harders will resist roll

Ziggy

 

[s and b]

steel wheels would have had bigger profile tyres
alloys one size bigger? i guess so you went down on shoulder profile
theres your harshness
plus makes of tyres make big differences i hated pirelli s
i usually buy ditchfinder generals with nice soft cushy sidewalls for my constitution

 

[homeward]

I recently upgraded from steel wheels with crappy budget tyres, putting on sporting alloys with Toyo Proxes T1-r all round. The ride seems quite harsh on some roads . Is this normal when going from steel wheels to alloys ?

I'd say yes(ish) -- although I wouldn't describe the ride as "harsh": just not as soft...! This from a PM I recently sent. BTW, I'm on the same wheels and tyres as you....

I had my neck rebuilt a few years back, and therefore prefer a softer ride -- for which the 15" Sporting wheels are a good compromise. (I started off with 14" steelies: but, although they looked fine, and gave a better ride, didn't look as nice as I want, and also scrabble for grip a bit....)

Budget tyres tend (but not always) to have softer sidewalls (especially compared to something like the Toyo Proxes); and the extra depth of rubber will certainly cushion the blows.

What tyre pressures are you running? I have 32 psi front; 30 back.