Just joined today.

I purchased an 03 CTS about a year ago. The ride is harsh and the tires are noisy. Has anyone else experienced this with their CTS? I am thinking of replacing the BF Goodrich tires with Bridgestone Turanza LS-Vs in an attempt to improve the ride and noise.

:welcome:

You didn't give us much to go on, such as what package your CTS is and what wheel size and tires you are running?

Sorry about the specs. I have BF Goodrich P225/55 R16 95H currently. They are very loud and not very smooth. I have had them balanced and rotated several times and they don't improve. They shake at highway speed and seem to feel every little bump.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Yokohama makes a quiet tire:

http://www.yokohamatire.com/TireIntro.asp?TireID=6&ID=p

As does Toyo:

http://www.toyo.com/tires/tire_lines/conven_as/tpt.html

Michelin tires are quite:

http://www.michelinman.com/catalog/tires/MichelinPilotMXM4.html?source=ta

I had Turanza LS-Hs on my Saab 9-5, they are, in my opinion, the best touring tire available. I recently traded the Saab for a new 06 CTS, which I really love! After buying 8 new Saabs in a succession, I thought I would miss my Saab. I went to buy a new Saab, but my dealer encouraged me to try the CTS. I've got to say, it is a better car than the 2006 9-5. Back to tires, you may also want to look at the Nokian WR "All Weather" tire. It rides and handles like a touring tire but carries the mountain and snowflake symbol. I had these on my Saab before last and liked them very much.
Take care, RHK.

I have an 03' CTS that I purchased about a year ago also. I have Goodyear tires on mine and haven't had a problem out of them. I'm actually afraid to buy new rims because I might compromise how smooth the ride is. It doesn't sound like your problem is with the tires. I'm not a mechanic but, if your wheels are shaking at high speeds, it could be an alignment problem or check your suspension if the ride is rough. Once again, I'm no mechanic, that's just an opinion.

Thanks for the input. I have had the car aligned and did not see any difference. The car just doesn't ride smooth. It doesn't absorb bumps very well either. Maybe it needs new shocks.

Thanks for the input.

Oldwarhorse

I have an 03 CTS as well.... my ride is not the smothest either, but ain't all that bad..... I had the stock tires but went with 18" recently, this made the stering wheel shake (as you descibed) at pretty much all kinds of speed..... they did re-balance and alignment on it without any help to the shaking.... I finally got them to put new tires on (kumho's 225/45zr18 - which replaced capitol negotiator tires) and that stoped the shaking, so maybe switching out the tires could help..... as to the roughnes on bumps, I have the lux/sport package so figured that's why it's a little bit more rough and is normal :confused: ......

What about the air pressure in the tires? If it's too high (happens all the time), it can REALLY affect the way a car feels, and usually make it darty and rough.

Then again, if the tires are also worn, they could be getting noisier, at least. As they age and wear, that's just a natural tendency, along with feeling rougher. Actually, seems pretty common with BF Goodrich's in particular, as they're never really "soft" or "plush" and overly quiet in the first place. At least not most models of them.

Since you purchased it a year ago, do you know what the previous owner had done to it, if anything? Also, tires get louder as they wear. The CTS is a taut ride; I have the luxury package and the ride is firm, and road input more than previous luxury automobiles I've owned. If you drive a new DTS, and then get back into your CTS, the difference in smoothness is substantial; I prefer the CTS' ride.

I've become a fan of the Yokohama's I got 17" Avid's on my IS 300 and Geolanders on the Trailblazer. Quiet, good wear and very good in wet weather. Price is very decent also.

Oldwarhorse, if your screen name eludes to you serving in the military.........thank you. It's because of people like you that people like us can sit and use a computer whenever we want....in the land of the free.
secondly, alignments will NEVER fix a car thats shaking. Take the CTS to the dealer and spin each wheel on the balancer, I bet one hops up and down
(egg shaped) you said you had them balanced already. Two thing cause the shake, Egg shaped ( either bad tire or bent rim) or out of balance. Now the noise, feel the indsde edge of your tire if it feels like a tractor tire, choppy this is your noise and it will never go away until you replace the tires.
Harsh ride you will never get away from that with a CTS they ride hard. They corner like a rat in sneakers BUT there is a reason they do the trade off is ride quality. Your CTS can't ride like a Deville it dosn't know how.
Chris

had the same problem with my 03 that i bought a year ago. noisy and started shuttering around 70 mph. I still had the oem rubber, so i replaced that and both of those problems went away