[clempot911]

Is it my imagination or does the ATS take quite a jarring when you go over a pothole? I don’t mean the ride is uncomfortable, but the car itself sounds like it’s been hit by a sledgehammer. And I’m no stranger to runflats, low profile tires, sport suspensions and potholes....
No wonder people here report bent rims.

 

[JP-ATS]

Yes I agree, hitting a pothole can really make your teeth rattle and your face cringe. And oh yeah, bend the wheels (I've had to have mine straightened already).

 

[duneless]

oh yeah. I went through a set of aftermarket wheels already and tires. Thread http://www.cadillacforums.com/forum...l-discussion-forum/512673-my-poor-wheels.html. But I hit a raised structure like 3 to 4 inches high. Town paid for it though. But yes watch out for the pot holes just with stock wheels and tires as well car hits real hard. I guess we can't have everything. A good ride,handling is good enough for me and just watch out for the potholes.

 

[CaptSoloNJ]

Yes, back in January on my first two drives to work in the new ATS, I hit the same pothole twice on consecutive days. Really bone jarring too!
(Made a mental note to avoid that lane.)

It had to be the low profile 40's, and the tight suspension. Never had such a shock with other cars.

 

[JFRAY23]

Part of it is the crap run flat tires on these cars. Replaced my stock 17's with new wheels and 235/40/18 Continental DWS tires and the ride is significantly improved.

 

[DG2]

Plus stiff high performance suspension..

 

[quaraong]

I think the word you guys use "bone jarring" is the most accurate description of premium ats 18" with oem tire and potholes

 

[DavidATS]

I recently replaced my front tires with Continental ExtremContact DW's (dry/wet) - non runflats, and find the ride a lot better. Is still stiff but I don't plan on ever going back to runflats. Also saved about $120 for the two tires over the runflats. Could almost have bought 3 non runflats for price of 2 run flats. Will make me feel a little better if I ever end up stuck somewhere with a flat.

Now have a weekend (BMW 06 Z4M) and daily driver and neither with spares or runflats. Interesting that the BMW didn't come with runflats or a spare standard, non M came with runflats.

 

[CaptSoloNJ]

I am not sure, but it seems that if the tires are inflated to the recommended 35F/40R psi or more, the ride is better. Due to the low profile tires, I am most fearful of the potholes where the side of the tire/ wheel drops down lower than the profile of the tire. The wheel would hit the side of the road/pothole side, thus the real shock. Just hope the wheel doesn't get hit and bent.

This is a known issue with all cars in low profile tires (though they handle great!). People I know with MB's and Audi's tell me the same thing.

It was an easy sell from the dealer for me to buy the tire and wheel protection plan.

 

[tex2670]

Plus stiff high performance suspension..

Plus low profile tires, and stiff walled RFTs....

 

[bp044]

I am not sure, but it seems that if the tires are inflated to the recommended 35F/40R psi or more, the ride is better. Due to the low profile tires, I am most fearful of the potholes where the side of the tire/ wheel drops down lower than the profile of the tire. The wheel would hit the side of the road/pothole side, thus the real shock. Just hope the wheel doesn't get hit and bent.

This is a known issue with all cars in low profile tires (though they handle great!). People I know with MB's and Audi's tell me the same thing.

It was an easy sell from the dealer for me to buy the tire and wheel protection plan.

Will the ATS handle potholes if slightly over inflated or under inflated ?

 

[Drwilsc]

Will the ATS handle potholes if slightly over inflated or under inflated ?

I slightly overinflated my tires hoping it would help. It didn't. Had to replace 3 tires (went ahead and replaced all 4) as well as 2 bent rims. Bill was over $2500.

 

[duneless]

Daaaaaaaaaamn. Mo money mo money.

I slightly overinflated my tires hoping it would help. It didn't. Had to replace 3 tires (went ahead and replaced all 4) as well as 2 bent rims. Bill was over $2500.

 

[Hibar]

If anything you might want to air down slightly perhaps 32 PSI to allow more flex in the tire so if you hit a pot hole hopefully the tire will compress enough to absorb the shock.

 

[clempot911]

Will the ATS handle potholes if slightly over inflated or under inflated ?

Over-inflating will make the ride harsher, not sure about saving the rim from damage though. I kind of doubt it. Where I live the problem is we don't have potholes, we have craters.

 

[MoistCabbage]

Over inflating can help in some cases. Usually the rim bends when the sidewall is completely compressed and the tire is pinched between the edge of the pothole and the rim. That's essentially the rim hitting the edge directly. With the tire overinflated, you keep it from compressing as easily.

However, with it overinflated, you get a crap ride, diminished handling, uneven tire wear, and more shock gets to the wheel bearings, suspension, and steering components. Not worth it in my opinion.

 

[GJB]

The AWD recommend PSI is 35F/40R cold, so as far as I'm concerned they are already overinflated to start with. And after they warm up you add 2 or 3 PSI to that and it is one stiff ride.

 

[tomuchwrk]

Has anyone found a tire that will last more than a season. I've been through 2 sets tires both pilots and bridgestone potenzas. Im going to roll the dice with bridgestone again, belts shifted on both manf.

 

[duneless]

Man you go through tires. I swap in the winter and can have a set of aftermarket tires for 3 years at times. But I find on AWD models I get a good even wear. I had pirelli tires on my BMW and smoked them in a summer so I know what you mean. That was a heavy RWD car and would lay rubber for half a block.

Has anyone found a tire that will last more than a season. I've been through 2 sets tires both pilots and bridgestone potenzas. Im going to roll the dice with bridgestone again, belts shifted on both manf.

----------

I run 35 all the way around with my aftermarkets. Feels better on the road. I tried 40 in the rear and it was bone jarring hitting bumps. Scaled it back some.

The AWD recommend PSI is 35F/40R cold, so as far as I'm concerned they are already overinflated to start with. And after they warm up you add 2 or 3 PSI to that and it is one stiff ride.

 

[GJB]

I shaved off 3 PSI from recommended so now I'm 32F/37R. I don't know the reason for the different front/rear pressure on the AWD but I figured I'd keep it that way even with the PSI reduction and did not want to go below 32 on the fronts. Once they warm up they are at 35/40. That reduction really helped a lot this winter to smooth out the ride and lessen the jarring a bit.