Element has not been a quiet and comfortable ride from the day one of the ownership. As everyone else, I hated the Goodyear Wrangler HP and replaced them around 12k with Yokohama Geolandar H/T-S G051. Yoko Geolandar was a significant improvement over the junk Wrangler; however, they started to be very noisy and hard (bumpy?) after 25k. I can barely hear the radio when I was on the major freeways.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2192/2236766351_4c6a4ebd2f.jpg?v=0

So I made another 25k with Yoko tires and I think I am done with them.

I have done some research but not getting much feedback nor got a definite answer for the tire noise and comfort. I want something quieter than Geolandar H/T but still provides reasonable traction and ride comfort. Since budge is not an issue and I received recommendation from my friends, I went with Good Year Fortera SilentArmor.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3369463808_bdecc75251_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3368646977_ac93dcf550_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3369469944_19c3e30394_b.jpg


First 100 miles:

They are definitely a huge improvement over the GeoLandar HT (even when they were new). Little tire noise, less bounce, and good traction. When I rolled my car out of the tire shop, for the first time I think the the engine is pretty noisy.

Next 500 miles:

They are getting better. Traction is better. Road noise is pretty minimum (the same as the first 100miles). Softer rider than the Geolandar and Wrangler but still comfortable.


After first 600 miles:

I think I can still reduce the noise level. I purchased 4 sheets of Xtreme Dynamat insulation and applied around the spare tire area.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3369474348_4ac017ea3f_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3433/3368642909_30704d5209_b.jpg


Oh my god!! I wish I can record a clip to show you guys how quiet the ride is.......
And you can feel that the car is more rigid!


I hope my review helps! I'd definitely go with these tires again.

That's what I have on my E. There ok.

My next set will be what the wife has on her E. Nokian WR suv. Quieter than the the tires I have on by a wide margin!

They also out perform the Fortera's in all conditions.

Dom

How much did the dynamat alone improve the sound?

yeah I heard that Nokian WR suv is better but I do not have source to get them....



The Xtreme dynamat improves a lot. Less cabin vibration and noise. It is quite significant!

Sigh...Mod #6231 to add on the list, Dynamat the spare tire area...and of course then I'll spend 2 days under the mindset of: "Well, since I'm already doing that area, may as well just remove that panel there and..."

Honestly, I appreciate that tip. If it helps that much, I'll keep an eye out for it.

where can I get the Xtreme dynamat paper? and $$?

This is VERY interesting. Here is the website: http://www.dynamat.com/

I have also attached a .pdf showing a 2004 Element with this stuff put in the doors, panels, etc. -- and all day project but with incredible noise reduction.

I think this will be a summer mod! Anyone else work with this product, it looks great?

[QUOTE=Diffractionlimit;734554]This is VERY interesting. Here is the website: http://www.dynamat.com/

Wow! you're more hardcore than I am. All over dynamat~


dynamat is about $140 for 9 sheets...

How much did the dynamat alone improve the sound?

shoot me an email next you are going to be in Hoover & you can hear for youself i have most of the rear of my E Dynamated

..... I went with Good Year Fortera SilentArmor.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3369463808_bdecc75251_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3368646977_ac93dcf550_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3369469944_19c3e30394_b.jpg


First 100 miles:

They are definitely a huge improvement over the GeoLandar HT (even when they were new). Little tire noise, less bounce, and good traction. When I rolled my car out of the tire shop, for the first time I think the the engine is pretty noisy.

Next 500 miles:

They are getting better. Traction is better. Road noise is pretty minimum (the same as the first 100miles). Softer rider than the Geolandar and Wrangler but still comfortable.


After first 600 miles:

I think I can still reduce the noise level. I purchased 4 sheets of Xtreme Dynamat insulation and applied around the spare tire area.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3369474348_4ac017ea3f_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3433/3368642909_30704d5209_b.jpg


Oh my god!! I wish I can record a clip to show you guys how quiet the ride is.......
And you can feel that the car is more rigid!


I hope my review helps! I'd definitely go with these tires again.

Great info on that Dynamat mod. If I install it and cut 18 decibels of road noise out, I might be able to hear the wife doing her back seat driving when she's in the E with me. On second thought, I'll keep it as is.:lol:

It would be nice to get an update on how those Fortera's have been doing for you over the past 18 or so months. I see you haven't posted here at EOC since your original post in this thread, so I doubt you will see this. Can anybody figure out what size the OP installed. They almost look like the stock size.

But maybe somebody else could add some review comments on their Fortera's after 10K - 20K of miles on them.

LeadFoot

I had 20 k on the wheels already with 20k+ of offroad at death Valley.The noise level is about the same and got lots of threads to go. Pretty satisfied!!!

I had 20 k on the wheels already with 20k+ of offroad at death Valley.The noise level is about the same and got lots of threads to go. Pretty satisfied!!!

Thanks. I got a quote today from the Goodyear dealer. He wants $210 per tire, mounted, balanced and out the door. Ouch!

Sears wants $155 after the $45 per tire rebate which is quite a bit better. I was debating between 3 tires: Bridgestone Dueller APT IV's, Goodyear Fortera's and the BFG All-Terrain TA KO's (pretty much a gravel tire and worthless on snow compared to the other two). I had to go with what would work best for my particular needs which includes gravel, lots of snow, highway and what not. The Fortera's would have been the best for the snow and ice, but the trade off with the Dueller APT IV's met more of my other needs so the salesman really guided me well to my final choice of the Bridgestones. Love the look of the Fortera's though, that's for sure. Ditto on the BFG's.

LeadFoot