Newbie - ride seems bumpy, breaking in?

wxguy · 09-22-2008, 12:03 AM

Hello,
I just bought a brand new 2009 Prius with package #5 and have just a little over 150 miles on it. It seems to me that the ride is a little bumpy even on smooth surface roads. I don't recall this when test-driving one.

Is it still breaking in or perhaps I'm not driving the "right way"? I used to drive a small SUV.....don't know if that has anything to do with it. Should I bring it back to the dealership to check it out? Thanks for your input!

dogfriend · 09-22-2008, 02:03 AM

Hmmm....I just drove my Ford Explorer to the store and back yesterday evening and I was amazed at how much worse it rides than the Prius does. Our best riding car is my GF's Avalon, then the Prius, then the Explorer, then my GF's 30ft motorhome, LOL.

Maybe tire noise is part of it? The Goodyear Integrity(s) are known for being kind of noisy and just crappy tires in general.

debos · 09-22-2008, 02:16 AM

my rides still bumpy 8000 miles in. oh well

wxguy · 09-22-2008, 04:14 PM

After looking through the forums a bit, seems like it could be the tire pressure?

richard schumacher · 09-23-2008, 10:53 AM

The ride is kinda hard, but higher tire pressures allow better fuel economy. Try it for a while and see whether you get used to it. If not, experiment with different pressures: you can try anything as low as the pressure given in the Owner's Manual, and as high as the pressure shown on the sidewall of the tire (44 PSI for the original tires). Note that tire pressures must be measured "cold", which means that the tire should not have been driven more than one mile in the preceding hour (spending $7 for a digital tire gauge at Target or Amazon so you can check them at home makes this much easier).

09-22-2008, 12:03 AM	#1
wxguy Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 2 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Newbie - ride seems bumpy, breaking in? Hello, I just bought a brand new 2009 Prius with package #5 and have just a little over 150 miles on it. It seems to me that the ride is a little bumpy even on smooth surface roads. I don't recall this when test-driving one. Is it still breaking in or perhaps I'm not driving the "right way"? I used to drive a small SUV.....don't know if that has anything to do with it. Should I bring it back to the dealership to check it out? Thanks for your input!

09-22-2008, 02:03 AM	#2
dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Carmichael, CA Posts: 4,967 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 288 Thanked 175 Times in 147 Posts Friends: 11	Re: Newbie - ride seems bumpy, breaking in? Hmmm....I just drove my Ford Explorer to the store and back yesterday evening and I was amazed at how much worse it rides than the Prius does. Our best riding car is my GF's Avalon, then the Prius, then the Explorer, then my GF's 30ft motorhome, LOL. Maybe tire noise is part of it? The Goodyear Integrity(s) are known for being kind of noisy and just crappy tires in general.

09-22-2008, 02:16 AM	#3
debos Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 45 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Touring Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Newbie - ride seems bumpy, breaking in? my rides still bumpy 8000 miles in. oh well

09-22-2008, 04:14 PM	#4
wxguy Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 2 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Newbie - ride seems bumpy, breaking in? After looking through the forums a bit, seems like it could be the tire pressure?

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09-23-2008, 10:53 AM	#5
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,512 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 99 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Newbie - ride seems bumpy, breaking in? The ride is kinda hard, but higher tire pressures allow better fuel economy. Try it for a while and see whether you get used to it. If not, experiment with different pressures: you can try anything as low as the pressure given in the Owner's Manual, and as high as the pressure shown on the sidewall of the tire (44 PSI for the original tires). Note that tire pressures must be measured "cold", which means that the tire should not have been driven more than one mile in the preceding hour (spending $7 for a digital tire gauge at Target or Amazon so you can check them at home makes this much easier).