Shock Absorber Reviews

Many tire buyers know Goodyear and Michelin as two nameplates synonymous with quality, but it can be difficult to compare these premium brands head to head. The Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring and Michelin Primacy MXV4 are one such case as both tires are considered benchmarks of being the smoothest, quietest and longest wearing Grand Touring All-Season tires on the market today. Choosing between the two can be a daunting task. Both the options have been perennial favorites among our customers.

Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring

Michelin Primacy MXV4

The Assurance ComforTred Touring features a mildly asymmetric tread design that combines independent shoulder blocks with notched intermediate and center ribs to blend dry and wet road traction and handling. Four wide circumferential grooves evacuate water from under the tread to enhance wet traction while the tread grooves, notches and sipes form biting edges that deliver all-season traction in light snow.

Its internal construction includes a super shock absorbent Comfort Layer of rubber sandwiched between the tread and steel belts (that provides on average, 20% more cushion than standard auto tires) to insulate vibration and impacts with expansion joints, potholes and bumps. The tire also features Goodyear's dual-layer ComfortEdge sidewall to provide a balance of ride comfort and handling.

Primacy MXV4 tires feature an all-season tread compound molded into a symmetric design that combines notched shoulders, independent intermediate tread blocks and continuous center ribs. Michelin's Active Sipes alternately lock together and open as needed to provide increased biting edges that grip the road to provide all-season handling, especially in rain and snow.

Advanced MaxTouch Construction results in a tuned footprint shape that allows for long-lasting, even treadwear while their Comfort Control Technology uses computer-optimized design and precision manufacturing to reduce vibrations and road noise to deliver a comfortable ride. The tire's internal structure includes twin steel belts reinforced with Michelin's BAZ Technology (spirally wrapped polyamide, Banded At Zero degrees) to reinforce the Primacy MXV4's twin steel belts and provide high-speed durability while enhancing ride comfort.

In our most recent Tire Test Results, we said the Assurance ComforTred Touring was, "A good choice for drivers wanting to blend responsive handling with good road manners" and the Primacy MXV4 was, "A Grand Touring All-Season tire that is a pleasure to drive every day." Before you decide between a Goodyear or Michelin tire, be sure to view our Tire Test Results, Tire Survey Results and Tire Reviews on both tires to see which one will best suit your driving needs.

Do you find yourself increasing the radio volume because your tires are making too much noise? If so, take a look at some of the quietest tires available in ascending order by performance category. The lower down the list you go the more noise you are likely to hear. However, you will notice an increase in traction levels (wet and dry) as well as hydroplaning resistance.

Passenger All-Season

Michelin Energy Saver A/S - In addition to being rated the quietest, we also found it to be the most economical on fuel.

Standard Touring All-Season

Hankook Optimo H727 - Developed for drivers of coupes, sedans, minivans and crossover vehicles, this tire has been a favorite since it was introduced because of its long wear and quiet ride. Offering good comfort, low noise and all-season traction, even in light snow, the Optimo H727 delivers a premium appearance with enhanced traction and tread life.

Grand Touring All-Season

Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring - Designed for mid-range and upscale coupes, sedans and minivans, the Assurance ComforTred Touring offers all-season traction, even in light snow. The internal construction includes a shock absorbent Comfort Layer of rubber that provides on average, 20% more cushion than standard auto tires.

High Performance All-Season

Yokohama AVID ENVigor - I have this tire installed on one of my vehicles. With this set, I have been satisfied with the performance and the fact the tires keep road noise to a minimum. Combining comfort and treadlife with year-round traction, even on light snow-covered roads, the AVID ENVigor meets the driving needs of sports car, coupe sedan and crossover drivers.

Ultra High Performance All-Season

Continental ExtremeContact DWS - Currently the number one rated tire in its category, the Continental ExtremeContact DWS receives high ratings in the ride comfort, noise comfort, treadwear and hydroplaning resistance categories. With over 7 million miles of testing reported, customers have enjoyed this tire for quite some time. Take a look at the Consumer Reviews to view what other drivers are saying about their experience with this Ultra High Performance All-Season tire from Continental.

Are you having trouble finding the performance category that suits your driving needs? View all performance categories and shop by vehicle to find the tires that work best for your vehicle.

Has your chariot lost some of that new car handling and ride? Do you feel like you're on a trampoline after hitting a bump? It might be time to get new shocks and struts (dampers) for your car, truck or SUV. 

Tire Rack offers a wide range of options from Original Equipment style replacements to performance upgrades. The KYB GR-2 line will firm up the ride 5-10% over factory new. KONI and Bilstein offer higher performance options — some with adjustability to give you that "on rails" feeling.

Look to the professionals at Tire Rack for all of your suspension needs. View specs, shock absorber reviews, and pricing for your specific vehicle.

We do a lot of testing. And not just on the tires we sell.. We want to know all there is to know about the suspension products we sell. By educating ourselves in this way, we can better serve you throughout your purchase. If we can't drive with it—we wouldn't suggest that you drive with it.

For example, "KONI Sport Ride & Drive...An Absorbing Experience" takes a look at how KONI Sport Shock absorbers in soft and firm settings held up against Original Equipment Lexus IS300 shock absorbers. On the road, the "firm" KONI shock absorbers provided responsive handling, but supplied a "jiggly" ride. In other words, potholes were noticeable. We wouldn't recommend this setting for all drivers all of the time, but the "soft" setting might be the answer. (Read More)

And, it never hurts to get a second opinion, which is why we post the shock absorber reviews that our consumers write. Here's what they're saying about the KONI Sport Suspension Kit:

" Wow, what a difference from stock! These struts really changed the character of the car; it doesn't seem quite so cheap anymore. The ride and handling are light years better. I highly recommend them." -- Nissan Sentra, Colorado

Shop by vehicle to discover the performance shock absorber that is perfect for your vehicle. Product pages will include links to all consumer reviews (when available).

At Tire Rack—we love a good review. Even if it's bad. Our consumer survey results give you great product information. From shock absorber reviews to snow tire ratings, every comment our previous customers provide helps you, in turn, make an educated purchase. And it also helps us determine which products are right for you, too.

Search by vehicle. We'll recommend a few solid shock absorbers, affordable tires, brake components, even Wheels and Tire Packages. Then you can read the reviews. Here's an example:

"I'm a pretty aggressive driver. I've gone through several suspension setups and overall I am very satisfied with the sportline springs. I paired these up with some KONI yellow sport shocks and it's amazing."

Not convinced by your peers? We've done some pretty extensive tire and suspension testing at Tire Rack. We go the extra mile on our test track—literally—to review the products we sell.

And if you still have questions, contact our sales specialists. They're ready and willing to help you compare performance tires or find the right shock absorbers online or over the phone.

Once you do, don't forget to write suspension and/or tire reviews!

It's true, some find it hard. And that's understandable, given the amount of suspension products on the market. If one isn't familiar with suspension systems, and shocks are a pretty valuable part of them, it could complicate the decision-making process.

At Tire Rack, we appreciate the learning curve. We do our homework, testing products and compiling articles to help you along the way. So when it comes to shock absorbers, we like to start at the very beginning with basic suspension terminology. And that leads to more in-depth thoughts on lowering and controlling bounce.

All of this, combined with vehicle-specific recommendations and consumer reviews, makes it easier to buy shock absorbers online. We'll even help you find an installer.

And if you've still got questions, we'll work with you to find the answers.
All you have to do is contact us.

After hitting 60,000 miles on the my Mini Cooper S, I could tell it was time (and maybe a little late) for replacement shock absorbers.  The car wasn't settling as quickly after dips in road and small bumps were becoming much more noticeable.  I considered shocks from a few different manufacturers like KYB, KONI and Bilstein.  But after reading the shock absorber reviews on tirerack.com, I decided to go for the KONI FSD Damper Set.  I have had great experiences in the past with Koni shocks, so I had high hopes for the Damper Set.

The customer reviews were correct...the Koni FSD Damper Set was fantastic.  The handling was improved with quicker response to steering inputs and less bounce after bumps or unsettling maneuvers.  But true to the customer feedback, the ride quality actually improved absorbing bumps in a more subtle fashion than the stock shocks.

The Koni FSD Damper Set is a definite step up from standard shock absorbers, but there are also a huge step up in ride quality and performance.