Toyo Garit KX - LOUD

[Felks24]

Hi Everyone,

Let me start off buy saying that I have already emailed Allen from Simply Tire about this...but I wanted to get others feedback.

I bought a set of BRAND NEW Toyo Garit KX's from the Simply Tire Group Buy, they were installed by Simply on my OEM 16" wheels and now my car sounds like an airplane taking off - the faster I go, the louder it gets. Like a high pitched whine.

My other car is a 2010 Toyota RAV4 and I have Bridgestone Blizzak WS70's on it, and my previous car was a VW Jetta 2.0T and I had Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero's on it. Both were whisper quiet compared to my MZ3 with the Garits.

I have not checked the air pressure in them, I guess it's possible that they overinflated them, but i'm worried that the tires are bad.

Thoughts?

[Booostin]

Pretty sure it just has to do with the tread pattern. Some winter tires are louder than others. If you read reviews for your tires others have also mentioned the same issue.

[Felks24]

I believe that the Garit KX and Blizzak WS70 have a similar tread pattern....maybe not exact, but still similar.

[MPS]

http://www.1010tires.com/tires/reviews/Toyo/Observe+Garit+KX

[Felks24]

http://www.1010tires.com/tires/reviews/Toyo/Observe+Garit+KX

What does that prove??? I did my research.

There are just as many reviews on 1010 that say the KX is one of the best winter tires out there, as there are that say they are noisy.

[MPS]

so if others say they are noisy ur just going to ignore there review ?
and maybe blame simply for selling you a bad tire

[Felks24]

so if others say they are noisy ur just going to ignore there review ?
and maybe blame simply for selling you a bad tire

No, my point was that you can find reviews on any winter tire that say that they are overly noisy. You have to take some of it with a grain of salt.

I'll just wait to hear back from Allen. Thanks for your input.

[Booostin]

Your pretty much just stuck with the noise unless the people who sold them to you can help you out somehow. Another thing is that some people wont make any mention of road noise in the reviews because it might not bug them.

[S.F.W.]

Given how busy things are right now at Simply, I would suggest if possible going in and talking to Allen.I am sure he would be happy to road test the car for you, and give you an educated opinion.
If he feels there is a problem with the tire he will take care of you I am sure.
If after a road test he tells you all is well, then you can be comfortable knowing the noise will dissipate once the snow starts falling.

[Felks24]

Given how busy things are right now at Simply, I would suggest if possible going in and talking to Allen.I am sure he would be happy to road test the car for you, and give you an educated opinion.
If he feels there is a problem with the tire he will take care of you I am sure.
If after a road test he tells you all is well, then you can be comfortable knowing the noise will dissipate once the snow starts falling.

Do tires need a "break-in" period at all? I'm wondering if it is just too early to tell.

OR

Do winter tires get quieter as the temps get colder?

It's been pretty warm so far this November.

[S.F.W.]

Do tires need a "break-in" period at all? I'm wondering if it is just too early to tell.

OR

Do winter tires get quieter as the temps get colder?

It's been pretty warm so far this November.

Yes, a small break in for a winter tire is normal from my experience. I do not know if they get quieter with the temps, but they are meant to go through snow/ice, on dry pavement, they are likely going to make more noise.

[Felks24]

Yes, a small break in for a winter tire is normal from my experience. I do not know if they get quieter with the temps, but they are meant to go through snow/ice, on dry pavement, they are likely going to make more noise.

Yeah I figured that. I've just never experienced this level of noise before, and I've had several cars now with winter tires (as mentioned above.)

Thanks for your help.

[xxSlidewaysxx]

I had them and they were tolerable........ not my first choice in tires thou... and yes they had some volume to them

[Felks24]

So I checked the tire pressures and all 4 were bang on at 35psi.

Perhaps they ARE just louder than I expected.

I'll keep an ear out for the next couple of days.

[SonicBoy]

Aren't factory spec 32 psi?

[Felks24]

Aren't factory spec 32 psi?

Nope...35. Check the sticker on the inside of the drivers door jamb.

[Mitchell3]

My summers suffer from this noise. Just an excuse to crank the music!! :music

[Kevin@nextmod]

keep in mind that the Rav 4 you have is a slightly higher car so the tire noise won't be as noticible as your 3. As for your jetta, the tire might be a harder compound meaning its more meant for hwy driving hence the tire noise should be lower. From experience, the softer the compound on the tire, the more road noise you'll get. My friend has a set of Nokians and they are extremely loud and annoying even in his Volvo S60. Toyo makes very very good winter tires and i know for a fact that my GF has a set of Toyo Snowprox and its unbelievable in deep snow and ice traction. Her tires were slightly louder then my ipikes before but the Hankooks i had was nothing compared to it. So just bare with it for now and you'll appreciate the tire when the snow falls.

[SonicBoy]

Nope...35. Check the sticker on the inside of the drivers door jamb.

OK I see from your sig that you're driving a GS with probably 16" wheels.

[Felks24]

Thanks for the advice Kevin...I'm sure I'll get used to them.

[rajin929]

So just bare with it for now and you'll appreciate the tire when the snow falls.

+1

The Toyos have a chunky tread patten - yes it's noisy but is kick ass in the snow. Everything has it's tradeoffs.

I've ran the Observe GO2's and the KX's and have loved them.

[Felks24]

+1

The Toyos have a chunky tread patten - yes it's noisy but is kick ass in the snow. Everything has it's tradeoffs.

I've ran the Observe GO2's and the KX's and have loved them.

That's why I bought them. I read quite a few really good reviews on them including the one found here, plus the APA link contained within: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1608129

Plus, this description in the GB thread probably helped sway my decision..."SIMPLYTIRE Favorite" If money is no object, and there is no budget, LOOK NO FURTHER. My personal guarantee that they will be the best snow tire you ever own... They are great in snow, ice, slush, even DRY !!! If Toyo had as big of an advertising budget as Blizzak's, they would be much more popular... Best Japanese snow tire hands down. 4-5 years to be expected. $60.00 rebate available.

I drove into work this morning with the radio off and I don't think there is anything actually wrong with the tires, just lots of road noise. Although I guess the road noise isn't going to matter when there is snow on the ground.

Thank you everyone for your input.

[ocho mazda]

I have had the the Garits on my last two 3's and have experienced no noise problems. I also run them on my '04 RX8 and not only find them quiet, but they were so much quieter than the OEM Bridgestones that came on the car I used to look forward to winter so I could get them on. Now I run Toyos on both cars, summer and winter and have no urge to change.

[Takumi616]

to the OP, this will be my 5th season with my Garit KX, personally at first it was quite loud by comparison with my summers. But you will get use to it. I personally had no issues with it being loud, (because most of the time I have music on so really don't matter.). These tires are very durable and reliable during the winter. You get what you pay for and I think these are a great set of winters. :.02 I most likely will get another set next year after I finish this season.

[Felks24]

I have had the the Garits on my last two 3's and have experienced no noise problems. I also run them on my '04 RX8 and not only find them quiet, but they were so much quieter than the OEM Bridgestones that came on the car I used to look forward to winter so I could get them on. Now I run Toyos on both cars, summer and winter and have no urge to change.


to the OP, this will be my 5th season with my Garit KX, personally at first it was quite loud by comparison with my summers. But you will get use to it. I personally had no issues with it being loud, (because most of the time I have music on so really don't matter.). These tires are very durable and reliable during the winter. You get what you pay for and I think these are a great set of winters. :.02 I most likely will get another set next year after I finish this season.

Thanks to both of you, I'm feeling more and more like I made the right choice.

[Felks24]

Just an update to this - I want to thank everyone for their replies.

As we haven't had any days of actual winter weather yet this year, I havent really given these tires a fair shot.

I did speak with Allen on a couple of occasions and I feel much better about the Garit KX's.

It is clear that they are a great tire, and obviously grip in winter conditions is WAY more important than a little noise.

Thanks again to Allen and the SimplyTire crew, I'll be back in the spring for a new summer setup!