Interstate 24X road noise

[catjer]

We’re considering purchasing a new Interstate 24X but have reservations concerning the ride with larger and “nubbier” tires. If you own this model or have test driven one was driving on pavement at highway speeds, noisier or rougher than in an Interstate GT ex? Understandably the purpose of the 24x is to provide more opportunity for rough roads/terrain and boondocking but we still need to drive highway distances to get to those locations. Will the noise and vibration drive us crazy? Our closest dealer does not have one on site so we can’t test drive one yet. Our other choice may be a 2022 24 GT without 4 wheel drive.

We appreciate any feedback or thoughts.

[wulfraat]

I would just change out the tires if it bothered me (ie don't let tires affect your decision).

For what it is worth the tires on the 24X are not that aggressive as far as off-road tires go.

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by catjer

was driving on pavement at highway speeds, noisier or rougher than in an Interstate GT ex?

Will the noise and vibration drive us crazy?

You are considering buying a $222,000 AI and not test driving it? And you have 2 questions (above) to help influence your decision - the answers to which would be totally VERY subjective from very opinionated people like me? While I always relish on giving my opinions in this forum, this is most definitely something you need to experience yourself. Why? Coz you already answered part of that by initially stating "have reservations concerning the ride with larger and “nubbier” tires."

It means you already know that larger and nubbier tires are not going to ride as quiet or as smooth as a road tire of the same brand, rubber composition, and size. That's a given. The only unknown is by how much. The X comes spec'ed with 215/85R16 Goodyear Wrangler all-terrains (which is actually not larger, its identical in size). If you are concerned about it's ride and can't get your hands on an X, find another vehicle you can test drive with those tires.

For your 2nd question - ONLY you can answer whether some extra noise and/or vibration will drive you crazy.

It does seem perplexing to me that you will be basing your decision on 6 tires? I agree with WULFRAAT - if that's all that is giving you pause, then replace the tires if you find them not to your liking.

Comparing the X to a 24GT 2wd is an unfair comparison. Not the same vehicle and were never meant to compete with each other. Why? Because their differences from each other is not limited to tires/ride/noise. Totally different needs and uses that each one addresses.

[MountainLife]

As far as noise, tires are only one of the many culprits of noise generation. Our 2017 Lounge Ext has things that rattle and bang when we hit rough road. Almost all of it comes from gear we have packed. Our silverware always rattles when we hit bumps, but that is something we just live with. A rag or tea towel would probably help, but we just keep rolling. It is truly personal preference when it comes to road noise and noise inside. Ours is pretty quiet on smooth roads at highway speeds. Proper tire pressure is necessary for safety and we don’t mess with that. Have driven any AIs?

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Find a cheap flight down to Newark. Head over and see if you can get Colonial to move their X off the floor so you can test drive it. Looks like something in the $200 to $300 range gets you there and back. Yes, virus nonsense is an issue.

You already have a 2017 GT. None of the rest of this should come as a big surprise.

To me, they all ride like big heavy trucks. None of them will win out compared to a Lexus. How they compare to this or that truck is debatable. Air suspension helps a little, you may not have that on your 2017.

I would not choose to ride in the back of any of them for a long period of time. If I *had* to choose one to ride in the back of, I'd go for the GT, simply because the seats face forwards and not to the side.

As noted above, putting new tires on one of these is pretty simple / pretty cheap compared to the purchase price and delivery wait. If whatever they are putting on the van by the time your order comes in bugs you ... swap them out.

Bob

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Went out and double checked. My truck has the same tires on it as the X does. Driving around in it, tire noise is not a big deal. Yes, it's a completely different vehicle.

Bob

[K9ZROCK]

I can tell you after 300 miles on our new Interstate 24X, that the tires are not an issue. There's no discernible noise or comfort issues and our X rides like a creampuff. That's coming from someone who's had multiple vehicles, including pickups, and now routinely drives a Jeep Wrangler and a Grand Cherokee. I wouldn't worry. We love our X!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

With about 400 miles on our X at this point, road noise is not a big deal. Ride in the front seats is fine. Ride in the back is not all that bad. Not much noise in either location.

Bob

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by K9ZROCK

I can tell you after 300 miles on our new Interstate 24X, that the tires are not an issue. There's no discernible noise or comfort issues and our X rides like a creampuff. That's coming from someone who's had multiple vehicles, including pickups, and now routinely drives a Jeep Wrangler and a Grand Cherokee. I wouldn't worry. We love our X!

LOL - that is this first time I heard someone describe the ride in a 3500 Sprinter dually “like a cream puff”.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

LOL - that is this first time I heard someone describe the ride in a 3500 Sprinter dually “like a cream puff”.

Hi

"As delivered" the van had a pair of hinges in the rearmost bin under the CS bench. Needless to say that location got a bit of "action" as I went down the road. I pulled over early in the process to figure out what in the world was making that racket .....

So, indeed noise can be a "that depends" sort of thing.

Bob

[Inuvik338]

Originally Posted by catjer

We’re considering purchasing a new Interstate 24X but have reservations concerning the ride with larger and “nubbier” tires. If you own this model or have test driven one was driving on pavement at highway speeds, noisier or rougher than in an Interstate GT ex? Understandably the purpose of the 24x is to provide more opportunity for rough roads/terrain and boondocking but we still need to drive highway distances to get to those locations. Will the noise and vibration drive us crazy? Our closest dealer does not have one on site so we can’t test drive one yet. Our other choice may be a 2022 24 GT without 4 wheel drive.



We appreciate any feedback or thoughts.

We just purchased and picked up our new 24x. Drove 85 miles home from the dealer on the freeway. No issues with the tires at all while cruising between 70-75 mph. I’m grateful they come with All Terrains. Especially in the PNW. The traction alone together with their durability is worth any highway trade off!

[85MH325]

Originally Posted by catjer

We’re considering purchasing a new Interstate 24X but have reservations concerning the ride with larger and “nubbier” tires.
...

Understandably the purpose of the 24x is to provide more opportunity for rough roads/terrain and boondocking but we still need to drive highway distances to get to those locations. Will the noise and vibration drive us crazy?
...

We appreciate any feedback or thoughts.

Let me see if I understand your question in context. You're considering dropping $200k on a luxo-van so you can boondock, and you're worried about the relatively mild-tread tire noise "driving you crazy?"

I am a pragmatist, off-roader for over forty years, and have camped in every way possible for some 60 years. As a pragmatist and with that experience, admittedly for me, the 24X is a solution in search of a problem. It has all of the expenses and issues associated with 4WD and because of its configuration, few of the benefits. Relatively low ground clearance, "motorhome stuff" hanging off the bottom of the chassis, long overhangs, and a relatively long wheelbase are NOT attributes I'd choose in a 4WD. I have an old Interstate and when I want to explore off-road, I tow my Jeep JKU. The ONLY thing 4WD really does for you anyway (especially in a long wheelbase, low-clearance van) is makes the places you get stuck a LOT more expensive to get towed out of.

But all that aside, why are you considering a $200k 4WD van in the first place? Do you want to go the few places the tires can take you that a 2WD van with highway tires probably wouldn't go, and that you're willing to take a $200k van? If that's the case, you put with the tires. If you're not willing to take a $200k van places that could tear up the undercarriage, get stuck, and need a tow to get out, then you probably don't need 4WD anyway.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Not the OP, but I can answer the "why 4WD?" question from our perspective. There are a lot of places you get into that are "traction challenged" wet grass at a campsite is the one we run into most often. Even if you are not out rock crawling up 90 degree inclines, it can come in handy ....

Bob

[AirstreamJim]

I can’t even back my trailer in and out of its pad in my yard without putting the truck in 4WD, and I live in South Florida, where the closest things to hilly terrain are the overpasses on I-95….

Jim

[85MH325]

Originally Posted by AirstreamJim

I can’t even back my trailer in and out of its pad in my yard without putting the truck in 4WD, and I live in South Florida, where the closest things to hilly terrain are the overpasses on I-95….

Jim

Having had a 34' tri-axle that I pulled with a 4WD Excursion myself, I can tell you that your analogy falls flat. Towing and maneuvering a 34' tri-axle and driving an Interstate are completely unrelated activities, unless you're planning on towing your 34' tri-axle with your Sprinter.

[85MH325]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Not the OP, but I can answer the "why 4WD?" question from our perspective. There are a lot of places you get into that are "traction challenged" wet grass at a campsite is the one we run into most often. Even if you are not out rock crawling up 90 degree inclines, it can come in handy ....

Bob

Remember, I own a Jeep JKU. I've had Jeeps, Land Cruisers, and 4WD trucks since 1979. I AM a 4WD guy. But, that said, remember I also said I'm a pragmatist.

A stock 2022 Sprinter in 2WD is $38k. A stock 4WD 2022 Sprinter is $58k. I can put up with a fair amount of "un-handy" for $20k. "Traction challenged" has more to do with tire tread choice than number of drive wheels, and you can always mount traction tires on the rear axle (which is what I've done on my Kodiak-chassis Born Free 32RQ. I very stupidly drove the Born Free over Vail Pass in a blizzard, while towing the Jeep. I was thankful for the aggressive tire tread on the drive axle because I didn't have chains.

I drove a 2WD Ford Aerostar ALL over the mountains of Lake Co. CA for about seven years when I worked there. I took it places my co-workers SWORE I'd need 4WD for. In seven years, I only needed a tow out once, and that was fording a 24" deep, 40' wide stream with slick rocks where I let off the gas instead of gunning it. And that wasn't the van's fault, it was mine. I re-iterate: technique and proper tire tread are typically more important than the number of drive wheels.

$20k buys a LOT of tow truck action over the years for the "traction challenges."

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Well, the 4WD does run as a 2WD. I only put it in 4WD when it's not up to the challenge running with two. That does indeed happen from time to time. If you look at AS pricing, 4WD adds roughly $10,610 to the price of an Interstate. Even in these crazy times, you can get a dealer to knock that down to under $10K. ( So no, it's not costing you anything close to $20K in this case).

Bob

[bb2022-24X]

just drove the 24X 1,000 miles - this is not an issue, it's super smooth and quiet.

[AirParkOnly]

2023 Interstate X owner with about 4000 miles. I have not noticed tire noise. It's too busy being covered up by other rattles.

I am being snarky, but road noise is not an issue.

With the airbag suspension, I find it a delightful ride given it's (relatively) high center of gravity, dually, and weight. I actually like driving it.