When it comes to a comfortable ride, we tend to think about heated seats, pleasant music, or good tires for winter performance. Many of us are not thinking about the performanc of our tires. But having a quiet and comfortable ride, offers a better driving and passenger experience.
The quietest, most comfortable riding tires use innovative rubber compounds and optimal tread designs for a smoother ride with less roll resistance. This means low noise, fewer bumps, better gas mileage, and optimal vehicle performance.
If you’re shopping for new tires, the selection can be overwhelming. Amid the near-endless options, our editorial team has reviewed the top-performing tires for comfort and noise and narrowed it down to our top 10 recommendations.
10 Best Tires for Comfort and Noise
Here are our top picks for the best tires for comfort and noise:
- Michelin CrossClimate 2
- Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack
- Continental Viking Contact 7
- Michelin Defender LTX M/S
- Continental TerrainContact H/T
- Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus
- General AltiMAX 365 AW
- BF Goodrich Advantage Control All-Season
- Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
- Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Radial Tire
These recommendations are based on data from Consumer Reports, customer ratings, rigorous testing at different highway speeds and road conditions, and feedback from drivers at The Rideshare Guy.
1. Michelin CrossClimate 2
- Best for All-Season Comfort
- Noise Rating: 4 out of 5
- Comfort Rating: 4 out of 5
- Discount Tire Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Michelin CrossClimate2 tires are an excellent choice for noise reduction and ride comfort under any weather conditions. Tires are made of a thermal adaptive all-season tread compound and its innovative V-formation design enables excellent handling on dry, muddy, snowy, icy, or wet roads.
In addition to its rubber compound and V-pattern design, the tire uses Michelin’s high-tech PIANO Noise Reduction Tuning. This feature enhances the tire tread pattern to decrease airborne noise.
The sound reduction is an upgrade from the CrossClimate2’s predecessor, the CrossClimate+. The CrossClimate2 can minimize airborne to quieter levels at higher speeds –up to 70+ mph.
The CrossClimate2 handles well over potholes and uneven roads, does an excellent job braking in all weather conditions, and maintains excellent grip on snow or ice.
Pros
- Smooth ride with minimal noise on even the roughest terrains
- Excellent handling in all weather conditions, including solid snow performance
Cons
- Expensive price tag
- Lower treadwear warranty than other similar tires
2. Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack
- Quiet Fuel Efficiency
- Warranty: 80,000 Miles
- Noise Rating: 5 out of 5
- Comfort Rating: 3 out of 5
- Discount Tire Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack tire offers a smooth, comfortable ride with low rolling resistance for improved handling and fuel consumption.
In terms of noise reduction, the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack truly shines. The tire incorporates Bridgestone’s cutting-edge QuietTrack technology for muted, nearly noiseless driving. The technology uses in-groove quiet tracks in the tire tread to optimize pitch sequencing and reduce airborne noise.
In addition to noise dampening, the tire’s design also improves water dispersion for excellent hydroplaning resistance. The tires can manage adequately in snow but are not a top performer for icy and wintery conditions. For optimal four-season performance, you would still need winter tires.
Overall though, the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack can offer a smooth, quiet, comfortable ride amid challenging driving amid a range of harsh road weather conditions.
Pros
- Super noise reduction
- Excellent tread life warranty
Cons
- Expensive price tag
- Mediocre performance in wet and snowy conditions
3. Continental Viking Contact 7
- Best for Winter Weather Driving
- Warranty: 128,000 kilometers (79,535 miles)
- Noise Rating: 4 out of 5
- Comfort Rating: 4 out of 5
- Discount Tire Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
Viking Contact 7 is one of Continental’s best-performing tires for reduced noise and excellent road handling.
The tire’s advanced tread pattern and unique rubber compounds deliver a smooth driving experience year-round. The Viking Contact 7 offers safe braking and traction across all weather conditions, but the aquaplaning is relatively weak. Snow and wintertime weather is where the tire shines; here it delivers best-in-class performance.
Pros
- Very good marks for noise reduction and ride comfort
- Excellent snow traction and wintertime handling
- Good hydroplaning resistance
Cons
- Wet handling and braking are mediocre
4. Michelin Defender LTX M/S
- Best for Stealthy and Smooth Ride
- Warranty: 50,000 – 70,000 miles
- Noise Rating: 3 out of 5
- Comfort Rating: 3 out of 5
- Discount Tire Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
The Michelin Defender LTX M/S tire excels in providing a smooth, comfortable ride and is known for its exceptional highway handling. The tire incorporates Michelin’s unique Evertread compound for enhanced durability and extra-long tread life under a range of tough conditions. The tire’s symmetric tread design has high-density 3D Active Sipes to ensure reliable traction on any type of surface and minimize car vibrations.
While this Michelin Defender tire can handle well in both dry and wet conditions, it’s not designed for extreme winter elements. For anything beyond light snow, you’d want to switch to snow tires for the winter months.
Overall, this tire is well-suited to long road trips and highway driving for wet or dry conditions.
Pros
- Excellent highway performance
- Good noise reduction and overall comfort
- Handles well in wet conditions
Cons
- Expensive price tag
- Not ideal for heavy snow
5. Continental TerrainContact H/T
- Best All-Season SUV Tire
- Warranty: 60,000 – 70,000 miles
- Noise Rating: 5 out of 5
- Comfort Rating: 3 out of 5
- Discount Tire Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
The Continental Terrain Contact H/T is an excellent choice for SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks. It’s a quiet, durable tire suitable for all seasons, and handles well in wet weather.
Available in a wide range of sizes, this tire is a favorite among drivers of Trailblazers, Ford Explorers, Escalades, and Jeeps. Owners appreciate the tire’s robust build and its Silane blend which resists cuts, chips, and nicks for a smoother ride amid a range of driving conditions. Additionally, the tire’s traction grooves offer excellent grip and steady handling during snowy weather.
Pros
- Excellent noise reduction
- Handles well in rain, snow, ice, and other challenging conditions
Cons
- Mediocre marks from Consumer Reports for ride comfort
6. Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus
- Best All-Season, All-Weather Performance
- Warranty: 50,000 miles
- Noise Rating: 3 out of 5
- Comfort Rating: 3 out of 5
- Discount Tire Customer Rating: 4.6 stars (out of 5)
The Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 tire is a solid choice for all-season driving. It handles dry, wet, snowy, and other extreme conditions well, and is suitable for a range of vehicle types: coupes, sedans, and crossovers. The tire excels at providing reliable traction and responsive handling in any weather.
Technologically advanced, the tire has a unique +Silane tread compound to enhance wet traction and prevent uneven wearing. Additionally, the tire’s SportsPlus Technology offers stability for high speeds or more aggressive driving.
Pros
- Excellent all-season performance
- Adaptive to high speeds and aggressive driving
- Reliable wet traction and hydroplaning
Cons
- Mediocre performance for comfort and noise
- Roll resistance could be better
7. General AltiMAX 365 AW
- Best Year-Round Quiet
- Warranty: 60,000 miles
- Noise Rating: 5 out of 5
- Comfort Rating: 3 out of 5
- Discount Tire Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
The General AltiMAX 365 AW gives consistent year-round performance and eliminates the need for seasonal tire changes. The tire is built for sedans, crossovers, and SUVs, and offers excellent handling in any challenging weather condition. Drivers appreciate how well the GeneralAltiMax 365 AW handles during sunny days and in heavy winter.
Built with the classic five-rib pattern, the tire has added innovative features like sinusoidal siping and traction teeth for superior gripping in snowy and wet conditions, as well as resistance to hydroplaning.
Pros
- Rated for severe winter weather (3-Peak Mountain Snowflake)
- Excellent all-weather handling
- Top marks for noise reduction
Cons
- Mediocre marks for ride comfort
8. BF Goodrich Advantage Control
- Best for All Season Durability and Comfort
- Warranty: 65,000 – 75,000 miles
- Noise Rating: 4 out of 5
- Comfort Rating: 4 out of 5
- Discount Tire Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The BFGoodrich Advantage Control tire is a solid all-season performer, offering traction, durability, and comfort. The tire is adaptable to varying road conditions, offering secure handling and cornering in dry, snowy, or wet weather. Its Active Sipe Technology enhances braking and overall performance on wet surfaces, and it has a computer-optimized tread pattern to ensure a quieter ride and ultra-responsive handling.
Wear-resistant rubber extends the life of this Goodrich tire, and it’s backed by a 65,000-mile warranty for V and W-rated sizes or a 75,000-mile warranty for T and H-rated sizes.
Overall, the BFGoodrich Advantage Control may be an excellent choice for drivers who want a reliable, all-season tire that delivers outstanding comfort, good noise reduction, and solid overall performance.
Pros
- All-season tire with good performance in rain and snow
- Wear-resistant tire rubber
Cons
- Some drivers complain of the sidewall causing wobbly steering
9. Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
- Best for High-Speed Stealth
- Warranty: 20,000 miles
- Noise Rating: 5 out of 5
- Comfort Rating: 2 out of 5
- Discount Tire Customer Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
Michelin’s Pilot Sport All Season 4 tire is made for sports cars, sedans, and performance vehicles, offering excellent traction and adapting to different weather conditions.
While it doesn’t offer the most comfortable ride (Consumer Reports gives it a comfort rating of 2 out of 5), the tire does an excellent job with noise reduction. The advanced tread pattern is specifically designed to lower road noise.
Although the Pilot Sport All Season 4 isn’t the smoothest, it’s still a highly responsive, top-performing tire that can handle all-season driving.
Pros
- Excellent noise reduction
- Excellent traction and vehicle handling
- All-season performance
Cons
- Low marks for comfort
- Lower tread life; the warranty is for only 20,000 miles
10. Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season
- Ready for Anything
- Warranty: 70,000 miles
- Noise Rating: 0
- Comfort Rating: 0
- Discount Tire Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
The Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season is a great touring tire for performance and all-season handling. It’s built to meet varying weather conditions and ensure a comfortable ride. The tire’s optimized tread pattern with wide grooves dampens noise and improves traction in wet conditions.
Built with low-weight, low-roll-resistant materials, the tire can also enhance overall vehicle efficiency. With compact central blocks, the tire also offers exceptional turn stability and responsive handling.
And as an additional bonus, the Cinturato P7 All Season tire offers runflat technology. This feature gives your tire continued functionality in case of a flat tire or air loss, allowing you to drive to a service station safely.
Pros
- Durability; high tread life warranty
- Runflat technology in case of a flat tire
- Excellent noise reduction
Cons
- High price tag
- Limited merchant availability
How to Pick the Best Tires for Comfort and Noise
If you’re researching the best tires for comfort and noise reduction, here are factors to consider.
- Your vehicle: Tires do come in a range of sizes, but some makes are better suited for certain vehicle types. If you drive a pick-up, truck tires will likely be a better choice than high-performance tires designed for sedans and small SUVs.
- Tire construction: The tire’s build, including its rubber compound, can impact the smoothness or comfort of the ride and how well any road noises are muffled. In general, softer rubbers can better absorb and drown out any road imperfections.
- Tread pattern: The tread design has a huge bearing on the acoustics. Denser tread blocks tend to run quieter but have reduced grip or weaker hydroplaning Tires with larger blocks and wider grooves may have better grip and handling in adverse weather but are often noisier.
- Climate: Consider the weather conditions in which you’ll be driving. Some tires are designed to offer peak performance in winter or certain conditions. All-season tires may give good performance all year round, but season-specific tires will likely offer superior handling, quiet, and comfort.
- Driving habits: Some drivers are mainly city drivers, with lots of stop-and-go, while others may like going off-road. Select tires designed to match your driving patterns.
- Budget: It’s important to stay within budget, but keep in mind that the cheapest tire may not be the best value in terms of performance, durability, or warranty. A long-lasting tire that’s best suited to your driving needs will often be the most cost-effective option.
Related:
How We Chose the Best Tires for Comfort and Noise
We carefully reviewed the tires featured in this review article based on carefully selected criteria relevant to delivery and rideshare drivers.
Our process involved analyzing sound performance, noise levels, durability, traction and braking distances in different weather conditions, fuel economy, comfort, price-performance ratio, and other factors.
While some tires were tested in real-life road conditions, we also relied heavily on market research, data from Consumer Reports, Rideshare Guy driver feedback, and customer ratings to provide a well-rounded analysis.
Our aim is to provide unbiased, thorough, and helpful recommendations to assist rideshare drivers in making the best decision. While this article may contain affiliate links, The Rideshare Guy does not receive any direct compensation or sponsorship from tire manufacturers.