Poor Road Grip with 20" tires

[randiehill]

I bought the 2021 Telluride S - it has Pirelli 20" tires on it. My main complaint about the car is that I feel like it doesn't "grip" the road. It's really bad when driving on grooved hiways - it feels like it's floating along with the grooves making it necessary to drive with both hands and still feel like you don't have control of the vehicle. Is anyone else having this problem? The only information I can find on this is an article on what they call tramlining. Apparently it has to do with the tread of the tires following the grooves in the road. Any input would be appreciated. I do need to check the tire pressure after reading a couple other posts on hear.

 

[TheNip73]

Where I live this has happened with pretty much any tire I use when it is new (truck tires, multiple models of car tires). After a few thousand miles on your telluride it will probably decrease significantly. It has for me.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

I bought the 2021 Telluride S - it has Pirelli 20" tires on it. My main complaint about the car is that I feel like it doesn't "grip" the road. It's really bad when driving on grooved hiways - it feels like it's floating along with the grooves making it necessary to drive with both hands and still feel like you don't have control of the vehicle. Is anyone else having this problem? The only information I can find on this is an article on what they call tramlining. Apparently it has to do with the tread of the tires following the grooves in the road. Any input would be appreciated. I do need to check the tire pressure after reading a couple other posts on hear.

Welcome. Moving this to our tires section.

 

[DarkMossJustin]

I bought the 2021 Telluride S - it has Pirelli 20" tires on it. My main complaint about the car is that I feel like it doesn't "grip" the road. It's really bad when driving on grooved hiways - it feels like it's floating along with the grooves making it necessary to drive with both hands and still feel like you don't have control of the vehicle. Is anyone else having this problem? The only information I can find on this is an article on what they call tramlining. Apparently it has to do with the tread of the tires following the grooves in the road. Any input would be appreciated. I do need to check the tire pressure after reading a couple other posts on hear.

Are you monitoring the tire pressures?

What are their typical inflations cold? while driving for a while?

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[Amati5]

Most car with stiff suspension (sport cars) do this. In this case, the 20” tires have lower sidewall making them less flexible so you feel the roads more. I don’t have my Telly yet but this is a good indicator to me that the cars (S and SX) seems to have good handling.

 

[2020Telly]

I'm not convinced that the Kia OE Pirellis Scorpion Zero All Seasons are the same as the advertised aftermarkets that are called Pirelli Scorpion Zero AS in 245/50R20. Whenever I compare the tread pattern for what you can buy non-OEM they don't look the same as what I originally got on my Telluride S FWD. It doesn't nearly have as many grooves and tracks from all the tires that are called by the same name. I wonder if this is to help with mpg and lower manufacturing costs? I question if the rubber is softer making it wear out quicker. I couldn't take it past 34K and upgraded my tires. The new tires are much better. I certainly think the people who got the AWD paid for the better quality tire in the Michelin Primacy Tour Grand Touring AS tire with better grip. When I look at pictures of that tread, it looks like what Michelin is advertising. Looking back, I would have even taken the 20" Hankooks that come on the Palisade over the Pirellis. I guess it's possible Kia bought the 2019 version of the Pirelli Scorpion Zero AS 245/50R20 SUV tire and Pirelli improved the tread in more recent year. But it was enough for me to go shopping for something totally different.

I don't mind if someone proves me wrong. Look at this picture as to what the tire tread is advertised by Pirelli: SCORPION™ ZERO ALL SEASON 245/50R20 | Pirelli Then go to your FWD 20" tire Telluride with Pirellis and compare the tread to that picture. I would be curious if anyone else see a different tire like I do.

At 34K miles, mine looked like a cheaper knock off. I recognize that the pattern changes as the tire wears out, but I didn't take a picture when my tires were new, so I could be wrong.

 

[beato1]

I have an EX 2021 I just bought two weeks ago with the same Pirelli tires. Here is a picture. Thanks.

 

[2020Telly]

I have an EX 2021 I just bought two weeks ago with the same Pirelli tires. Here is a picture. Thanks.

Thank you. That’s confirms what I had. I don’t see the “brick” track pattern on the outside track that the pirelli website shows and the second from the outside has the grooves go straight through which is also not was is visible on a OE Telluride. I don’t think it is the same tire that Pirelli advertises with the same name.

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[beato1]

Thank you. That’s confirms what I had. I don’t see the “brick” track pattern on the outside track that the pirelli website shows and the second from the outside has the grooves go straight through which is also not was is visible on a OE Telluride. I don’t think it is the same tire that Pirelli advertises with the same name.

You're welcome! Hmm, I wonder why its Telluride version is different form the original? Did they (Kia) cut corner here?

 

[2020Telly]

You're welcome! Hmm, I wonder why its Telluride version is different form the original? Did they (Kia) cut corner here?

I’m not sure and we can’t really help what comes with the original purchase. This is a link I recently got in an email advertising the same tire that Pirelli advertises which looks better than what came with my Telluride:

https://www.thekiatiresource.com

When it comes time to replace, my advice is to examine closely what you purchase to make sure you get what you are paying for. Good tires are probably one of the most important safety features that get overlooked.

 

[Sswitzky]

Check your pressure. Cars coming to dealers at 45 psi aren’t uncommon. Knock it down to 35 and that might help.

 

[beato1]

I’m not sure and we can’t really help what comes with the original purchase. This is a link I recently got in an email advertising the same tire that Pirelli advertises which looks better than what came with my Telluride:

https://www.thekiatiresource.com

When it comes time to replace, my advice is to examine closely what you purchase to make sure you get what you are paying for. Good tires are probably one of the most important safety features that get overlooked.

So I went to the link you provided and compared the two tires--they are basically the same tires! Here's another pictures! The tires on the left is mine and the left are from the website you provided. Thanks.

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[Jaggrey]

I just replaced my Pirelli’s with the Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II tires. It might be placebo but I notice a difference in vibration, grip, overall smoother ride. I only had about 19k and two of the tires were pretty worn. I was a little hesitant on getting another set of Pirelli’s but these seem to be rated great on TireRack.

 

[2020Telly]

So I went to the link you provided and compared the two tires--they are basically the same tires! Here's another pictures! The tires on the left is mine and the left are from the website you provided. Thanks.

I would agree that those two pictures definitely match. So where did the picture in your post #7 from above come from because that’s doesn’t look the same?

 

[beato1]

They're the same tires from my Telluride. Just different angles and lighting that revealed more of the tire's grooves and textures. I tired to match the perspectives from the website. Thanks.

 

[cheersjc]

I just replaced my Pirelli’s with the Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II tires. It might be placebo but I notice a difference in vibration, grip, overall smoother ride. I only had about 19k and two of the tires were pretty worn. I was a little hesitant on getting another set of Pirelli’s but these seem to be rated great on TireRack.

Yup. Just changed mine yesterday at 18020 miles.

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[Retired-TELCO]

Good choice I guess.
I just purchased and installed Michelin CrossClimate2 265/50R 20. I would stack
these up against any all weather tire out there.