It’s easy to look back on General Motors a decade ago and point to numerous areas where “good enough” served well. As of recent, that mantra has consistently sunk away into the depths of “Old GM,” as “New GM” puts out competitive products and notches up quality and customer care.
It’s why a report from The Detroit Free Press had us wide-eyed over Buick’s reported shortcutting of the Regal TourX’s tires. So the story goes, per the report, the all-wheel-drive versions of the 2018 Buick Regal Sportback and 2018 Regal TourX do not feature the Continental ProContact tires with the “ContiSilent” feature, while less-expensive front-wheel-drive cars fit them as standard. The assumption was “good enough” came back to haunt GM and Buick for its more expensive cars.
This feature helps give the Regal an ultra-hushed driving experience, thanks to a layer of foam glued to the inside of the tire. The simple solution reduces noise levels by 2 decibels, which can make or break Buick’s “Quiet Tuning” claim.
We reached out to Buick to gain insight into this decision and search for an explanation. Behold, there’s a story.
A Buick spokesperson told GM Authority that during final testing of the AWD Regal Sportback and Regal TourX—which arrives with standard AWD—engineers made the last-minute decision to fit the ContiSilent tires to the AWD models after noting their impressive performance to amplify an already-hushed ride.
Regals fitted with AWD house a 5-link rear suspension, while FWD cars feature a 4-link rear suspension. The latter is inherently louder, which meant engineers sought the ContiSilent tires to remedy the situation for FWD cars. With the tires, FWD Regals met Buick’s “Quiet Tuning” threshold, while the 5-link suspension on AWD models had already passed engineers’ targets for quietness.
What Buick is really doing is being proactive, not shortchanging consumers.
The last-minute decision to add the ContiSilent tires to the TourX and AWD Sportback models means the very first cars at dealerships will not feature them, but not for foul reasons. The Regal TourX’s tires also measure in at a different size with a taller sidewall, which in turn, caused Buick to actually relocate tire production to a facility that can handle the increased output.
The Buick spokesperson told us all hands are on deck to get the quiet tires fitted to cars as soon as possible. Buick isn’t waiting for the 2019 model year, either, the spokesperson told GM Authority. AWD Regals with added foam for quietness will ship in just a few weeks.
If anything, the decision shows no one has pried a nail from “Old GM’s” coffin. Instead, it’s further proof that a proactive GM is alive and well.
Comments
Thanks for clarifying
To be honest when you have to use special tires to fix an issue it means you missed something someplace.
The Pantera had to have special tires because of handling issues and others have used special tires to fix issues.
This is a poor way to fix problems. Customers do not like to be locked into a specific brand or tire and as the cars age they do not want pay more for a special tires.
They should just fix the car and use a good regular tire.
What ‘Special’ tires did the Pantera ‘Have’ to have?
Goodyear Arriva tires. Not the all seasons we got here.
They were designed to correct some handling issues in the original Mercury models back in the day.
You realize that there are a GREAT many cars that have custom tires that are specific to those models and trim levels don’t you? This is not something GM does that is unusual. It happens at ALL major manufactures from GM, to Audi, to Lambo, and so on.
There’s nothing to “fix.” You choose from the options you have available to meet various standards. So acting like it’s a “fix” is just BS to be honest.
Never said no one else did it. But it is still a short cut to fix an issue tire engineering should be addressing. I even pointed this out.
It is common to fix issues with tires and it is never good no matter the brand.
It is not just tires too.
What are you going to do in 5 years when Conti discontinues these tires like so many other tire companies have done with gimmick tires.
No one will have to use a specific tire. Your reading comprehension isn’t very good. They were only chosen for a “quietness” threshold for noise purposes. There is no “problem” with the car… ?
Well if you are using special tires to mask 2db you have failed some place in suspension on NHV in the engineering.
There are much quieter cars that do not need these tires.
The base price for Buick’s Regal TourX is almost $30K and given OEM pricing on tires General Motors gets from manufacturers, there should be no debate on what type of tire to equip the vehicle with because the price difference is very small and not worth the potential lost in sales from bad press especially in the internet age where this story is being read by some guy in China.
Mr. Scott What about the Z 28 that has special Tires. Is this a flaw in the suspension because it won’t go around the track as fast with all season tires?
Tires as in performance packages are part of the suspension. What they provide can not be found any other way mechanically.
On this car the suspension can be isolated in other ways and the body insulated in other ways to pick up that 2 db that will be lost when the customer does not buy the same tires to replace them later on.
On sound like this GM had alternatives they could have done, on grip they generally have exhausted all alternatives as the tire is a primary part of the suspension.
One is a band aid the other is a primary part.
If Buick were truly being ‘proactive’ they would offer that ugly plastic cladding around the wheel wells as an option, as does segment leader Subaru (for valid sales/demand-related reasons). They serve no legitimate practical purpose and will make drivers look like off-road wannabees. The Insignia Sports Tourer looks fantastic without all this garbage slapped on it.
try getting them repaired. Most tire shops run a mile