2016 Optima SX Limited to Stinger Base Awd

[Dayton]

Hello all!

New to the forum and a new Stinger driver. Had a 2016 Optima SX Limited and was a lease. I lease my vehicles. That Optima was pretty fantastic in every way. Since I got the Base model Stinger I can't be too critical towards the options. However, the noise difference in the Stinger is quite a bit louder than the Optima was (that sucks but oh well). Glad I made the move anyways.

Drive like you stole it.

 

[MisterMac]

Welcome to the Swarm!

 

[Dayton]

Welcome to the Swarm!

Thank ya.

 

[Waynerm002]

Welcome fellow Optima driver and congrats on your new Stinger! I agree that the noise is higher on the 2.0T Stingers, mainly due to the tires they use on that version and I think with the base model it may have less sound insulation. In a couple of years when they do a mid-cycle refresh, it should improve and you might be ready for a GT at that time. Nice to see another Optima owner getting a Stinger.

 

[Johnman]

I test drove a GT2 and was amazed at how quiet it was. There must be more insulation than in the 4-cylinder models?

 

[Dayton]

I test drove a GT2 and was amazed at how quiet it was. There must be more insulation than in the 4-cylinder models?

Interesting. Could be the issue. What did you drive before?

 

[robz32]

Welcome aboard and congratulations.

 

[Waynerm002]

I have a 2017 Optima Hybrid and I wanted to get a 2.0T, like the one in GT guise that they had on display before they officially started selling the cars here. I drove the Stinger Premium after the GT so I know right away it was less quiet. I went back and drove an A5 Sportback against a Premium and the Audi was slightly more quiet, on similarly smooth surfaces. My Optima Hybrid I feel was also quieter than the Stinger premium. That being said, prior to my final decision, I drove a Premium and GT2 one last time to decide. Negating the power difference, both seemed similarly quiet on the same set of smooth roads, until I got off the highway in an area with old damaged roads and the tire noise was horrendous on the Premium. With the GT2 on the same exit and roads, it got both my wife and I to say, this is the one. Both these cars had an April build date, the car I end up with I believe is a December or January build (i'll have to confirm) and has more road noise than I recall in the later build.

The tire is certainly the culprit in the majority of the road noise on both versions however, those Bridgestones are not a good performance choice for the Stinger. The RE870 AS2 is a GT tire and I suspect it was done for fuel economy and comfort, but there are other, better options that are quieter for the car. If you plan on driving it like you stole it, and want better grip, upgrade the tires to a UHP AS or Summer versions (a quieter version).

 

[Dayton]

I have a 2017 Optima Hybrid and I wanted to get a 2.0T, like the one in GT guise that they had on display before they officially started selling the cars here. I drove the Stinger Premium after the GT so I know right away it was less quiet. I went back and drove an A5 Sportback against a Premium and the Audi was slightly more quiet, on similarly smooth surfaces. My Optima Hybrid I feel was also quieter than the Stinger premium. That being said, prior to my final decision, I drove a Premium and GT2 one last time to decide. Negating the power difference, both seemed similarly quiet on the same set of smooth roads, until I got off the highway in an area with old damaged roads and the tire noise was horrendous on the Premium. With the GT2 on the same exit and roads, it got both my wife and I to say, this is the one. Both these cars had an April build date, the car I end up with I believe is a December or January build (i'll have to confirm) and has more road noise than I recall in the later build.

The tire is certainly the culprit in the majority of the road noise on both versions however, those Bridgestones are not a good performance choice for the Stinger. The RE870 AS2 is a GT tire and I suspect it was done for fuel economy and comfort, but there are other, better options that are quieter for the car. If you plan on driving it like you stole it, and want better grip, upgrade the tires to a UHP AS or Summer versions (a quieter version).

Awesome. Thanks for the info and advice on the tires, I do believe the tires have the highest percentage od the noise as I believe tires that the manufacturers put on the cars are lower grade.

 

[Waynerm002]

I find Pirelli tires to be pretty quiet of the top batch plus the Nitto Motivo's I'm using now. They have had some great reviews from others here as well on them and there is a thread I started on them as well. My Hybrid has General G-MAX AS-05 tires on them and I got those as I began driving the hybrid harder after driving the GT. This led to me getting lowering springs for it and over powering the stock tires. Initially they were noisy and slippery but started getting quieter after 300 miles, after around 500 miles, they settled into what they are now, some pretty quiet and grippy tires. I had planned to get a set on the GT2 but opted for the Nitto's to try that brand as I have heard and read some good things about them. They have been pretty good in wet and dry, haven't had any snow yet so can't comment on that but others have in the Nitto Motivo thread.

 

[Peeso33]

Welcome fellow Optima driver and congrats on your new Stinger! I agree that the noise is higher on the 2.0T Stingers, mainly due to the tires they use on that version and I think with the base model it may have less sound insulation. In a couple of years when they do a mid-cycle refresh, it should improve and you might be ready for a GT at that time. Nice to see another Optima owner getting a Stinger.

Is there really a difference in (amount/type) sound insulation between the different stinger trims? Or is it more about the tires?