[dushmish]

Part by part review:

I have already mentioned that the head lamps were weak and had to be changed to a 100/90 to get adequate brightness for night driving. As we drove out of the showroom, I felt the car was hard on the road. And I could feel on the steering that that it was not the suspension, but the tyres that were seeming hard.

It was night and I was away from my usual petrol pump where I get the tyre pressure checked. So we continued to drive. Next day, at the first opportunity I went to the petrol pump and got the tyre pressure checked. The recommended pressure is 32psi for front and 29psi for rear. To my horror, all the tyres were inflated at 37psi. No wonder the ride was feeling bumpy. I got the pressure corrected.

This was my first time on tubeless tyres. I was still adjusting to the car and its noise levels. Driving a diesel for the first time. The ride quality continued to be a bit hard. I checked air pressure at three different places and all three gave same readings (air pressure at prescribed limit). We went for our first long drive to Chiplun on the NH4 (Mumbai Goa Highway). The car was pulling slightly to the left. Knowing the highway that it has lots of turns, I did not want to start on without proper wheel alignment. But a wheel alignment in the first 1800 km? Iceberg had not hit any pot holes or no off roading either. Why on earth would the wheels lose alignment? I got the alignment done at a shop in Vashi in the market just before the Palm Beach Marg. No balancing, just alignment. Done in 15 minutes. Started quickly, didn't take test drive and I realised I had made a mistake. The steering was cross and not centred. I hate driving with imperfect settings. The car was not pulling to the left but the steering was feeling awkward with a tilt towards left.

Found another shop in Panvel. Got the alignment done again. Took a test drive. Purrfect! Hit the highway. I found the cabin to be noisy with a whine. On observing closely I found it to be a hum of tyres hitting the tarmac. The engine was infact very silent at 80 kmph, 5th gear, 1900-2000 rpm.

Once I started observing the tyres noise, the hardness and gripping, it gave me a feeling that I was not riding on the best tyres. And it is not a good feeling to have on a new car. On my return did some research on the stock JK tyres. Found that they were supposed to deliver the performance they were delivering. Too bad! TBHP came to help in finding the right tyres, a very good thread on Michelin and Bridgestone camparo. Decided on Michelin XM +.

Was not getting any value for the stock tyres. Rs 500 per piece + Rs 1000 for the one in stepny (unused). Decided against change. Shall live with the noisy hard tyres till 20000 km. I dont think I can bear them for more than that.

Read a lot about the rattles in the Swift/Dzire. I would blame a lot of it on the tyres. The ride quality is so hard. My suggestion to aall new buyers, please change your tyres in the showroom and get a better price and amazing ride quality.

Will share the experience of the seats in the next post.