2015 Suburban LT on 18's: no buffeting issue so far

azcreeker · January 23, 2017

We just got a the above truck with 40k miles and after a long test drive on various surfaces and speed, I can not hear any low frequencies buffeting on out truck equipped with 18's and almost shot stock goodyear tires.

My question is, are any of you on 18 or else and NOT experiencing the buffeting?

thanks for your input

azcreeker · January 23, 2017

Nobody?

Michael Klug · January 23, 2017

We have almost the exact same Suburban. White, LT, lux package, 18's...but ours is a 2016. 24k miles. We do not have any buffeting or booming. We do however have the V4 harmonic vibration that is so common in these vehicles. Occurs between 30 and 50 mph.

seamus2154 · January 24, 2017

I have a 15 denali xl on 22's and have never had the buffeting. Had vibrations but it was always the bridgstone tires. New Michelins and never had an issue since now at 39K.

azcreeker · January 24, 2017

We have almost the exact same Suburban. White, LT, lux package, 18's...but ours is a 2016. 24k miles. We do not have any buffeting or booming. We do however have the V4 harmonic vibration that is so common in these vehicles. Occurs between 30 and 50 mph.

Thanks for the feedback. I will have to look for the v4 harmonic vibration between the above speeds. One thing for sure is my wife is not complaining and love it compared to our previous van.

I read in another post, how one person actually had less harmonic vibration by switching to GM accessory Borla exhaust, which seems to be the only one retaining the v4 flapper.

I am curious about this and would myself love a true quiet exhaust when cruising and a bit more sound when getting on it.

azcreeker · January 24, 2017

I have a 15 denali xl on 22's and have never had the buffeting. Had vibrations but it was always the bridgstone tires. New Michelins and never had an issue since now at 39K.

Very nice to hear, I would love to upgrade to 22's but so far was afraid due to the related posts on vibration.

Would you mind sharing what size and model of Michelin tires you went with?

thanks!

TOBTEK · January 24, 2017

I've had Dozens of loaner Sub's and Tahoe's rolling on 18" w/tires while our 3 new 2015 & 2016's were in the shop. ( 3rd one getting bought back right now) I've never driven one that didn't have some degree of Booming or buffeting......DOZENS of them. As the last GM engineer told me " They ALL do it, some are just worse then others." If you're as tuned into it as I am, you'd hear it.

I've also burst the bubble with a few friends that were saying theirs didn't Boom..... I drove them, they did boom as well.

18" 20" and 22" wheels and tires.... THEY ALL BOOM! Its the ultra stiff JUNK shocks, too hard body mounts, and paper thin sheet metal. All this with new ultra air tight cabin...... They created a bass drum !

My father in law whom has terrible hearing.... Loves the Escalade. He cant hear it at all.

seamus2154 · January 24, 2017

Don't be afraid. It is the tires. Many of us have fought it but it was the tires. I had several tires replaced and countless road force balancing. New Michelin Defender LTX 285/45/22 and not one issue since. Plus improved ride quality, quieter, and better in rain. Do a search you will find this info. Tire quality is a big deal when increasing in size. I have never believed that the vibration issue and the buffeting issue were the same. Too many guys had one but not the other. Few had both. I had the vibration issue on three trucks in the new platform. It was the tires. If you concentrate on it you can always hear and tell it is V4 mode. Anytime I feel and hear it I just give it a little more gas and it stops. Not a big deal.

Rteefact · January 31, 2017

I bought the 18's and never had any noise. I have had this Tahoe since Aug 2014 its got 15k on it, used mostly on long trips 6-10 hrs.

Jwigginton · February 6, 2017

So I have the same 2015 LT with 37K miles, has the stock goodyear tires and I hear a booming bass like sound when I'm cruising along at low-mid speeds. if I accelerate the booming goes away, but when just cruising at one speed it's a deep booming / rattle / humming sounds. I've seen both the tech bulletin and then suggestions on new tires. Not sure where to start. Any tips?

azcreeker · February 7, 2017

While I haven't experienced the booming bass sound you are talking about, I would straight up change the tires and put some Michelin tires and make sure to get them road forced balanced.

If you just bought a used one like me, I would also get it aligned.

These two course of actions are things I am going to do even as I have no symptoms (yet!)

if that doesn't solve it you can go look at actual technical service bulletins and other remedies.

Good luck and keep us posted right here il this thread please!