SR5 4x4 Ride Quality

I have a SR5 4x4 (not TRD) coming in next month. This truck does not have everything I'm wanting (dealers are just getting what is shipped to them) but I would be ok with it if it has a good smooth ride around town.

MSRP is going to be $55K . After I add extended warranty , TT&L and getting the leather seat upgraded (after market) I will be over $60K into this truck

I have not even been able to drive a SR5 yet since every dealership has none in stock.

How is the drive quality on the SR5 for those who have driven one?

 

it's great from what I hear. I am still waiting on mine to come in. but a lot of YouTubers are saying it's amazing. once people who has it come back from driving theirs I'm sure they can elaborate more

 

Everyone who has ridden in mine (SR5 4x4 -not the lowered sport, but with the rear air suspension) says it is the smoothest riding truck they have been in. That says something.
My personal opinion means less because I think it is amazing, but I was in a Jeep Rubicon previously. Anything is smooth after that.

 

I have the sr5 4x4 TSS package, the ride is excellent, you will not be disappointed.

 

I have the TRD Off-road packaged SR5 and it’s the best riding truck (besides raptor w/ upgraded fox shocks) I’ve ever been in. I can’t say how it rides without the bilstiens. If you’re willing to spend the ridiculous upgrade price the dealer charges for aftermarket leather, then upgrade the shocks later if you’re not happy. Shocks can make our break a vehicle ride quality.

 

I've owned over 10 pick-up trucks and the ride quality of the 2022 Tundra is impressive. I'm most impressed with the quiet cabin....also you think you're cruising at 55 but the speedo indicates 75! . You won't be disappointed.

 

I have SR5 4x4 with XP package, 20" wheels with Falken Wildpeak's and I am being totally honest: it's the best riding truck I have ever been in.

 

Does anyone know if the limited has a better ride than the SR5
Or do they have the same ride quality?

 

I believe they’re the same.

 

I watched one YouTube video and the reviewer claimed the TRD off road had a better street ride. I’m Assuming it has something to do with Esther the shocks or tires.
Can anyone confirm this?

 

Shocks can make or break a vehicles ride and when you add in different spring rates with better shocks it becomes a game changer.

Chevy’s Z71 package with the Rancho will ride smoother than a regular Silverado. Magnetic ride will be smoother than the Rancho.

Ram has the same low end shocks, then the Bilsteins up to the air ride. I believe the Bilstiens are Rebel only and monotube.

Ford has the same steps. Low end stock, Rancho, then a better Rancho for the Tremors.

I left out the top end shocks they all offer but you get the idea. Not to mention the anti-roll bars in the rear and front sway bars in the front each package may offer. The brands have a five link (some call a four link) or leaf spring rear suspension. Toyota does the same thing and with the new third gen, we have six configurations.

1) Base models get twin tube shocks that have a 1.3” diameter body and single rate front and rear springs.

2) Base suspension with rear air

3) TRD Sport gets a hair different single rate coils front and rear that lower it half an inch. The shocks are Bilstein monotubes that have a 1.8”diameter body, which make it more “street worthy”.

4) TRD Off-Road, which includes SR5 Limited and 1794, get a dual rate front coil spring. Long story short they help prevent bottoming out.

5) Adaptive variable suspension, which is available on Limited and 1794 with the Advanced package. This is the auto leveling rear suspension and adaptive dampers. The dampers are solenoid controlled valves that change the damping by changing the piston in and out to change how the oil flows.

6) TRD Pro gets special dual rate front springs that raise it approximately an inch. The shocks are monotube Fox internal-bypass remote reservoirs with a 2.5” diameter. The front anti roll bar is upgraded for stiffer performance over the standard bar the others gets.


Once again shocks are a game changer. There are a slew of articles that can explain the different shock types in depth. It goes regular, twin tube, monotube, piggy back, reservoir and then custom $$$. Same for the spring rates, there are a ton of articles to explain in depth how this works for different applications.

Tires will change a vehicles ride as well. Keep in mind if the tire has the same load range, performance (speed) rating and tread type. The road noise is typically the concern. In short, a tire with more sidewall will ride better than one with less. For example, a 33” tall tire is a 33” tall tire no matter the wheel size. A 33” tall tire installed on a 17” wheel will ride smoother than a 33” tall tire mounted on a 24” wheel. For the people that have to argue semantics. Take out the true diameter of the different tires, at the end of the day a 33 is a 33, this is basic information. The performance rating of a tire can be important as well. The higher the performance rating the stiffer the sidewall, which is why people call it a speed rating. The stiffer the sidewall the less flex it has giving it a higher speed capability. There’s ply ratings as well, it’s a rating. There’s actually no such thing as a true 10 ply for example. They’re built to be rated for the higher loads. It goes 4, 4 with and XL (extra load), 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 ply rated tires. Or as some know as C, D, E, G and F. Then the air pressure becomes a factor. The max air pressure is what the max load rating is. Some folks just have no clue, even the ones working on your vehicles. The door jamb sticker on vehicles shows the air pressure for your vehicle. What most don’t understand is that’s the air pressure at max load. I believe it was Ram that had a different pressure for loaded and unloaded. Then Ram went one step further and it had a button in the cab that adjusted the TPMS. For the guys that drive street queens, they don’t need 80psi (for example) in the rear. Bump it down to 40 in the rear and the ride will change a lot! The front psi is always the same because it’s load is always the same because of the motor. If you install a higher load rated tire or a tire with more load capacity you can actually adjust the air accordingly, it’s simple math. There’s actually a calculator for it somewhere. I used to use it when I did off-road installs.

In my personal experience, when I worked for Bridgestone back in the day, installing a higher load rated tire actually road better than a standard tire. At least here in Texas, our roads aren’t the greatest.

Sorry for the long rant and I could go on and on for days LOL. I hope this makes sense for the most part and answers your questions. At least partially

 

Thanks for the detailed info. For a guy like me pulling a 25’ travel trailer (7500 GVWR) at or near the payload limit, would it be wise to upgrade to E rated tires and/or better Bilstein shocks?

 

A good shock upgrade would help with overall ride quality. Adding air bags (like air lift) will help with towing performance, sway and even braking. Upgrading tires from a standard load to even an XL would make a big difference as well. To answer your question. Yes, upgrading your tires and better shocks would be better than stock. Especially if you tow all the time.

 

The video below is a great demonstration for tongue weight distribution. Which is why I’d recommended air bags for support when towing. They help in the same way plus other towing performance enhancements.

https://youtu.be/w9Dgxe584Ss

 

Respectfully, I disagree. Air bags do not function in the same manner as a WDH. Sorry

https://youtu.be/XBZu39pQ8Gg

 

I didn’t say replace WDH with airbags. Airbags will help enhance the towing performance. Anybody that tows a heavy load should have that type of hitch because they are very important. When your load is so heavy that your rear end is being sagged, that decreases some of the other performance. Once again I never said anything about not using the hitch. All I said was they can have the same type of enhancement when towing. Together is even better. That’s proven with experience from myself and many customers I’ve done this with.

WDH is used mainly for the trailer distribution and bags are for vehicle weight distribution from the added load. Bags help keep all four tires firmly planted to the pavement. Together, magic!

 

WDH is meant to restore front axle weight. You can calculate FALR (front axle load restoration) or roughly guess. One way to guess is to measure the front ride height after before installing a WDH and try to bring that front ride height back after leveling the WDH. The Toyota owners manual describes this feature. Airbags are helpful for sure especially for ride comfort. BUT I’ve heard the factory airbags on the 22 Tundra have poor ride quality.

 

I agree, I should have specified more. I was just trying to give a basic here you go and the rest can be looked up with their own research.

 

Respectfully, I disagree with what I've read of this post and your previous one. Perhaps I'm failing to understand what you've attempted to convey.
I'd encourage anyone considering towing with their 2022 Tundra to do their own research on air bags and WDH. I'd start by watching the video I shared, where you can clearly see the purpose and effectiveness of WDH.

If you're hauling a load and have air bags, then use them to even out your vehicle.

If you're towing a load and have a WDH, then use it to redistribute the weight, moving weight from the rear axel to both the front axle and trailer axle(s). If you also have air bags in this scenario, don't use them.

 

I disagree with you. At the same time to each their own and there are different strokes for different folks. At the end of the day you can just hook up and go using nothing on the vehicle. How can you say don’t use air when Ram and now Tundra offer load leveling air? To further what I’m saying here is a google search and a find from the source to explain in detail. Once again my opinion was meant for a short and sweet start and others can research further for themselves.

https://www.airliftcompany.com/workshop/weight-distribution-bars-air-springs/

 

Yeah, if you have the air definitely use it. In the Tundra it will increase the ride height in the rear which will help to give the suspension more compression. But it doesn’t help to distribute the weight when towing and it’s very important to keep weight over the front axle for steering.