My 2008 AT sport is really riding rough lately. My tires are only six months old, and I just had an alignment a couple of months ago. What could be the problem? I have 47,108 miles on it.

 

Need details...

 

lowered? stock dampers shot?

 

Good Lord, people.... Cars ride rough when it is cold outside. The fluid in shocks becomes thicker and rubber tires are stiffer when it is cold outside.... Rule of thumb.... If you need to wear warm clothing or use the heater in your car to keep warm, expect your tires and suspension to be somewhat stiffer than when you don't need to do these things.

 

Agreed.

A vehicle's alignment has no affect on making a vehicle's ride harder/harsher than usual, just its directional behavior and tire wear. Tires can make an mild alteration in the vehicle's ride since it absorbs the initial shock from bumps. Changing to a tire with a stiffer sidewall will yield a harder ride and a tire with a softer sidewall will result in a more comfortable ride.

And much like Texas Coyote said, when the vehicle is exposed to temperatures, its tire's compound and damper (shock) fluid is directly related. Meaning that the colder the temperature, the stiffer the tire will be and the thicker the damper's fluid will be resulting in a slower compression/decompression reaction; the opposite holds true in warmer temperatures.

I'm leaning towards the colder temperature being the reason why you are experiencing a rougher ride. If you would like to check the condition of your shocks, give the car a few bounces to compress the suspension and take note of how quickly the suspension dampens the compressions and settles back to static height (no movement). The quicker the compression rate slows, the better of course.

 

I don't know about blaming the weather, since it's going to be in the mid 60's in Las Cruces today. I only wish it was close to that warm in this hell hole, Shitcago.

 

It has warmed to 61 here but was cooler when I went for a drive earlier and my car felt much stiffer than when the temperatures are 40 degrees warmer.... It's all relative.

 

Did you check the tire pressure?

 

Sorry it's taken so long to respond. Everything is stock, including the new identical dunlops. It wasn't this rough last year, or the year before during winter. Also, it really isn't that cold right now. An alignment was done a couple of months ago. The air pressure on my tires is at 40 right now. I have kept them at 40 since I got the Fit in 08.

 

Bring the tire pressure down to 32 PSI and take a spin around the block, you should feel a difference.

 

What Hootie said...... I use 34 front and 31 rear but I am on 195-45-16s right now... I prefer a little less pressure in the rear since I removed the rear seats.

 

No sh*t! Feels like driving a brick here. Brick of ice as my butt did not like the frozen Clazzios either.

 

Yeah, 40 psi is going to feel like a go cart.