A week with the FL5 Civic Type R on battered urban streets and patched backroads let us zero in on secondary ride control, wheel impact harshness, and suspension noise—areas that separate a livable performance daily from a track toy.
The 2024 Civic Type R runs a 315-hp 2.0-liter turbo (K20C1) with a six-speed manual and adaptive dampers, riding on 19x9.5-inch wheels wrapped in 265/30R19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. Suspension is strut front, multi-link rear, with a stiff shell and additional bracing. Curb weight hovers around 3,200 lb on a 107.7-inch wheelbase. Our assessment covered 220 miles of broken pavement, expansion joints, recessed manhole covers, and short, sharp potholes, plus concrete freeway sections.
Ambient temps ran 58–74°F. We set tire pressures to the factory door-jamb spec and sampled all damper modes (Comfort, Sport, +R) over identical routes at controlled speeds (20–70 mph). Two occupants and about 50 lb of gear were on board. Secondary ride on fractured asphalt is notably improved versus the prior-gen Type R.
In Comfort, the body takes a single vertical set over ripple patches and settles quickly, with minimal aftershake. You feel the high-frequency texture through the seats and wheel, but it’s filtered rather than buzzy. Sport introduces a faint extra vertical jiggle over closely spaced heaves, while +R tightens control further at the cost of more constant motion on rough city grids. Wheel impact harshness is where the 30-profile Michelin meets its limits.
Square-edged potholes and sunken utility cuts create a pronounced initial hit at 25–35 mph. The good news: the damper rebound control is exemplary, so there’s little secondary kick or bounding. Comfort mode is the sweet spot for winter-ravaged streets; +R can feel abrupt on back-to-back impacts. Dropping to an 18-inch winter/all-season package meaningfully softens the first strike without dulling steering precision for daily use.
Suspension noise is well contained for a car this focused. Sharp impacts register as a muted “thud” rather than a metallic clank, with no bushing squeaks or top-mount clatter in our tester. The rear axle transmits a brief drum on cold tires over bridge seams, but it doesn’t resonate. Tire roar from the PS4S on coarse-chip surfaces is the dominant cabin noise; overall isolation trails a Golf R but is quieter and less boomy than a GR Corolla on similar pavement.
Verdict: As a daily on rough roads, the FL5 is livable if you leave the dampers in Comfort and keep speeds sensible over sharp edges. It excels at quelling aftershocks, but the initial strike remains firm by virtue of the 30-series tires and stiff bushings. If your commute is cratered, consider an 18-inch wheel/tire set or cross-shop the Acura Integra Type S for a touch more compliance and additional sound deadening.
