Driving can be a very noisy experience, especially if you are driving on hard surfaces in an older car with minimal noise dampening in place.
The main cause of noise while driving are your wheels, specifically the tires you use.
Road friction can create an awful lot of noise which can be uncomfortable particularly on a long drive.
Here are a few things you can do to minimise noise from your tires on your next long drive.
1. Change Your Tire To A Quieter One
Understanding your tire description is key to getting a quiet tire which is suitable for your car.
Most tire descriptions look something like this: 245 / 40R18 93W
When it comes to minimising noise the load index number (93W in this case) is key.
93 is the load index number which tells us how much weight the tire can safely carry. Our example tire can carry 1,433lb / 650kg.
Consult your vehicle’s manual to find out what the ideal load index for your car is. It can be tempting to use a tire which haas a higher load index number as typically they are more durable however they will also be stiffer meaning that they will cause much more road noise.
The letter 93W is your tires speed rating. This tells you the maximum speed that the tire can safely sustain.
Our tire can safely sustain a speed of 168 mph / 270 km/h. Don’t be tempted to go for a high-speed rating tire because again this means the tire will be stiffer and noisier than it needs to be. Instead, settle for a tire that your car manufacturer recommends as this is likely to offer more dampening. Whatever you do though do not go for a tire lower than what is recommended by your manufacturer as this could invalidate your insurance!
Some tire developers are even spending time creating specially made quiet tires (find out more about these at Soundproof Panda) which aim to dampen sound even if you have a high load index and high-speed rating.
You can get a rough idea of how noisy a tire will be by looking out for a tire noise rating on its sidewall.
2. Get Your PSI Right
Overinflated or under-inflated tires will cause road noise issues.
Overinflated tires will be stiffer and will do far less to dampen vibrations than an appropriately inflated tire, not to mention overinflated tires are extremely dangerous due to the high risk of them puncturing.
Under-inflated tires will have more rubber in contact with the ground leading to greater friction and therefore more noise.
Consult your car handbook or check inside the driver door frame to find out exactly what the recommended PSI for your tires is and make sure they are inflated to this level before any long journey for a smoother quieter drive.
3. Keep Tires Aligned & Don’t Let Them Wear Down
Over worn tires will create excessive noise, so too will misaligned tires.
Worn tires tend to get tread separation which causes uneven contact with the road leading to more road noise.
Misaligned tires do not site completely flat on the road and will scuff the ground at an angle as you drive, again creating excessive noise.
The simple fix to this is to make sure you regularly get your tires checked by a professional. Typically most tires won’t last much more than 20,000 miles however this can be much greater or lower depending on the type of driving you do, the tires you use and and the type of car you drive.
Also get a mechanic to regularly check your tire alignment (at least once a year).
Do all this and hopefully, your drive shouldn’t be excessively noisy….if all else fails just buy a new car!
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