How to reduce car tyre noise
Friday 20th December 2019
Although some drivers may not notice the noise their tyres make, for regular drivers, it can become a common bugbear if your tyres are exerting a lot of noise. Of course, there are multiple factors that can contribute to experiencing noise from your vehicle on the roads – but how can your tyres effect road noise? And what can you do to reduce this?
Tyre noise causes
First, it’s important to identify the causes of tyre noise, and why sometimes you can experience excessive tyre noise as a driver:
- Air – in car tyres, air can get trapped underneath the rubber tread blocks. When this happens, the air decompresses, making a small popping sound. However, as this can happen multiple times each second, it ends up sounding like a droning hum coming from your tyres. This is especially common in tyres with large tread blocks that are separated by only a few thick grooves.
- Rubber gripping the road – in some car tyres, rubber can grip the surface of the road, which can lead to a squealing sound.
- Tread patterns – each individual tyre ridge can have a different effect on the road surface. Tyres with at least a few grooves around the full circumference of the tyre provide a quieter tyre experience. Generally, the more complex and finer the tread pattern is, the quieter the tyre will be on the road.
How to reduce tyre noise
- Buy new tyres – the best way to reduce tyre noise is to invest in new tyres. Following the above tyre noise causes advice, try to stay away from tyres with large tread blocks and choose tyres that have a more complex and finer tread pattern for quieter tyres.
- Air pressure – ensuring the air pressure of your tyres is properly inflated can help decrease tyre noise. Tyre noise will increase with uneven tyre wear, and by following tips to improve your tyre life, you can also minimise the noise your tyres may make by taking care of them properly.
- Vehicle weight – reducing the weight of your vehicle can also have a positive impact on tyre noise. A heavy vehicle pushes the bottom of the tyre flatter into the road surface, which will have a similar effect on tyre noise as underinflation would. Also, another plus of reducing your vehicle weight means you can improve your fuel efficiency, too.
Tyre noise rating
Often, motorists want to find the best car tyres for low road noise. That’s where tyre noise rating comes into play. Tyre noise is measured in decibels and this information highlighted on the tyre labels, meaning you can decide which noise rating is the perfect choice for you.
The labels on the tyres showing noise rating are indicated by using waves – one wave suggests the best and quietest performance, whereas three waves indicate the weakest and loudest tyre noise.
Looking to replace your car tyres for a quiet tyre to optimise your on-road experience? Browse through our varied selection of tyres to buy online today at your local Formula One Autocentre.
