One of the biggest challenges people face when trying to reduce road noise from their tires is figuring out how to identify the sources of noise in their car. There are a few different things you need to look at in order to determine where the noise is coming from, including your car’s suspension, the surface of the road, and your tires themselves.
It’s not always easy to find the best way to reduce road noise from tires.
You might need some help figuring out what causes your car to make that constant hum, and how you can fix it.
That’s why this article is here to point you in the right direction when it comes to reducing road noise from your tires and making your ride comfortable again.
Table of Contents
1. Understand what road noise is and how it’s created
Noise is an unwanted sound, and when it comes to driving, road noise can be a major annoyance. Road noise is created by a number of factors, including the suspension of your car, the surface of the road, and your tires themselves. It can be difficult to reduce road noise from your car without understanding what causes it in the first place. That’s why it’s so important to understand what road noise is and how it’s created.
How road noise is measured
It’s important to understand how road noise is measured. Noise can be measured in decibels, and it’s typically measured when your car is at 30mph. That means that if you reduce the amount of noise your car makes by 5dB, you will make the ride more pleasant for everyone.
Road noise isn’t typically a life or death matter, but it can be if your ears are constantly assaulted by the sound of your car. Learn more about how noise is measured here.
2. Identify the sources of road noise in your car
The first thing you need to do when looking for ways to reduce road noise from tires is to identify where that constant hum is coming from.
Road noise can be caused by a number of different things, so you need to identify the sources of road noise in your car before you can reduce it and make your ride more comfortable for yourself and any passengers.
The two main sources of road noise in your car are the suspension and the tires themselves. The suspension is what makes up the system that moves and supports your car. You use it every day to get around, but when you’re driving down a bumpy road, the wheels bounce up and down, causing loud noises.
Tires create a lot of road noise as well. There are several components that contribute to this, including treads and sidewalls. Tread is created from tiny reinforcing cords, which include steel and nylon fiber. The rubber compound that holds these cords together can break down, producing a lot of noise. The rubber also wears down over time, creating road noise.
3. Choose the right tires for your driving need
When it comes to reducing road noise from tires, one of the most important things you can do is choose the right tires for your driving needs. Not all tires are created equal, and some are better at reducing road noise than others.
You need to consider a few different factors when choosing the right tires for your car. The most important thing to think about is what type of driving you do. If you drive in a city or on a lot of bumpy roads, you’ll want a tire that’s designed to reduce road noise.
There are a few different things you can look for when choosing the right tires for your driving needs, including the tread pattern, the type of rubber compound, and the sidewalls.
Tread pattern
Tread patterns vary widely. Some tires have a more aggressive tread pattern that will create more noise, while others are designed to reduce road noise as much as possible.
Type of rubber compound
A tire’s rubber compound is the mixture of materials that make up its tread. There are a few different types of rubber compounds, and each one has a different effect on road noise.
Compounds with a lot of silica tend to create a lot more noise than a tire with little or no silica. Tires that use different compounds tend to be less noisy overall.
Sidewalls
The sidewall is the part of the tire that you can see and touch, and it has a big impact on road noise. Many tires will have a good amount of foam in their sidewalls to provide more stability and comfort as you drive down the road.
Driving in a city or on rough roads
If you drive in a city or on rough roads, you’ll want to reduce road noise as much as possible. Look for tires that are designed to be quiet. They have softer rubber compounds and less tread.
Driving around town
If you’re driving around town with smooth roads, your ideal tire would have enough tread to provide traction, but not so much that it creates a lot of road noise.
Driving on the highway
When you’re driving long distances on a smooth interstate, you can afford to have more tread because you won’t be dealing with as many bumps in the road. Many tires have a speed rating system that will tell you how much noise you can expect from different speeds.
4. Checking your tire pressure
One of the most important things you can do to reduce road noise from your tires is to check your tire pressure. When your tires are underinflated, they create more noise as you drive.
You should check your tire pressure at least once a month, and before long trips. You can find the recommended tire pressure for your car in the owner’s manual or on the sidewall of the tires.
What to do if your tire pressure is low?
If you find that your tires are underinflated, you’ll want to inflate them as soon as possible. You can usually locate a tire pressure gauge at gas stations or in the air pump section of a hardware store.
Also read: How To Deal With Slow Leak Tires: Easy Fix
5. Rotate your tires regularly
One of the best ways to reduce road noise from your tires is to rotate them regularly. When you rotate your tires, you’re moving them from one side of the car to the other. This spreads the wear and tear evenly across all of the tires, which reduces noise.
You should rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. Many tire stores offer free rotations when you buy new tires from them for 1 or 2 years.
Also Read: DIY tire rotation: When and How to rotate tires
6. Balance your tires periodically
If you want to reduce road noise from your tires, it’s important to balance them periodically. When your tires are unbalanced, it causes them to vibrate as you drive, which creates noise. Unbalanced tires can also wear more quickly, so it’s important to address this issue sooner rather than later.
What to do if your tires are unbalanced?
You can have your tires balanced by a mechanic or by purchasing a home tire-balancing kit. You should balance your tires at least once a year. It’s easy to notice an unbalanced tire when it affects the steering wheel – you’ll feel vibrations as you drive down the road, and it might even shake violently.
7. Keep your Car Tires clean and free of debris
Debris like loose change or small rocks can fall into cracks in the road, which will wear out your tread prematurely. When you wash your car, make sure you pay close attention to the tires and remove any debris that might be stuck on them.
You should use a high-pressure hose and a wire brush to scrub the inside and outside of your tires. If your tires still look dirty after you clean them, you can spray them with an all-purpose cleaner or tire wipes. Make sure that you dry off your tires completely after you clean them.
Also Read: Steering Wheel Cleaner | Best Steering Wheel Cleaning Guide
8. Using a sealant to reduce road noise
Sealants can help reduce road noise and increase tread life by filling up small cracks and holes in the rubber of your tire. You’ll need to apply these sealants about once or twice a year, depending on how much driving you do.
How to quiet noisy tires – Final thoughts
Using the 8 methods described in the article, you can reduce road noise from your tires so your car is more pleasant to drive. Choosing the right tire for different types of driving, checking pressure regularly, rotating tires regularly, balancing them periodically and keeping them clean are all effective ways to reduce road noise.
Using a sealant once or twice a year can also improve the lifespan of your tires. Lastly, by occasionally testing different speeds, you can see what speed creates more road noise on your car and adjust accordingly to make driving quieter.
Remember that you might need different tires for different types of driving – while some tires are specifically designed for low noise, they might not be the best for high speeds or warm weather. Be sure you know what tire your car needs before purchasing them,
With that said, happy driving!
FAQ
What types of tires should I avoid if I want to reduce road noise?
If you want to reduce road noise, it’s best to avoid large and mismatched tires. Spiked and snow tires can cause excessive vibration-the same goes for super-wide or narrow tires.
What causes road noise from tires?
When your tires hit small cracks and potholes in the road, it can cause a vibration that you hear as noise. Your tire tread also becomes worn down over time-when this happens, the rubber hits the asphalt and creates vibrations that we hear as sound.
How to reduce road noise with different types of car tires?
There are several ways to reduce noise: choose the right tire for cold weather and warm weather conditions, keep your car clean and free of debris and balance them periodically. Using a sealant once or twice a year is also an effective way to do this. You should rotate your tires regularly so that wear and tear on all of them is even.
How do I stop my tires from making noise when I drive?
If your tires produce vibrations that we hear as sound, try rotating them so the treads on all of them are even. Sometimes there isn’t anything wrong with your tires. Be sure you know what kinds of tires your car needs-if you drive an SUV, for example, it requires different tires than a family sedan.
