Tyre Noise

[Antti Salonen]

So, I got this new C4 Coupé (photo) a week ago and I have about 900 km on it now. Apart from a few minor complaints (creaking back end, clunky gearbox) the main annoyance I have with it is the tyre noise. The tyres are 205/50R17, same size that comes with the VTS.

 

So, what can be done about it? This is my first car and I don't really know what to expect, but at least my sister's Focus is a lot quieter, but then the tyre size is something like 185/65R15. Tyre pressure is currently 2.6 bar (38 psi) all around. Does that seem reasonable or is lower fine?

 

What about sound proofing? When I removed the front door panels to replace the speakers I noticed that there was absolutely nothing under the panels, so I added some proofing there which made some difference. How easy is it to improve the sound proofing so that it makes a real difference?

 

Basically I'm looking to upgrade the audio system further by changing the head unit and adding a subwoofer in the trunk, but I'm not sure if it's good investment if the tyre noise is as bad as it is now.

[wozza]

What tyres are on the car?

 

As we all get the Michelin PE2 tyres on ours. And they are very quite in my opinion at speed. I can have my stereo off on the motorway up around the 130kph mark and its very quite. Much more so than my friends Focus.

[Antti Salonen]

They are Nokian Z, which are not cheap and based on the reviews I could find, they should be pretty quiet.

 

I guess a big part of the problem here (Helsinki area, Finland) is that the roads here just aren't that smooth. While there are no pot holes the road surface is typically pretty rough because of the winters and the fact that everybody uses studded tyres for 4 to 5 months a year.

 

Anyway, I dropped the tyre pressure to 35 psi all around and it definitely helped, but I'm wondering how low can you go without throwing off the handling or having uneven tyre wear? Based on some Googling many run this size around 30 psi, and for Skoda Octavia for example the manufacturer's recommendation for 205/50R17 seems to be 32 front and 31 rear.

[wozza]

There should be a plaque on the inside of either your driver or passenger door with recommended tyre pressures.

 

The Nokians seem to be a brand local in your area so never heard anyone else running them. I would personally go with something else when the tread runs out. Maybe go for Michelin's or Continentals for the summer before going back to studded tyres.

 

Not sure what else to suggest other than lying the doors with Dynamat or something similar.

[BigJohnD]

I go along with Wozza.

 

I have just replaced my Michelin Exaltos with the same and they are quiet.

 

I have 205/50 R17s and run them at 2.4bar at the front and 2.7bar (not sure what that is in lb/in²) at the back, as recommended for sustained high speed, loaded up.

 

We also have a F*c*s Zetec, with Goodyear 195/60 R15s, and they are far noisier.

 

Road surface can also be a factor.

[smokescreen]

I had Nokian Z tyres fitted to my Puegeot 306 DT before I sold it to buy the C3 and have subsequently had my wife's Focus fitted with them (185/60x14). These Finnish made tyres were recommended to me by the local tyre firm (local taxi firms all fit them) as they are hard wearing, good grip wet or dry touted as being comparable to Michelins. My experience is they are no more noisy than Michelins and excellent vfm.

 

Regards

 

Smokescreen

C3 1.4 HDI Sensodrive

[Antti Salonen]

I guess it's more about tyre size and road surface than anything else. I'm now running the tyres at 2.4 bar all around and the noise is not so bad. On smooth roads it's very reasonable.

[Mike5483]

I guess it's more about tyre size and road surface than anything else. I'm now running the tyres at 2.4 bar all around and the noise is not so bad. On smooth roads it's very reasonable.

 

I have got Falken FK452's on mine and they are very quiet, but they are soft and might not last long on your rough roads.

 

Tyre pressures should be about 32PSi.

[Ciaran2903]

Yeah...your tyre pressures are still a little too high i think. There is a plaque on the right side (Drivers for us in the UK) that has the recommened pressueres on them...Front and Back.

[ham's c4vts]

i found the origianl Michelin tyres on my VTS to be quiet to be honest, now ive upgraded to 18" yokohama prada's 225/40 and they are reasonably quiet too. maybe its the roads you drive on?

the only time they have been noisey is the M42 on the concrete sections, and then not to noisey. hope you sort your problem.

[wozza]

I run mine at the loaded mark like john which is 37PSI front 40PSI on the rear. Or there abouts. Mainly as when I take the car out its usually to pick something up.

 

Or theres 4 - 5 people in it.

[ham's c4vts]

sorry i didnt notice your photo Antti,

car looks nice with those wheels on, but you need a rear spoiler

[C4VTS]

I have got Falken FK452's on mine and they are very quiet, but they are soft and might not last long on your rough roads.

 

Tyre pressures should be about 32PSi.

 

The Falken 452's are good and quiet.

 

Mine been on for 13,000 miles now, and hope to reach 20,000, but I do drive like I am in a Formula 1 car!

 

The noise will be the lower profile tyres which the OP is not used to and nothing to do with tyre brand.

 

I noticed this when I had my Audi A4 and went from a 65 profile to a 55 after replacing the alloys with a larger size.

The tyre noise was much louder.

 

If you want quiet wheels then up the profile and reduce the wheel size to to the same spec as a basic C4.

[Antti Salonen]

The noise will be the lower profile tyres which the OP is not used to and nothing to do with tyre brand.

That's pretty much it, I believe. I haven't driven on anything lower than 55 profile before.

[ham's c4vts]

i does depend on tyre brand due to the different tyre compounds, tread patterns, widths and profiles even between different versions of tyres by the same manufacturer.

but going to a bigger rim size, so reducing the sidwall to maintaining the correct rolling circumference, it will increase road noise and ride quality.

[terrwilk]

So, I got this new C4 Coupé (photo) a week ago and I have about 900 km on it now. Apart from a few minor complaints (creaking back end, clunky gearbox) the main annoyance I have with it is the tyre noise. The tyres are 205/50R17, same size that comes with the VTS.

 

So, what can be done about it? This is my first car and I don't really know what to expect, but at least my sister's Focus is a lot quieter, but then the tyre size is something like 185/65R15. Tyre pressure is currently 2.6 bar (38 psi) all around. Does that seem reasonable or is lower fine?

 

What about sound proofing? When I removed the front door panels to replace the speakers I noticed that there was absolutely nothing under the panels, so I added some proofing there which made some difference. How easy is it to improve the sound proofing so that it makes a real difference?

 

Basically I'm looking to upgrade the audio system further by changing the head unit and adding a subwoofer in the trunk, but I'm not sure if it's good investment if the tyre noise is as bad as it is now.

 

 

Just changed my tyres and I have noticed a lot of tyre noise I didn't have before, been told that the tread pattern is to blame along with the 17 inch wheels. My old michelin's where very quiet, so now I will have to wait another 2 years for these to wear down.

 

terrwilk