Tyres And Road Noise

[Mikef]

I know there has been a lot of discussion in here about tyres, and we all seem to have different tyres on our beasties...

 

...but I was wondering what mpact tyre type/make made on road noise? One of my few gripes about the Galaxy is that the noise in the cabin is very loud (I have a 2002 1.9tdi). Most of the noise doesn't seem to be engine noise, but 'road noise'. It makes the stereo hard to hear, and is quite wearing in general.

 

Any opinions?

 

cheers all

 

mikef

[seatkid]

I know there has been a lot of discussion in here about tyres, and we all seem to have different tyres on our beasties...

 

...but I was wondering what mpact tyre type/make made on road noise? One of my few gripes about the Galaxy is that the noise in the cabin is very loud (I have a 2002 1.9tdi). Most of the noise doesn't seem to be engine noise, but 'road noise'. It makes the stereo hard to hear, and is quite wearing in general.

 

Any opinions?

 

cheers all

 

mikef

Tyres do make a big difference. Generally cheaper tyres = more noise. I'm a big fan of Continentals, on my alhambrs tyre noise is much lower than engine drone. On my Golf I recently swapped from michelin mx to continental eco 3 (which is an asymetrical design) and those contis are much much quieter! The difference is in the tread design - how can I describe it? those cross tyre grooves seem to be the culprits...

[Guest SA Intruder]

Dunlop 2020s are quiet.

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Inline

I've got 2020's on my Gal and there doesn't seem to be very much road noise from them. Not sure if noise is also related to running them at the correct pressure?

[Mikef]

Thats an interesting point about pressure....

 

My tyres are set to what the manual recommends for 'normal use' (can't remember the figures, sorry...).

 

When we went on holiday down to Cornwall last August, we were fully loaded, so I increased the tyre pressures to the higher setting for larger loads. We were there for 2 weeks, and I couldn't be bothered to decrease the pressure then re-inflate the tyres for the drive back, so I left the tyres at the higer pressure setting for the two weeks.

 

For those two weeks, the drive was much smoother and more pleasant. It was lovely.

 

I'm guessing we all have the same recommended tyre pressure settings from the manual?

 

mikef

[Dally]

My 2002 2.3 ran on the Dunlops - reasonably quiet they were. My 2003 V6 has got Michelin Pilots on and they create much more noise! Haven't seen many Galaxy's with these on (Oh Why Ford?). Is it because it's a V6??

 

PS They cost more than the 2020's too!

[Dave-G]

DALLY :lol: It's 'cos Mr Mitchelin is fat and wrinkly :wub:

[Richmond]

My V6 has Dunlops and was almost certainly supplied wit hDunlops. They are acceptably quiet (although pricey).

[Guest Andy]

Michelins have the hardest rubber compond hence harsh road noise,And from what i have seen the longest wear factor as well.Most fleet companies i deal with use Michelins first,dunlops second and conti's third.A few tight gits will only allow us to fit budget tyres.

MERRY XMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

:wub: :lol: :lol: :lol:

:( :D :D :D

[_dg]

And how do these quiet tyres compare when you slam your brakes on in the rain?

 

Does low noise = greater stopping distance?

[seatkid]

And how do these quiet tyres compare when you slam your brakes on in the rain?

 

Does low noise = greater stopping distance?

I am always told by tyre suppliers that softer compounds = shorter life = greater grip and vice versa is a fundamental thing (their words...not mine)

 

I can't vouch for straight line stopping distances but I can remember a number of incidents on Michelins (passat and golf) which scared the hell out of me.

 

e.g. In only slightly damp conditions my passat broke away sideways and almost gave me a heart attack. It happened again and I got to realise that the car reacted like that on that stretch of road but when I switched to Uniroyal (which is a Continental brand), that skittishness disappeared and I could power through that bit of road no problem.

 

Of course the cars handling might be to blame but I just get the impression that Michelins seem to break away suddenly at the limit. Someone in the trade told me it was a trait of Michelins and associated with their harder compounds but do you believe tyre fitters? On the contrary the contisportcontacts I have on my Alhambra seem to stick like glue to the road.

 

Continental claim

 

Precise steering response and cornering stability

Excellent grip in the wet

High safety reserves

Low noise level

Striking looks

 

for more detail see..

 

www.conti-online.com/generator/www/de/en/continental/automobile/themes/pc_tyres/summer/conti_sport_contact/master_en.html

[Mikef]

Interesting stuff...

 

My Galaxy is fitted with Bridgestone tyres. I have no idea where they fit in the quality scheme of things. I do know that the noise in the cabin drowns out anything from the Cd/Radio.

 

Travelling up the A34/M40/M42 over the last week, the noise was like the resonance you get when you blow over an empty bottle. Obviously the volume changes depending on the type of road surface.

 

I'm almost tempted to borrow another Galaxy for a day to try and do a comparison. It's either the tryes, or I have something very wrong in the axle/bearings department!!

 

Happy New Year all

 

Mikef

[Dally]

It's a really difficult one this is. I certainly felt that my previous 2.3 with 2020's was much quieter and the ride just seemed more fluid and supple. I always felt that there was plenty of grip - buts it's hard to tell because body roll prevents you from really pushing to anywhere near the limits of adhesion.

My 2003 V6 certainly is louder and feels more course / less supple on the tarmac. I have put this down to the michelin's but it may be because of the firmer suspension in this vehicle. I also feel that the ride quality is poorer on the V6 - jolts and jitters are common (non existent on the 2.3) and this causes trim and the seats to shake and rattle somewhat.

 

On my wife's fiesta, I moved away from michelins last year and put some P4000's on the front. My wife and I both noticed less loss of traction especially when pulling of in the wet. This was also the case in a previous escort Si that I had.

 

It would appear that the harder compund of the michelin's does reduce traction. I can't confirm this with my V6 because it has traction control but I do feel it kicking in now and then.

[Guest SA Intruder]

buts it's hard to tell because body roll prevents you from really pushing to anywhere near the limits of adhesion.

 

Not with Sports suspension....

 

The difference has to be experienced to be believed.

 

And no puking kids!

[Dally]

SA

Yeah, I was referring to my old 2.3 on the body roll - the V6 tempts you far too much to push to the limits, reassured further by the esp.

 

SA - does your sports suspension effect ride quality and cause the jittery jolt shaking inside the cabin though?

[Guest SA Intruder]

They really are very good. I was truly astounded and very pleased when I picked it up - the other thing is there is no tyre roar from the front which seems to afflict the soggy others. Dally - no jolts, well controlled. My previous Sharan was really not inspiring to drive at all.

 

I kept scraping the door handles in fast bends....

 

And the kids DID puke. Only in that car.

 

My friends TDi of similar age to mine (Gal) is very "wobbly" on the road.

[Dally]

Sounds good this sports suspension pack.

 

Don't get me wrong. The v6 is not shy at all, it does the business in terms of drivability - you really can push it some. There's this notorious bend on the the A52 coming in from Spondon (Derby) to Nottingham - could just do this comfortably with non of the kids puking at about 70ish in my si. Managed to push 80ish in the V6 Galaxy the other day (with some to spare I think)!

 

It's the V6 ride quality that stinks!!

[Richmond]

I find the noise in the V6 quite acceptable; the CD/radio is easily audible at speeds up to 100 (I haven't been faster).

 

The ride comfort is fine in the front, although it doesn't seem to do the kids (in the middle row) any favours :lol: . However, the handling is not up to scratch for a car putting out whatever ridiculously high BHP it does put out :rolleyes: . The power is great for relaxed high speed cruising (which is presumably what the car is designed for) but it doesn't go round corners with any great style (not that its ever actually behaved badly, it just feels as if it might).

 

Any ideas on the minimum suspension mods needed to significantly improve matters? I don't want a package which comes with all sorts of skirts and spoilers (I'm proud to drive a car which looks like a loaf of bread B) ), just a suspension upgrade. What effect might a mod like that have on the warranty?

[seatkid]

Tyre noise research news - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3389389.stm