Would silent comfort tyres really help reduce road noise on our rough chipseal roads?

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learnGZ

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#262066 3-Jan-2020 12:09

Hello,

I drive a 2013 Mazda3 (wheel size 205/50R17) commuting 40km of chipseal road to work daily.
On normal road surface, noise and comfort levels are acceptable to me.

The problem with Chipseal surface is roughness, uneven and noisy.

I have researched there are Grand Touring Tyres from various brands, like Michelin Primacy 4 (ST), Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus, that are designed to reduce road noise and increase comfort.

I wish to know if changing to these tyres actually work on new zealand's unique 'chipseal roads'?

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#2384564 3-Jan-2020 12:50

We have found that spending more makes a lot of difference to tire/road surface noise which is the most significant noise at highway speeds.

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/road-surface-noise/docs/nzta-surfaces-noise-guide-v1.0.pdf page 22

Tyre characteristics

Cost and safety are the principal considerations in the manufacture of a tyre, along with durability and handling. Noise is an additional consideration, although the emphasis for manufacturers is usually on the noise inside the vehicle rather than outside. The design of the tyre can influence the noise generated to the same extent as the type of road surface (up to 10dB)

• Air gaps (grooves) help to minimise some noise from being generated, but also amplify other noise.

• Skewed (angled) blocks allow for a more gradual roll in and out of each block, reducing sudden impacts that can lead to a noisier tyre

• Tyre tread pattern the more aggressive the pattern the louder it will be.

• Tyre compound hard rubber compounds will be louder compared to soft compounds.

• Randomness of the tread block size will minimise tonal frequencies.

P.S. I'm not sure what you meant by normal road surface as chipseal is the normal road surface i.e. about 90% of sealed roads. Do you mean a different type of chip seal from the majority in your area - again, see the PDF which lists the main types on pages 12-13.

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learnGZ

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Geek

#2384574 3-Jan-2020 13:05

Hi Hammer,

By normal road surface, I mean asphalt.
You are right, chipseal surface represent 90% of NZ road surface so is normal in NZ context.

Thanks for the PDF. Valuable information.

I guess tyres designed for comfort and silent still works on chipseal road too.

noddy76

55 posts

Master Geek

#2384576 3-Jan-2020 13:06

Pretty sure the OP means the difference between chipseal and the various asphalt types. Very noticeable when leaving/entering Auckland. Asphalt types on the motorway until Bombay lovely and quiet, once over the Bombay Hills you hit the chipseal and the noise cancelling headphones get broken out if driving alone.

learnGZ

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#2384577 3-Jan-2020 13:12

noddy76:

Pretty sure the OP means the difference between chipseal and the various asphalt types. Very noticeable when leaving/entering Auckland. Asphalt types on the motorway until Bombay lovely and quiet, once over the Bombay Hills you hit the chipseal and the noise cancelling headphones get broken out if driving alone.

Yes! I enjoy driving the asphalt until i hit certain areas of highway 1 chipseal road. The humming noise of whole car feels like hitting I'm sitting behind jet engine. Very unpleasant.

I hope silent tyres not only works on asphalt but also chipseal road.

Hammerer

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#2384713 3-Jan-2020 18:37

All the tyres we've used are much quieter on asphalt. Our expensive low-noise tyres reduced the noise on chip seal by what felt like at least 50%. That was not as quiet as asphalt but near enough for us.

But we now use tyres that are half the price and give us perhaps 30% noise reduction. We've found it is worth experimenting.

Batman

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#2384815 3-Jan-2020 22:07

I doubt it.

Hammerer

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#2384833 4-Jan-2020 00:02

Batman: I doubt it.

Ha, say what you like. That was our perception when driving that car with the most expensive tyres available for it locally.

We wouldn't have got the same benefit with a heavier and more expensive car which would have superior noise insulation.

Batman

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#2384834 4-Jan-2020 00:18

I'm hoping the OP would try the new tyres and report back at 1000kms, 5,000 kms, 10,000kms and hopefully beyond. In my experience with tyres ride quality goes south after a few thousand ks. Having said that my van is on continental contact sport and is virtually silent at all times. My subaru is noisy regardless of what tyres.

eracode

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#2384878 4-Jan-2020 02:19

Hammerer:

All the tyres we've used are much quieter on asphalt. Our expensive low-noise tyres reduced the noise on chip seal by what felt like at least 50%. That was not as quiet as asphalt but near enough for us.

But we now use tyres that are half the price and give us perhaps 30% noise reduction. We've found it is worth experimenting.

Interested in this thread because I also find some road surfaces to be extremely loud and irritating. One piece of road that we travel on occasionally where I always notice it most is the road from Warkworth to Snells Beach. It’s a shocker.

What I don’t understand is how you can ‘experiment’ with tyres. They’re expensive and very infrequent purchases - you can’t just try a set, then say “Ok, now let’s try these”, then “Nah, now let’s try these others?”

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Hammerer

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#2384942 4-Jan-2020 12:12

eracode:

What I don’t understand is how you can ‘experiment’ with tyres. They’re expensive and very infrequent purchases - you can’t just try a set, then say “Ok, now let’s try these”, then “Nah, now let’s try these others?”

It all depends how many kms are travelled each year. We used to do 30,000km a year with one car in the household so tyre changes were frequent. Bad tires could need to be replaced in as little as 6 months.

learnGZ

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#2384945 4-Jan-2020 12:16

Batman: I'm hoping the OP would try the new tyres and report back at 1000kms, 5,000 kms, 10,000kms and hopefully beyond. In my experience with tyres ride quality goes south after a few thousand ks. Having said that my van is on continental contact sport and is virtually silent at all times. My subaru is noisy regardless of what tyres.

I think your van's silence is thanks to its thick side wall (probably you are running 15 inch) as well as good premium tyres.

Is your subaru running low profile tyres and chinese brands?

learnGZ

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#2384947 4-Jan-2020 12:18

Hammerer:

All the tyres we've used are much quieter on asphalt. Our expensive low-noise tyres reduced the noise on chip seal by what felt like at least 50%. That was not as quiet as asphalt but near enough for us.

But we now use tyres that are half the price and give us perhaps 30% noise reduction. We've found it is worth experimenting.

Hi Hammerer, don't mind I ask what expensive low-noise tyres are you using? Ill check it out too.

dusty42

117 posts

Master Geek

#2385294 5-Jan-2020 10:02

Have put nearly 20000km onto a set of Bridgestone Turanza Serenity, and found them to be noticeably quieter than whatever was on the car previously. Recommended.

learnGZ

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#2385296 5-Jan-2020 10:06

dusty42:

Have put nearly 20000km onto a set of Bridgestone Turanza Serenity, and found them to be noticeably quieter than whatever was on the car previously. Recommended.

That's nice to hear! For sure not as quiet as driving on asphalt but are your Turanza Serenity also noticeably quieter on chipseal road than your previous tyres on the same chip surface?

Batman

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#2385333 5-Jan-2020 12:03

learnGZ:

Batman: I'm hoping the OP would try the new tyres and report back at 1000kms, 5,000 kms, 10,000kms and hopefully beyond. In my experience with tyres ride quality goes south after a few thousand ks. Having said that my van is on continental contact sport and is virtually silent at all times. My subaru is noisy regardless of what tyres.

I think your van's silence is thanks to its thick side wall (probably you are running 15 inch) as well as good premium tyres.

Is your subaru running low profile tyres and chinese brands?

van: continental contactsport 6 - 17" 55 profile

subaru: bridgestone potenza re050A previously, now michelin pilot sport 4 - 18" 45 profile. i briefly ran neuton something something (made by yokohama apparently) - they are all noisy. on chipseal i cannot hear myself talking, nevermind the passengers. need to shout. it's the car more than anything.

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