20" Wheels - excessive road noise

[savita108]

Both D5

XC70 D5 2014 Polestar

XC90 D5 2016 Polestar

[BTXC90]

Originally Posted by savita108

Both D5

XC70 D5 2014 Polestar

XC90 D5 2016 Polestar

Good luck with the new car pick up and safe driving.

Like many others on this forum, I hope your MY17 is less noisier ...and you like it

Let us know how you feel. Thanks

[Mezza]

Originally Posted by savita108

On the other hand, in this comparison table, XC90 shows very similar cabin noise (in 70 mph) as Audi Q7, Range Rover or BMW. It is, of course, T6. But as for the road noise, it should be the same. I will measure the noise level in my XC90 D5 2017 today

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...e-specs-page-6

And the test XC90 was on the big wheels. Exactly the same as the Q7!

[neon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nsl...41oJ0airzEp1hH

[Philip Fisher]

Shouldnt he have his eyes on the road....?

[thinkpad]

Last week I bough 19" tyres (Michelin Latitude Sport 3 235 55 19) and allows from T8 2017.
Today Volvo has been able to swap by 20" Continental with 19" tyres and I'm very impressed by improved quality of driving (easier to maneuver) and different in noise. Definitely there is difference and I cannot hear road noise only engine (wish it will be quieter).
So far very happy with swap however on Sunday I will drive through half of Europe so will test it properly.

[gaby]

Originally Posted by thinkpad

Definitely there is difference and I cannot hear road noise only engine (wish it will be quieter). .

I think your comment touches a very important thing about this noise thread.
We often "hear" noise in a relative way. When the engine is quit, road noise
is more prominent. When road noise becomes less, engine noise is perceived as being loud(er).

[neon]

Originally Posted by gaby

I think your comment touches a very important thing about this noise thread.
We often "hear" noise in a relative way. When the engine is quit, road noise
is more prominent. When road noise becomes less, engine noise is preceived as being loud(er).

Yes, I am sure our ears amplify sounds, especially if you are looking out for them. My current car I have been driving without thinking about road noise and been quite happy, because of this thread I am now very conscious of it and keep thinking the tyres are now noisy. It is just trying to differentiate between what is expected and acceptable or not.

[AB-UK]

I keep relating "road noise" to the road surface I'm currently driving on.
Some stretches are incredibly smooth and quiet, and yet the next can sound like a roaring train, or a waterfall. SWMBO is tiring of hearing me point this out I fear

Ideally, the government should insist that new roads and road repairs should use the same ingredients as those found to be most quiet now.

Until then I think the road noise issue will be insoluble, no matter which tyres/wheels are used.

IMHO, the more rubber between the road surface and the metalwork, the greater the sound insulation.

[Deman77]

I think my16 air suspension (before recall as people claim substantial improvement in my17 and after replacing my16) contributes a lot. My 20in on air went in for some work and I have my16 r design on 22s with no air. It rides a bit high and looks like a tall guy in short trousers and not as level at higher speed but shockingly it is just so much more comfortable over potholes and poor surfaces (does not crash - thumps) also less noise whereas it should be harsher and marginally noisier. I think some of the road noise on airsprung ones comes from suspension not coping and then gets combined with tyre noise. the whole set up just feels more supple on this car vs mine. They are 275 wide pirellis scorpion verde so same contact patch as 275 contis on 20s so should only be marginally noisier because of smaller walls but clearly that is more than offset by quieter thread or compound in the tyre.