20" Wheels - excessive road noise

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by Quacker

........the Qashqai presents a compelling package, especially as from June it will have similar safety features to Volvo's Intellisafe.

Friends have just turned up in a Qashqai rental car. It has the 4 cameas that the Volvo has and they report it as beeping everytime it crosses the white line so that is lane keeping assist too. I kind of thought that the Volvo kit would be patented and unique to them but very similar kit seems to be appearing on other marques all the time now. We had a Avensis rented at work with similar lane keeping assist.....

[neon]

Originally Posted by Philip Fisher

Friends have just turned up in a Qashqai rental car. It has the 4 cameas that the Volvo has and they report it as beeping everytime it crosses the white line so that is lane keeping assist too. I kind of thought that the Volvo kit would be patented and unique to them but very similar kit seems to be appearing on other marques all the time now. We had a Avensis rented at work with similar lane keeping assist.....

A lot of the kit on the XC90 is not new technology. My previous car bought 5 years ago had LED auto dipping headlights, blind spot, lane keeping, auto parking, voice control, auto seat belt tensioners, brake assist etc and I know Mercedes has had ACC for around 15 years. With the XC90 it all comes together in a nice package.

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by Philip Fisher

Friends have just turned up in a Qashqai rental car. It has the 4 cameas that the Volvo has and they report it as beeping everytime it crosses the white line so that is lane keeping assist too. I kind of thought that the Volvo kit would be patented and unique to them but very similar kit seems to be appearing on other marques all the time now. We had a Avensis rented at work with similar lane keeping assist.....

Yes, mine has got all of that and its 2.5 years old. None of this stuff is actually developed by the car companies, and the best they can expect is six months exclusive use of a new safety feature these days before the next new model from another brand is sold the same or similar system.

[FE2015]

Some of us, based on evidence and experience talk about road noise issues and any solutions, what worked, what doesn't etc. There is subjectivity, depending on what people are used to before etc.

By many accounts, road noise a real weakness of this car. Not up to current luxury car standards, period. Whether I'm happy to live with it, Yes. It beats competitors in various other areas and for my taste I need to compromise more on the Q7 just for a bit more refinement..

But this niggle is always there and I will continue exploring whether this can be improved. So anyone taking time to update this thread will always be appreciated by me and some other concerned owners.

We all know that we can buy a different car or sell our XC90 etc. So "If you don't like it go and buy something else" posts don't help. Many of us love the XC90 and would buy or keep it, regardless the noise. But trying to find solutions for this niggle or wishing Volvo does something doesn't mean we hate this car.

When we make comparisons, its helpful if we make it with similar cars we can buy for this money currently. Of course if you compare it to older cars it'll be better.

[jasz1156]

I have just got an s90 which I love. It has two issues . One is the road noise on coarse chip.I have 20 inch p zero Pirelli so the tyre brand is not the issue.
I had a xj Jag which was near silent and I do find the drum persistent. I have air suspension so the issue seems to be some type of resonance through subframe. Is there somewhere you could put some sound deadening?

[FE2015]

One of my friends recently asked me what I thought, having read this thread. This is how the conversation went..

Is road noise a problem on XC90?: I think yes, but it Depends. Try it out and see how you feel.

I Really like it but worried about road noise: Try smaller wheels and quieter tyres.

Once you buy the car don't read the forums unless YOU experience an issue. You will start hearing things, go rattle-hunting and looking for problems which may not exist.

[neon]

Originally Posted by FE2015

Some of us, based on evidence and experience talk about road noise issues and any solutions, what worked, what doesn't etc. There is subjectivity, depending on what people are used to before etc.

By many accounts, road noise a real weakness of this car. Not up to current luxury car standards, period. Whether I'm happy to live with it, Yes. It beats competitors in various other areas and for my taste I need to compromise more on the Q7 just for a bit more refinement..

But this niggle is always there and I will continue exploring whether this can be improved. So anyone taking time to update this thread will always be appreciated by me and some other concerned owners.

We all know that we can buy a different car or sell our XC90 etc. So "If you don't like it go and buy something else" posts don't help. Many of us love the XC90 and would buy or keep it, regardless the noise. But trying to find solutions for this niggle or wishing Volvo does something doesn't mean we hate this car.

When we make comparisons, its helpful if we make it with similar cars we can buy for this money currently. Of course if you compare it to older cars it'll be better.

Well put and my feelings exactly.

[AL NZ]

i wonder if the plastic 'shell' lining inside each wheel arch, which has a space between it and the sheet metal of the arch, somehow acts to resonate and amplify the noise. It is almost a drone around 120km/h.
My car is a demonstrator, going back in an hour, so I can't try removing this plastic shield to see if it helps!

[FE2015]

Originally Posted by AL NZ

i wonder if the plastic 'shell' lining inside each wheel arch, which has a space between it and the sheet metal of the arch, somehow acts to resonate and amplify the noise. It is almost a drone around 120km/h.
My car is a demonstrator, going back in an hour, so I can't try removing this plastic shield to see if it helps!

Possible. The plastic lining is only in the front wheel arches in my car and the back wheels have some felt like material, hopefully to deaden the noise.

I was seriously thinking of getting various bits of the car lined by some professional insulation guys, but the noise is much less since I changed to 19" wheels with Michelin Crossclimate tyres, so dropped the insulation idea.

[jasz1156]

Originally Posted by AL NZ

i wonder if the plastic 'shell' lining inside each wheel arch, which has a space between it and the sheet metal of the arch, somehow acts to resonate and amplify the noise. It is almost a drone around 120km/h.
My car is a demonstrator, going back in an hour, so I can't try removing this plastic shield to see if it helps!

Another kiwi!. It's a good idea.The s90 is going in for some more fettling next week and I will discuss it with them.By the way, I have mine polestar optimised which make a big difference to everyday use,more torque . Also goes from quiet to feral nearly instantaneously.
I've found clicking up the bowers and Wilkins a couple of notches helps !!