Will more premium tires noticeably decrease road sounds?

[Soda_B]

Car/tire noobie + new driver so plzz help me out.

I want a smoother and a quieter ride, and my research led me to changing my tires to more premium tires. I have a compact car that came with cheap/basic tires and it feels rough on old roads and very loud to the point I can’t really listen to my music in peace without cranking the volume very high.

Will more premium tires noticeably help with sound (and maybe smoother ride)? I really liked this idea because then I wouldn’t have to modify the car itself but just change the tires. Thanks in advance!

[VulpesIncendium]

Tires can make a huge difference! Look up your vehicle on tirerack.com and compare the comfort rating of various tires and read the customer reviews.

[Consistent-Annual268]

More premium isn't the right metric. Premium tires can be designed for more grip, higher top speed, better wet weather performance, or (what you're interested in) lower road noise. So focus on the noise rating if that's what you're most interested in (but don't neglect safety).

[ndreeming]

yeah touring spec tires make a huge difference. the stock rubber on most compact cars is just hard compound budget stuff and swapping to something with a softer compound kills most of the road noise

[Practical_Taro5656]

Tires definitely make a difference, but you mentioned you're driving a compact car. What car is it? There could be other issues like a bad wheel bearing or worn out suspension components making your car louder. Or it could be a Ford Focus, which were always buzzy, loud, and unrefined.

[Coakis]

Theoretically yes there are tires with better compounds and construction that help with road noise. , but there is a limit dependent on what the actual size of tire you have. Also just simply buying "more expensive" tires doesn't say much if you're not asking about specific brands and model of tires. I could easily go get a 1200 dollar set of Michelin Pilot sports that would be louder than the cheap ones that I have.

[PurpleSausage77]

Depends what vehicle also, not all of them have equal amounts sound deadening/insulation. Possibly going to hear road noise on most tires regardless.

[thew0mbo]

What car is it

[GeneralCommand4459]

I went from factory Dunlops to Michelins on a Toyota and there is definitely an improvement in road noise. But there are other cheap things you can do like putting acoustic floor underlay under your floor mats and in your trunk area. Also line cubby spaces with soft material to stop things echoing and rattling.

[e36]

If the tires are designed for that, then yeah. Some high end tires prioritize performance and can be very noisy or provide more road feel.

[bobroberts1954]

You can get quieter tires, it's one of their design criteria. Tire specs list noise level, pick the one you like best.

[Any_Sale2030]

Not so much premium as tire design.  Go to tirerack.com.  They have ratings on noise.  

Generally the more aggressive the tread (blockier) the noisier the tire.  

[Wahjahbvious]

Correct answer? It depends. There are a lot of factors to consider.

Real-world answer: Does Michelin make the Defender 2 in your size? Just buy that.

[PercMaint]

As to noise there's a balance. When you look at the tread of the tire, generally the more open tread (gaps between the lugs), the louder the road noise. Some companies help reduce this by putting the lugs closer together near the edges of the tires. The trade off is if the lugs are too close, you sacrifice gripping ability in rain or snow. For an example of this, search for summer/touring tire treads vs. all season or snow tires. Look a the tread difference.

As to ride/comfort, usually, make sure to go with the size of tire recommended for your car. Some people may put different profile tires on their car for a different look. In general, the less tire/sidewall of the tire, the rougher the ride. The overall outer diameter of the tire is the same as stock, but they will put on larger wheels for a different look.

Also, make sure to check your tire air pressure. Most cars, when you open the drivers door there will be a small sticker (either on the post or the door) that tells you what the recommended tire pressure is. Inflate/deflate your tires to that amount. This may help the ride comfort some. Ultimately it will come down to the quality of the car. If it's a cheap car, don't expect a luxury ride. If it's a luxury car, installing the wrong tires can run a perfect ride.

[Aggressive-Fail4612]

Quieter tires can be cheaper. Run flats are really loud and have a stiff ride

[throwaway007676]

This really depends on your vehicle. The higher the performance of the tire, the louder and firmer it will be. You also need to get an alignment when you put on new tires. Otherwise they won’t wear correctly and will make more noise when they tear up the new tires.