Driving can be one of life’s simple pleasures, but excessive tire noise is an annoyance that can seriously hamper your driving experience and even cause fatigue over long trips. By pinpointing the issue and reducing road noise from your tires, you can get a quieter, smoother ride, making your time behind the wheel much more pleasant.

Whether you’re dealing with loud tire noise on a daily basis or just want to minimize it for a more peaceful drive, this guide will help you identify what’s causing your noise problem and give you the most efficient, cost-effective steps to fix it!

What causes loud tire noise?

Tire noise can stem from a variety of factors, and understanding what causes it is the first step in finding a solution. Let’s break down some of the most common culprits.

Unbalanced or Misaligned Tires

If your tires are unbalanced or your vehicle is misaligned, it can create uneven contact with the road, leading to increased noise. This is something that can usually be fixed with routine maintenance, like balancing your tires or getting an alignment check.

Tire Pressure

Uneven or low tire pressure can contribute to loud tire noise, as well. Ensuring that your tires are properly inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure can help reduce noise and improve your vehicle’s overall performance.

Uneven Treadwear

Over time, the tread on your tires can wear unevenly, especially if you’re not rotating them regularly. Uneven treadwear can cause your tires to produce more noise as they travel over the road. Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles to ensure even wear and reduce noise. If you’re not sure if your tires need replacing, place a penny upside down in the tread of your tire. If you can completely see President Lincoln, you need new tires.

Debris and Rough Roads

Debris caught in the tread of your tires can create additional noise. Similarly, driving on rough, uneven roads can amplify tire noise. The surfaces you drive on play a significant role in how much noise your tires generate. Rough roads, in particular, can make even the quietest tires sound loud.

Off-Road and Performance Tires

The type of tires you’re using can have a big impact on the noise level of your tires. Off-road tires have larger tread patterns designed for traction rather than quietness. Similarly, performance tires have a shorter sidewall and wider section width to prioritize speed and handling but can be noisier due to their design.

How to REDUCE TIRE NOISE

Once you’ve identified the potential causes of your tire noise, it’s time to take action. Here are some steps you can follow to reduce road noise and enjoy a quieter ride.

Basic Tire Maintenance

Before diving into soundproofing, assess whether your tires need maintenance. If your tires don’t typically make a lot of noise but have recently started to, they might need to be rebalanced, refilled, or even replaced. Regular maintenance, like the aforementioned tire rotation every 6,000 to 8,000 miles, can go a long way in keeping tire noise to a minimum. If your tires are old and noisy, replace them with new ones designed to reduce noise, and you could notice a significant difference.

Best Quick Fix: Soundproofing the Wheel Wells

If tire maintenance doesn’t solve the problem, it’s time to start soundproofing. The wheel wells are a great place to start since they’re closest to the source of the noise. Apply Spectrum™ Spray-on deadener to the metal behind the liner to create a barrier layer and reduce structural noise significantly reduce tire noise at the source.

Our Wheel Well Soundproofing Kit includes a spray gun and all Spectrum™ Spray-on deadener you need for all four wheel wells. This method is both cost-effective and easy, often yielding a 3 to 5 decibel reduction (20-30% less perceived noise) without ever needing to get in the car. Our step-by-step guide to wheel well soundproofing is a must-read if you want to do it right.

Best Exterior Treatment: Soundproofing the Undercarriage & the Wheel Wells

If you liked not getting in the car for your first step, take this next step and give your car a Spectrum™ undercoating in addition to the wheel wheels to further quiet noisy tires. You've already worked with Spectrum™, so this is a natural next move. Pairing a soundproof undercoating with soundproof wheel wells will get you 5-7 dB reduction, which is 30-40% less perceived noise! Check out our walkthrough for applying a soundproof undercoating!

Best Overall Reduction: Full Interior Treatment

After you’ve done all the work possible on the outside, if you want to get more soundproofing, you need to take your efforts inside your car. Apply Damplifier Pro™ at 60% coverage on the metal of the floor to dampen structural noise. Then, add Luxury Liner Pro™ as your barrier layer at 100% coverage on the floor to block road noise from entering the cabin. This combination is highly effective at reducing road noise and creating a quieter driving environment.

For additional noise reduction, apply Damplifier Pro™ sound deadener to the tops of the wheel wells at 100% coverage. This step further reduces the transmission of noise into the cabin, making a noticeable difference in overall road noise. Check out our article on car floor sound deadening for install steps.

Finally, don’t forget about the doors. Because the doors are so close to the tires, addressing the doors can help block out the last traces of tire noise and make your vehicle feel like a rolling sanctuary. Put Damplifier Pro™ on the metal inside your doors to take a chunk out of tire noise. For a tailored solution, check out our car door soundproofing guide.

At the end of the day, you've reduced 10+ decibels of noise (over 50% less perceived noise)!

Final Thoughts on Quieting Noisy Tires

If you’re hearing abnormal sounds coming from your tires, you should get them checked out. But if your tires are consistently noisy, or if you simply want a quieter, smoother ride, following these soundproofing steps will provide the best results.

If you need additional help reducing road noise that might extend beyond just the tires, Second Skin Audio is here to help. We’ve got the products and the expertise to make your driving experience as peaceful as possible. Reach out to us if you need any advice or if you're ready to take the next step toward making your car sound like a luxury vehicle.