Softer tyres

You would think that tyre fitters would know about this but I found they did not take well to dealing with subject no matter how diplomatic I tried to be. The business of dB would soon get them on the defensive with comments like "I've had 10 years experience". I mentioned the attempts that Goodyear are making by fitting a sound dampening in the tyre and just got shrugs. So I truly felt that they are hopeless on this issue.
Anyhoooooo, to cut a long story short I took a risk and got some Goodyear efficientgrips. I chose them because the majority of online feedback comments said they were quiet, they apparently have softer sidewalls, are a so called premium tyre, they were on offer and I do believe Goodyear are trying to cut down noise especially now we have electric cars where the only real noise is the tyre noise.
Also I went up a size to give a greater sidewall. The tendency today is to fit larger rims with skinny tyres so surely that must make the conducted road noise greater.
I calculated that the larger size would approximately half correct the fact that the speedo over reads. I was not far off too. At a speedo reading of 75mph I was then at 70mph on the road. Now at 73mph I am actually doing 70mph.
However, most importantly the tyre noise to the cabin of the Celerio has dropped since fitting Goodyears. Or should I say the frequency has changed???? It no longer feels (not sounds) like a dentist's drill.
I appreciate smaller cars are going to be noisier but I never had such noise with my other tiny cars like my Fiesta XR2 or Jimny, SJ, Junior. And I think it is down to sidewall size which is why when I get my set of tyres for the Junior I will go with an 80 aspect tyre and tyre makers wanting to make tyres that give good fuel economy.

frankie13 wrote: I recommend Michelin Latitude Cross for onroad use, good for light offroad too. Great grip better economy and not noisy at all. Softer ride compared to the old Bridgestone Dueler I had before

I nearly went for Michelin. I do believe they are a brilliant tyre.

Morning Guy's,

As a pain in the A*** NEBOSH trained health and safety b*******, I can hopefully inform you that sound is measured on a logarithmic scale and the sound intensity doubles every 3dB.

So a tyre generating 72dB is twice as loud as a tyre generating 69 dB of noise. Therefore, 75db is 4X louder than 69dB.

I hope it makes sense.

fozzie wrote: Morning Guy's,



I hope it makes sense.

Yes it does and I read that the amount of dB drop that is (significantly) noticeable is 3dB. So from your comment we are looking for a half drop in sound. The tyres I fitted are rated (I think) at 66dB and the ones I removed (again I think, well it is 0600hrs! ) were 69dB. However, while it is a measurement of sorts I don't think it is a very useful measurement in my case as that is the "fly by" noise rating and not a conductive noise figure. If it is true that makers are clever enough to redirect the sound vertically so as not to be read (at least not 100%) to the side then the noise is just going to hit my fillings even more.

fozzie wrote: Morning Guy's,
As a pain in the A*** NEBOSH trained health and safety b*******, I can hopefully inform you that sound is measured on a logarithmic scale and the sound intensity doubles every 3dB.
So a tyre generating 72dB is twice as loud as a tyre generating 69 dB of noise. Therefore, 75db is 4X louder than 69dB.

While that is true the decibel scale is used because it matches the response of the human ear so an increase from 69dB to 72dB won't actually sound twice as loud, it will sound 4% louder.

You are correct. 3dB is really an increase in the power X2, not the volume. I think it's about a 10dB increase to double the volume.

I've pointed this out but I will do it again because I'm like that:
The noise and performance ratings vary with size and load rating so you can't judge purely on the tyre make/model. Looking at the euro ratings the EfficientGrip varies from 66dB to 72dB for noise, from B to E for fuel economy and from A to E for wet weather braking.

Rhinoman wrote: I've pointed this out but I will do it again because I'm like that:
The noise and performance ratings vary with size and load rating so you can't judge purely on the tyre make/model. Looking at the euro ratings the EfficientGrip varies from 66dB to 72dB for noise, from B to E for fuel economy and from A to E for wet weather braking.

Yes and the trouble is that finding out what is what is a nightmare

helijohn wrote: Yes and the trouble is that finding out what is what is a nightmare

Indeed, and when I look at Blackcircles.com I don't see a tyre in a 185/65R14 with a 66dB rating:

www.blackcircles.com/tyres/brands/goodye...P8HAQ#anchorAllSizes

Hi helijohn,

What did you decide on in the end?

fozzie wrote: Hi helijohn,

What did you decide on in the end?

Ah yes.
I bought Goodyear Efficientgrip 185 65 14. I bought them because the comments generally online were that they were quiet, the dB rating was low, the tyre fitter said he had always had good reports about them, Goodyear seem to be making an effort to reduce tyre noise and last, but most important, they were on offer!
I can honestly say they have made a noticeable difference noise-wise. As far as economy is concerned I haven't done enough miles to need petrol to be able to say. I was getting 65mpg (uncorrected) and when I have done a few hundred miles and fill up I can then check.
Grip-wise I notice no difference though maybe the car's tail end does seem a bit looser.
The tyres have done what I wanted, maybe because there is more rubber on the sidewall, which is to give less noise and and as a bonus look better being wider - more like real tyres rather than castors.

Will be interesting to see how long they last in you car, I had them on my smax and I know it's heavier etc but they wore quite quickly