How to reduce tyre noise

There is perhaps nothing more annoying than the sound of screeching tyres during a car journey. In our helpful guide, you can find out how to fix this common nuisance and enjoy driving on the road again.

What causes tyre noise?

There are a number of reasons why your tyres might be noisy on the roads. Some of these include:

• Tyre tread patterns: tyres with thicker tread patterns tend to be pretty noisy, as you can often hear the rubber grip the road more than other tyre patterns.
• Air pressure: when air gets trapped in the rubber tread blocks, this can cause a low hum to be released from your tyres. This is especially prevalent in tyres with thick tread patterns.
• Uneven tyres: tyres that have not been aligned or balanced can cause the tyre tread to become uneven, which then contributes to the tyre being louder than usual.

How do I reduce my tyre noise?

Naturally, with noisy tyres, there’s the desire to reduce the decibels that your driving is creating. This can be done through a number of methods, including:

• Purchasing new tyres: ultimately, if you want to reduce tyre noise then purchasing new tyres is your best bet. You should look for tyres with finer tread patterns, this way you are less likely to hear the rubber grip the road. Some tyre manufacturers specialise in making low noise tyres, which are purposefully built with tyre noise in mind.
• Ensuring you have the correct tyre pressure: underinflated tyres are most likely to cause loud noises. By filling your tyres to the correct tyre pressure for your car, you can also prevent uneven tyre wear.
• Lightening the load: unnecessary vehicle weight can put added pressure on your tyres and, in turn, cause loud tyre noise. To avoid this, ensure your car isn’t loaded with excessive weight wherever possible.

Tyre noise rating

The tyre noise rating informs you how loud your tyres will be - this is really useful for differentiating between low noise tyres and average ones. Tyre sound is measured in decibels and this information is displayed on tyre labels. For example, one wave shows the quietest performance, whereas three waves suggest the loudest tyre noise. This allows motorists to decide which tyre is the best choice for them. Learn more about tyre markings and labels from our tyre information section.

Here at The Tyre group, we specialise in providing top quality tyres from leading manufacturers. Here, you will find a broad selection of tyres to suit your car. For further information, you can read about everything tyre related, such as tyre safety, all season tyres and more. Or, if you simply have any other motor related issues, then please do not hesitate to contact your Tyre Group centre near you.