vRS road/tyre noise
Discussion
Yesterday I drove my 2005 Civic Type-S shod with 205/55-16 Michelin Primacy HP tyres to Oxford (48 miles) and part-exchanged it for a March 2012 Octavia vRS (TDi 170) DSG shod with Continental SportContact2 225/40-18 tyres.
Over the same roads on the return journey the vRS had considerably more road/tyre noise than did the Civic. Does anyone know whether this is typical of the 2012 vRS or that tyre of tyre?
Over the same roads on the return journey the vRS had considerably more road/tyre noise than did the Civic. Does anyone know whether this is typical of the 2012 vRS or that tyre of tyre?
Check for saw toothing on the rear tyres, I think it's quite a common problem. When it's bad it sounds like a knackered wheel bearing, but yours may be in the early stages. Might be worth swapping the wheels front to back and see if it makes a difference.
I would expect the VRS to have more tyre noise (lower profile, wider 'sport' tyre vs narrower higher profile touring tyre on the Civic). If it bothers you that much you could look at getting a set of 17" wheels instead.
I would expect the VRS to have more tyre noise (lower profile, wider 'sport' tyre vs narrower higher profile touring tyre on the Civic). If it bothers you that much you could look at getting a set of 17" wheels instead.
I own a 2008 Octavia Vrs estate. Mine is damn noisy too. Skoda are tight with soundproofing, thats one of the reasons they are cheaper then equivalent VW.
Ive had 4 wheel alignment carried out, made naff all difference. Chose 'quiet' tyres when replacing. Again, little change. I then put sound deadening material unser back seat & boot area, also purchased a heavy rubber boot mat. That has made it bearable.
I thought they would have improved it on later models, after all soundproofing would cost peanuts in the scheme of things. Perhaps they are not allowed to so as to keep them inferior to VW?!
Ive had 4 wheel alignment carried out, made naff all difference. Chose 'quiet' tyres when replacing. Again, little change. I then put sound deadening material unser back seat & boot area, also purchased a heavy rubber boot mat. That has made it bearable.
I thought they would have improved it on later models, after all soundproofing would cost peanuts in the scheme of things. Perhaps they are not allowed to so as to keep them inferior to VW?!
As regards tyre wear - the fronts are 6mm on inner edges and centre and 5mm on outer edges; rears are 7mm on inner edge and centre and 6mm on outer edges. So all 4 tyres are wearing more on outer edges.
As to soundproofing the vRS seems to have at least at much as the Civic although I suppose that a tyre with a nominal 225 x .4 = 90mm rim to road dimension against a nominal 205 x .55 = 113 could well be noisier. I will try more soundproofing. Thanks for the suggestion.
Swapping to 17" wheels with 225/45 tyres to keep the overall gearing within 1/2% would only increase wheel rim to road distance to a nominal 101mm - would that really make much difference to noise levels? I would have though that different tyres would make a bigger difference.
As to soundproofing the vRS seems to have at least at much as the Civic although I suppose that a tyre with a nominal 225 x .4 = 90mm rim to road dimension against a nominal 205 x .55 = 113 could well be noisier. I will try more soundproofing. Thanks for the suggestion.
Swapping to 17" wheels with 225/45 tyres to keep the overall gearing within 1/2% would only increase wheel rim to road distance to a nominal 101mm - would that really make much difference to noise levels? I would have though that different tyres would make a bigger difference.
Edited by Glosphil on Friday 14th June 00:54
If you pop over to the Briskoda forums you'll see posts from people with apparently identical cars running identres - yet one will complain of noise and the other will not. There seems no reason for it, but it's there.
As an example, my vRS came with Conti SC2's from the factory in 2011 and I've found them quiet and grippy. So much so that at 30k miles when I needed to replace two of them I purchased SC5's for the rear.
The last remaining SC2's that came with the car are now on the front, are at 36k miles and still have plenty of meat, are still quiet and still grippy.
There was an issue with Octavia's leaving the factory with incorrect tracking setup, so it may be worth while having that checked anyway.
As an example, my vRS came with Conti SC2's from the factory in 2011 and I've found them quiet and grippy. So much so that at 30k miles when I needed to replace two of them I purchased SC5's for the rear.
The last remaining SC2's that came with the car are now on the front, are at 36k miles and still have plenty of meat, are still quiet and still grippy.
There was an issue with Octavia's leaving the factory with incorrect tracking setup, so it may be worth while having that checked anyway.
My wife's 2010 Clio 1.2TCE has Conti Contact2 in 195/50-16 size and they don't generate excessive road/tyre noise.
Tracking is a good point as all 4 tyres are worn 1mm more at outer thread groove than centre and inner grooves. As I am 50 miles from the dealer where I bough the car I will have a chat with my local friendly tyre place to get the tracking checked.
Tracking is a good point as all 4 tyres are worn 1mm more at outer thread groove than centre and inner grooves. As I am 50 miles from the dealer where I bough the car I will have a chat with my local friendly tyre place to get the tracking checked.
I've always found Conti's noisy as are Eagles but they are both pretty grippy.
Wife recently had to get some bridgestones for our Superb which replaced some Eagle Assymetrics and the difference in road noise is very noticable
That said the Octy does suffer from saw toothing on the rear we always had to replace the tyres long before the tread wore out
Wife recently had to get some bridgestones for our Superb which replaced some Eagle Assymetrics and the difference in road noise is very noticable
That said the Octy does suffer from saw toothing on the rear we always had to replace the tyres long before the tread wore out
missing the VR6 said:
Octavias are a a bit noisey in mmy opinion, a lot of noise in generated around the door mirors I'm told by our service department.
With regards Continentals, I've run many Fabia VRS and find the car quieter on Conti's than the Dunlop Sport Maxx they also come with.
Haven't noticed wind noise on my vRS, just tyre/road noise. I have checked and there is sound insulation under the rear seat so I will add some in the boot and see if that yields any improvement.With regards Continentals, I've run many Fabia VRS and find the car quieter on Conti's than the Dunlop Sport Maxx they also come with.
missing the VR6 said:
Octavias are a a bit noisey in mmy opinion, a lot of noise in generated around the door mirors I'm told by our service department.
With regards Continentals, I've run many Fabia VRS and find the car quieter on Conti's than the Dunlop Sport Maxx they also come with.
Glad mine came with Contis', had dunlops on our Octy from new and they were awful poor grip in the wet and dry With regards Continentals, I've run many Fabia VRS and find the car quieter on Conti's than the Dunlop Sport Maxx they also come with.
MonkeyHanger said:
Mine came with Bridgestones which got noisier as they wore. I ditched them for Michelin PS3's and the only noise i hear now is when i'm on that god awful concrete they use on some road surfaces.
I've heard goood thing about Michelins on Octvias, from a few customers.missing the VR6 said:
MonkeyHanger said:
Mine came with Bridgestones which got noisier as they wore. I ditched them for Michelin PS3's and the only noise i hear now is when i'm on that god awful concrete they use on some road surfaces.
I've heard goood thing about Michelins on Octvias, from a few customers.Edited by Glosphil on Saturday 15th June 15:42
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