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Can I reduce road noise with different tyres?

I have a 2019 (current model) Citroen Berlingo XTR Flair Auto diesel 130, which suits me well with one exception - road noise. It has newish Michelin 205/55 16" tyres, chosen for a good 'outside the car' noise rating. On noisy surfaces I still can't listen to music comfortably due to the road rumble.

I had the same problem with the previous worn Dunlop Efficientgrip tyres. I've had the car doors roof and floor deadened with anti-resonance pads - that helps, but not enough. I suspect the solution is tyres that rumble less - suggestions please?

Asked on 10 October 2023 by Maxwell Rankin

Answered by David Ross
Choosing a tyre with a low noise rating can certainly help reduce road rumble entering the cabin, and the measures you have taken with additional soundproofing are also a sensible option, but it is worth bearing in mind that the Berlingo is a van-derived vehicle so ultimately it will always be somewhat noisier than a conventional car.

The tyres with the lowest noise rating in your size on blackcircles.com are the Dunlop Sport BluResponse and the Yokohama BluEarth ES32, both of which have a 68dB noise rating.

Kind regards,

David

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