I appreciate that it's not down to the tyres alone (Dunlop Sport SP01 btw) but I have been very impressed by how quiet my new Yeti is under most conditions. I test drove various competitors including the Mk 7 VW Golf and coming from what I thought was a pretty refined motor, a Honda Accord I-Cdti Ex, the Yeti beats the Accord and other cars I test drove and I couldn't really tell any difference between the Yeti or the Golf. This silence business is addictive. 'Guess it would be a bad idea for me to test drive a Mercedes S Class

I have to say the one thing I was disappointed with  on the two Yetis I test drove was the road noise / tyre roar. Both my mk2 Octavias have been excellent in this regard, despite 18" and 19" wheels. I think it does have a marked impact on how relaxed you feel in the car.

 

Actually, I've just remembered, my first mk2 Octavia wasn't that quiet when I first got it. It was on Bridgestones. The difference when I changed the tyres to Kumhos was like night and day. I've never had a problem with noise from Michelins either. Vredesteins and even Falkens I've subsequently used have sounded more refined than those original Bridgestones too.

 

I am quite tempted to change my Yeti order to specify 16" wheels for maximum refinement (and to reduce the likelihood of my wife kerbing the wheels).

Good luck getting the 16 inch wheels on anything but the greenline.

Many have tried and few have succeeded.

I do agree though, they do make the ride more compliant.

Can't comment on road noise as I've only had 16 inchers on winter tyres and they are inherently more noisy.

The Yeti was quieter than my previous Octavia, but both were awful compared to the BMW e39's I had before them.

The Freelander is okay, but as it has AT tyres on, you can hear them. Concrete motorways are the worst.

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Well I've just finalised the order and ended up going for 17" Origami wheels as I couldn't be bothered arguing to get the 16"s.

My Tiguan had Bridgstones....noisy blighters......changed to Contis......a marked improvement

 

The Yeti has Pirellis....not too bad in my view and not worth changing until they are worn.

I appreciate that it's not down to the tyres alone (Dunlop Sport SP01 btw) but I have been very impressed by how quiet my new Yeti is under most conditions.

 

Can't say that I agree. Yeti refinement is OK but nothing more IMO. Of course it does totally depend on what you're comparing it to - Yeti will undoubtedly be better than some and not a match for other more refined alternatives. It is a subjective matter certainly, but I've really come to the conclusion that lack of refinement is a major contributor to how tiring a long journey feels. And I really would like to have seen the Yeti score better on this front. Actually, more diesel noise suppression would be top of my wishlist - tyre noise is there but not a major issue (other than on concrete motorways of course).

 

(FWIW original fitment was the Dunlop tyres, now just replaced by Goodyear Vector 4 seasons - can't say I've noticed any significant difference wrt noise.)

I totally agree on noise being tiresome

 

That's why my Yeti has extra sound deadening pads and felt under the bonnet and noise killer in the boot under the spare wheel....and a few other places.

 

I drove my friends 2008 Freelander yesterday and I thought diesel suppression was better in my Yeti

 

Noisekiller is brilliant stuff