Hi all,

 

I’ve searched the forum on here and was curious if I’m being too picky on my poor little Fabia.

 

I bought a Fabia Redline 2017 during lockdown - click and collect..  I’m going from a Golf MK7 TDI GT..

 

I know road noise has been covered in the forums elsewhere.. however just curious to know if these cars are simply fairly noisy little things? I understand that the tyres can possibly make a difference, but I can’t imagine they make a ‘huge’ difference? 

Would a VW polo or a fiesta be much different, or are these small cars all similar? 
 

I live in Derbyshire and the country roads aren’t exactly smooth going.. 

 

the wheels are 16” with those turanza tyres on.. 

Over the years members here have commented on the tyres you have as being noisier than tyres that replaced them when new tyres were fitted.

Buying new tyres you might find this link usefull in finding quieter tyres https://www.confused.com/on-the-road/maintenance/understanding-tyre-labels-markings-ratings

If you can find out what your current tyres are rated it may help to find ones quieter when they need replaceing  Joe

The best tyres I've tried on the Fabia Mk3 (though admittedly I've not tried many) are the Continental Eco Contact 6 195/55 T16, rated A, A, 71db (economy, wet grip, noise). There probably are tyres a little quieter, but they sacrifice wet grip and economy for noise, so it's a balance of running cost vs. safety in the wet vs. noise.

 

Wider tyres or larger 17" rims will give a harder drive (the walls don't flex and absorb bumps so well) and increase fuel consumption (the rolling resistance of the wider tread takes more energy to rotate - simple physics!). Likewise, if you go for 15" rims, then you can have ever higher wall to width ratio making the ride more comfortable and quieter again, but at the loss of even more wet grip and braking. I think the 16" wheels/tyres are a good compromise.

I originally had 16" wheels and I went from Bridgestone Turanza's to Avon ZV7s and it was a night and day difference. Huge increase in comfort too. Quite sticky too, probably owing to their softer compound.

 

Then i changed to 17" wheels which came with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx's, and by eck they're awful, known to be a noisy tyre though, i'll be switching to a nice set of four Pilot Sport 4's (not 4S, they don't do them in this size) next month so should be better than these.

Bridgestone Turanzas are very noisy tyres in my opinion.  A few years ago I had a diesel Fiesta fitted with Continental Premium Contact tyres.  I swapped it for another diesel Fiesta which came with Turanzas.  Thought they wore well but by heck were they noisy.  Very disappointed in them.

Check Goodyear Efficient grip performance in both version 1 & 2. 

In the top three in a recent big tyre test. 

 

 

B for fuel efficiency. But the nut between the steering wheel and the drivers seat has the best control over this.

A for wet grip. As good as you can get.

67Db very low External noise done on a drive by test.

They are also lighter than most tyres in the same size.

 

 

I like the way Confused.com are confused by tyres.

The link above has a tyre size that doesn't exist.

But if you correct the size then in doesn't come in that weight rating or speed rating.

 

Anybody managed to buy some average tyres. D Fuel, D Wet Grip and 70 DB noise? 

 

Thanks, AG Falco

Edited 10 March, 20215 yr by AGFalco
Added the last line.