FOCUS ROAD NOISE

[Busterbvi]

Greetings to the forum, new on here and this may have been discussed already but I have just returned to the UK after 25

years overseas. I bought a 2007 Focus 2.0 Ghia, with 118K on the clock, love the car, drives nice but the road noise is bad. 

It's fitted with 205/55/16 Falkens on the front and Pirelli P7 on the back. I'm thinking of fitting 195 / 70 / 16 tyres. My thinking is, 

a bit more height to absorb noise and a bit less width so less rubber on the road might help reduce the road noise. Thoughts

and suggestions  from other Focus owners would be welcome.

Thanks.

 

 

[Ryan_Tango]

Some people line the wheel arches (top side) with sound deadening products this makes a huge difference from what I've heard

[williamweb]

Good morning Tim, my stock tyre sizes are quieter than the wider low profiles I have on now but having said that much depends on the road surface you are driving on buddy.

                                                                                                                                                                                

[JW1982]

Tire size 195-70-16 is much to big for a Focus MK2/MK2.5. This will definetely rub inside the wheel arches. 

Tire size 195-60-16 will be a much better alternative. However you should be aware that smaller/higher tires van make the car less stable. Especially at higher speeds. 

Personally I would just change all tires for quiter tires of the prescribed tire size.

[Busterbvi]

Thanks for the replies chaps, is there a consensus of opinions on the quietest tyre available ?

 

 

[Micro]

Have Falken 914s all round, they're not the quietest tyre, but they're not that loud. They're also fab grip wise.

Are you sure you've not got any loose/worn suspension components that are compounding the sound?

[Busterbvi]

Possibly, the car is going in next week for a full front and back end check over.

I have been reading about the Continental "Contisilent" tyre, anyone tried these ?

 

 

 

 

[mjt]

In my experience the Mk2/Mk2.5 is much more susceptible to road noise, and also wind noise, then the Mk1/Mk1.5 and the Mk3 so unless you throw a lot of time and money on soundproofing you'll probably have to learn to live with it.

I find it quite difficult to have a conversation in our Mk2.5 whereas that wasn't a problem with our old Mk1.5 and isn't in our new Mk3.

[FatHead1979]

On 23/07/2017 at 10:34 AM, mjt said:

In my experience the Mk2/Mk2.5 is much more susceptible to road noise, and also wind noise, then the Mk1/Mk1.5 and the Mk3 so unless you throw a lot of time and money on soundproofing you'll probably have to learn to live with it.

I find it quite difficult to have a conversation in our Mk2.5 whereas that wasn't a problem with our old Mk1.5 and isn't in our new Mk3.

100% agree, although my MK2 facelift isn't as bad for wind noise as my pre-facelift saloon.