Tyre noise

[openijl]

Hi there,

I have 4x Goodyear Eagle F1 255 40R19 100Y on my 2012 Audi A6 quattro, and have had horrendous droning at a frequency of 440Hz since 5,500 miles. Now at 15k miles after pathetic support from Audi UK, two dealers have given up their time to find no mechanical fault and claim "it's just road noise".

I bought this car with 3k miles and 6 months as an approved Audi, specified, build, bought, and owned by Audi as a manager's car, then sold by them to me. I didn't choose or specify the wheels / tyres myself - they did.

It isn't due to uneven tyre wear - "sawtoothing".

It's at a constant frequency - the pitch doesn't change regardless of road speed. It's present on many road surfaces.

It's so objectionable - you wouldn't sell a car that sounds like this; and I at times hate driving this car!

Even when crawling over a gravel surface - where a piece of gravel rotates and goes "ping" - the exact same resonance is heard.

Believe it or not, feeling so failed by Audi UK, I'm about to have the tyres, tyres + wheels, tyres + wheels + hubs/suspension, hubs/suspension sound tested for resonances. I'm determined to find the root problem then hold Audi to account.

Has anyone had any similar experiences?

Many thanks and best wishes,
Ian

[Guest 2]

Have you driven an indentical car in the same conditions?

What size were the tyres on your previous car?

[a8tdi]

Hi Ian,

As previous posts this road noise is unfortunately an issue with the design of the car, not sure if its running gear, suspension or what but its recognised as an issue by Audi.

My car is a 2011 A8 and the noise is pretty bad, i tried an alternative set of tyres but the noised remains.
The suggestion from someone at Audi is to try 18 inch alloys. I have came accustomed to the noise, and although i would prefer it not to be there I just get on with it...

Strangely i was reading about the most recent A8 and the designers have set the car speakers to emit a noise which counteracts the road noise. Paragraph 3 Audi's New A8 L Sedan is Both Beauty and the Beast - Yahoo Voices - voices.yahoo.com

Good luck !

[Guest 2]

Instead of spamming the forum with the same post I've created you a seperate thread.

[openijl]

Have you driven an indentical car in the same conditions?

What size were the tyres on your previous car?

Hi Chris,

Yes - in July this year I drove a 2012 A6 SE which had 17 inch wheels and therefore thicker-profile tyres, but which still had the same-frequency resonance, albeit very feint - which is at 220Hz (I incorrectly reported it as 440 Hz previously).

I still have my previous car - it's a BMW 645Ci, with 18 inch wheels. Obviously a thicker tyre profile, but they are runflat tyres - rock hard - and they're quite a lot wider too.

I hear "white" tyre noise occasionally from the BMW, but absolutely no resonance like on the Audi A6.

I have just read a8tdi's reply here, and I am already amazed by the power of this forum! Please tell me who at Audi has recognised this problem - i.e. formally accepted that it exists?

That would be the route to me getting my wheels changed - which I am convinced will be the quickest fix.

Many thanks again,
Ian

[jdwoodbury]

I reported this noise some time back when I bought my car, it never got resolved in my ownership but I did feel like it got quieter after about 10k miles. I now have an Audi RS4 with almost identical 19" alloys, this time I have Mitchelin Pilot Sports and no problems at all with noise.

[ScottyA6]

Mine is a 2014 Avant 245 Quattro on 19's.

Apart from more 'bump/thump' from the tyres than I would like overall it is reasonably quiet and I hear things in a car others don't. Taking into account the fact the A6 is running AWD it is quieter than my previous XF Jag which I think is pretty good.

[birdmansa6]

I have a 2.0 multi 177. It's a year old today. Had it since new and it too does have a humming like a wheel bearing noise. Told dealer about it last year and they said it's just the tyres. I ve now done 16k miles and still have the same noise. It's actually in the dealership right now to sort out a coolant leak so I thought I ll mention it again. Had too hire my own car as they had no courtesy cars not too pleased but it was only meant to be a day not 3. Had a call this afternoon to say that the noise is from the tyres as there is only 4mm of tread left!

I ve been driving a new Hyundai I40 tourer 1.7 blue for 2 days and To be honest I quite like it, so much tech and very comfortable and much quitter. Will def try out the top of the range when I next come to change cars.

[Passatier3]

Have 20" Bridgestones on mine and on decent tarmac I have to say that there is very little road noise. I noticed some when I first got the car but rarely now - perhaps I'm used to it or it has improved as the tyres have worn. There is tyre noise of course, especially now with bigger wider tyres, but I'm not being irritated by that annoying whine that can be evident.

I had more trouble with my Passat as regards tyre noise and that had narrower, higher profile tyres.

Funnily enough (not really!) when I had an 80 Sport many years ago I swore blind that I had a noisy wheel bearing. Got the dealer to investigate and they said no, it's tyre noise - nothing changes does it!

[ScottyA6]

I have the same car as the OP and it is on the same Goodyears and tbh I thought it was pretty quiet but a friend has just got a 2 litre TDI Avant SE on 17's and Pirelliis and road noise sounds far less. I am working on the basis that the bigger lower profile tyres and S-line suspension make the difference plus the fact that the Quattro mechanicals must add to the noise levels. I am not sure about the Goodyears but I am told by my 'tyre guy' that they are a good all rounder winter and summer so I am going to let them run out the cold weather before I consider a change.

OT but I have to say i was surprised at how good that 2 Litre is in such a big car.