20" Wheels - excessive road noise

[NewV90Owner]

Has anyone fitted noise cancelling mats?

If so have they made a difference? How much did it cost?

[jasz1156]

Jimrod the loaner is an inscription T6 too but doesn’t have the polestar. On a previous occasion when the car was in for work they gave me this car. It nearly shook itself to bits then and I couldn’t believe they had it as their demo. When they checked it they had to replace all the Pirellis as the foam had come loose.
This time it was fine for shake but I then noticed the road noise. It’s essentially the same as mine was before I started on the dynamat ( noise deadening).
The road noise only occurs on coarse chip roads .
A couple of times they have given me xc60 ( last of old model) which are much quieter. The importer has just come back from Sweden and I gather they know they have a problem. Apparently they are complaining to our Roading authority about using coarse chip. Like that will work!
I see the new VW Arteon is very quiet with similar features.I gather the new model has improved noise.Why do we have to be guinea pigs!

[Jimrod]

Originally Posted by jasz1156

Jimrod the loaner is an inscription T6 too but doesn’t have the polestar. On a previous occasion when the car was in for work they gave me this car. It nearly shook itself to bits then and I couldn’t believe they had it as their demo. When they checked it they had to replace all the Pirellis as the foam had come loose.
This time it was fine for shake but I then noticed the road noise. It’s essentially the same as mine was before I started on the dynamat ( noise deadening).
The road noise only occurs on coarse chip roads .
A couple of times they have given me xc60 ( last of old model) which are much quieter. The importer has just come back from Sweden and I gather they know they have a problem. Apparently they are complaining to our Roading authority about using coarse chip. Like that will work!
I see the new VW Arteon is very quiet with similar features.I gather the new model has improved noise.Why do we have to be guinea pigs!

Ahh, interesting. My test drive was in a V90 R-Design on 20's in Swindon, pretty average UK roads and it seemed quiet and comfortable (including national speed limit dual-carriageway) - at least nothing jumped out at me while I was trying to figure out the rest of the car. Probably too quick to really judge it and take it all in though.

I've ordered my S90 R-Design on standard 18's so my thoughts was that would be, if anything, better. Won't know until mid-December but I expect the roads to be at their worst by then! I wonder if anything has been improved internally on the 2018 model aside from adding flappy paddle gear shifters...

[jasz1156]

Jimrod our roads in nz are similar to England.you have secondary roads with coarse chip and up north.
The car has come back and on my reference road the noise is similar although perhaps slightly different pitch.The noise is muted slightly by the extensive dynamat. It is quieter than the loan s90 now and the ride is definitely improved on the 19” wheels.

[Ocean19]

Hi everyone.

First post as today was collection day!!!

I have been following these threads worrying about what my drive would be like so I thought you might like to hear my comparison to the car I dropped off which was a Mercedes CLS so a good comfort benchmark.

My XC90 is on 22s with air.

Also for reference I live in West Yorkshire and my town has shocking roads.

In terms of the ride, in comfort mode, it is far far more comfortable than the Merc. It soaks up bumps with much greater composure and even sharp edged imperfections like a sunken manhole are far less intrusive. My wife described it as ‘wafting’.

Road noise was not noticeable at all as a direct comparison. No better, no worse. The Merc was on 19s and had Continentals all round.

The engine noise was far quieter and the all round ambience felt like a step up from the Merc. My CLS was the latest generation btw.

Now I know I have first day excitement, but I am very very impressed.

Quick brew and then I need to figure out setting it all up!!

Ocean

[Bernard F]

Originally Posted by Ocean19

Hi everyone.

First post as today was collection day!!!

I have been following these threads worrying about what my drive would be like so I thought you might like to hear my comparison to the car I dropped off which was a Mercedes CLS so a good comfort benchmark.

My XC90 is on 22s with air.

Also for reference I live in West Yorkshire and my town has shocking roads.

In terms of the ride, in comfort mode, it is far far more comfortable than the Merc. It soaks up bumps with much greater composure and even sharp edged imperfections like a sunken manhole are far less intrusive. My wife described it as ‘wafting’.

Road noise was not noticeable at all as a direct comparison. No better, no worse. The Merc was on 19s and had Continentals all round.

The engine noise was far quieter and the all round ambience felt like a step up from the Merc. My CLS was the latest generation btw.

Now I know I have first day excitement, but I am very very impressed.

Quick brew and then I need to figure out setting it all up!!

Ocean

I am still as excited on day 12 of my XC60 hope it never stops.

[neon]

Originally Posted by Ocean19

Hi everyone.

First post as today was collection day!!!

I have been following these threads worrying about what my drive would be like so I thought you might like to hear my comparison to the car I dropped off which was a Mercedes CLS so a good comfort benchmark.

My XC90 is on 22s with air.

Also for reference I live in West Yorkshire and my town has shocking roads.

In terms of the ride, in comfort mode, it is far far more comfortable than the Merc. It soaks up bumps with much greater composure and even sharp edged imperfections like a sunken manhole are far less intrusive. My wife described it as ‘wafting’.

Road noise was not noticeable at all as a direct comparison. No better, no worse. The Merc was on 19s and had Continentals all round.

The engine noise was far quieter and the all round ambience felt like a step up from the Merc. My CLS was the latest generation btw.

Now I know I have first day excitement, but I am very very impressed.

Quick brew and then I need to figure out setting it all up!!

Ocean

Interesting as my last car was a Mercedes CLS with 18" wheels and standard suspension. I find the opposite, the Merc was quieter for road noise and handled potholes better than the XC90.
I would have expected the CLS to be worse as it is a more sporty orientated design.

[jasz1156]

I thought I would update on the work the importer and dealer did on road noise on my S90. I am in NZ which has a lot of coarse chip seal especially out of town.I have not had issues about road noise before.
After a long trip I complained about noise and this led to me putting dynamat through the boot . This lowered that noise but made the front wheel / suspension dominant.Noise levels were around 72 around town on coarse chip and 80 dBa on the open road coarse with impact noises around 90.
This was on 20 inch pirelli with noise control.
Volvo did a B pillar mod which made no noticeable difference. In the end we agreed on 19 pirelli noise control and dynamat through passenger area( but not doors)
I have not taken it on a long trip but I have taken it on reference roads which I measured.
Subjectively the noise is still there but doesn’t seem as dominant I.e. I can hear the b&w stereo. Objectively the levels have dropped to about 67 in town on coarse ,a drop of about 4-6 dBa. On good surface the level has dropped from around 67 to 63dBa. Impact seems to have dropped about 6 -8 dB.
These figures are not outstanding given 10 dBa is apparent doubling of noise level.However in the real world the car seems much more relaxing and the suspension less busy with the 40 profile tyres over the 20” 35 profile.It is certainly no Xj Jag but is at least comparable with an Fpace now.
Overall if this is reflected on my next trip I will be happy. The software updates seem to be gradually addressing the other gremlins( 12v service required lights)
And I have found the Pa2 and adaptive very good.
In summary the 19” wheels do help as does dynamat noise deadening. However it doesn’t substitute for avoiding NVH in the first place.By the way I understand that Audi and Merc have had similar issues but they have never been noted as quiet cars.

[Sceptre123]

Until today I have wondered what this listing was about. I have 20" wheels with Conti tyres and really can't complain.

Ive found the car to be smooth, not quiet but certainly not too noisy, and very grippy.

On a newly surfaced Scottish single track road today, it sounded like I needed new wheel bearings! Is that what everyone else is hearing? If so, then Volvo really do need to take notice. It was bonkers, not an issue to me as I'm unlikely to go there again, but if I was local, Id be furious

[nu11eaf]

Originally Posted by Sceptre123

Until today I have wondered what this listing was about. I have 20" wheels with Conti tyres and really can't complain.

Ive found the car to be smooth, not quiet but certainly not too noisy, and very grippy.

On a newly surfaced Scottish single track road today, it sounded like I needed new wheel bearings! Is that what everyone else is hearing? If so, then Volvo really do need to take notice. It was bonkers, not an issue to me as I'm unlikely to go there again, but if I was local, Id be furious

Yes thats the noise I get on most of the roads in my area.