20" Wheels - excessive road noise

[eax]

Would be surprised if you get an Oct/Nov delivery slot if you're just ordering now. Although that may be down to the famed dealer slots. I ordered in February and won't get the car (T8 inscription) until sept/oct time.

[nu11eaf]

For any Volvo reps reading this, also see the thread "New XC90 first impressions" the XC90 road noise and resonation in the cabin is attrocious. Volvo should not be selling cars as bad as this at any price never mind the "premium price band"

[Deman77]

Originally Posted by nu11eaf

For any Volvo reps reading this, also see the thread "New XC90 first impressions" the XC90 road noise and resonation in the cabin is attrocious. Volvo should not be selling cars as bad as this at any price never mind the "premium price band"

This is 3rd or 4th such thread since the car launched. Volvo just hopes it quiets down and shuffles to the back pages of the forum as we excitedly discuss accessories and paint options.

[BTXC90]

Originally Posted by Denedriver

Volvo are aware of the problem, it is two fold: Inadequate insulation and a fault in the B post that transmits noise up to the side of your ear. On early MY16 with 20 inch alloys there was a very significant resonance at 70 mph on concrete motorway. I had an MY16 on 20 inch cross cut alloys. Changed the wheels to 21 inch inscription which could run with Pirelli noise cancelling tyres (foam strip inside tyre). This stopped the resonance but still too loud. Despite some very good endeavours from my Volvo dealer, I could not live with the car and PX'd for a new model Q7. It is much better on noise, ride and performance, if not as design aesthetically nice as the Volvo> I look forward to driving it, which sadly I did not with the XC90.

Sorry to hear about this. so you have now switched to Q7.
I was hoping the change in tyres would reduce the noise significantly, until the read your comment.

[BTXC90]

Originally Posted by familymangreg

Interesting, it suggests that the ANC (active noise cancellation) filters out the specific low frequency sound produced by the electric motor, but maybe it could also be filtering some of the road noise.

Or are there other differences in the T8 which lead to less road noise/better insulation.

Or have we taken the wrong turning here, are we sure that the road noise is only affecting D5 (and possibly T6) owners?

:wq

With so much sophistication and technology in all other departments, I am surprised to see that Volvo isn't providing any options to reduce this discomfort to the buyers.

In that support forum discussion as well, the Volvo rep just says ANC is standard on T8, but nothing about being optional for T6 or D5.

This is probably a hidden difference between the T8 & D5 that we don't factor when taking the decision. at least I didn't think about this

I did a lot of math on the govt grant, consumption and road tax and congestion etc etc....

I am waiting for my car to be delivered in Sept, but this point may have changed my decision to T8... a quiet cabin is assumed when buying a luxury car

[BTXC90]

Originally Posted by shortword

Just my 2C on this, I've done 200Km in my car since yesterday. Country, town, motorway (140kph) etc and I do not find any issue with road noise. I've come from a 2014 MY Audi A7 sports sedan on 20" rims also.

My XC90 is a T8 R-Design on 20" with Conti SUV tyres. it's an absolute dream to drive.

[familymangreg]

Hi all,

I've heard back from Steve Fowler. In summary, Steve is aware of the tyre noise issue, having heard from several other concerned Volvo owners. In addition Steve did made reference to it in his first report on the D5, not sure how I missed this the first time I read it! Steve notes that it is very dependant on road surface and that the rest of the cabin really is very quiet. In addition, Steve points out that Continental do a version of the tyre with ContiSilent technology which he had on a previous RRS. Steve is going to query Volvo again as to why they don't fit these ContiSilent tyres given all the road noise reports and include their response in his next report on the car.

I personally agree with Steve re. the rest of the cabin being quiet, I've certainly not picked up on any wind noise, and once you realise that the climate control can still be on auto with your fan speed preference set separately, I find all the air vents very quiet too.

In terms of the noise being very road surface dependant, I guess that is true... but unfortunately in the first 1000 miles I've found very few surfaces where the level is acceptable!!

:wq

[Lexman8]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that Audi have exclusive use of ContiSilent tyres for now and that they are only available on some very specific Audi models at that.

[Deman77]

Originally Posted by Lexman8

I seem to remember reading somewhere that Audi have exclusive use of ContiSilent tyres for now and that they are only available on some very specific Audi models at that.

Conti silent are not available in our size. Even if it was It is also likely that it won't help with resonance but only with some broad noise reduction if at all as all same manufacturer tyres will have similar noise frequencies which will resonate. We don't know if tyre noise is coming through the drive train due to hard compound or the wheel arches and the floor due to thread pattern - there are multiple ways tyre noise can be coming through and cavity padding only addresses one of them. If someone has a dealer or Volvo uk on a guilt trip can you please get them to pay for Goodyear eagle F1. That is the quietest tyre in our size - pirellis are not that quiet and have been mentioned to be loud on swedespeed.

[AB-UK]

It seems really unacceptable to have to buy expensive tyres to resolve an issue like this.
Not so bad if Volvo supply them on the vehicle, but I found that Contis wear out quite quickly, and therefore the cost of solving this noise problem falls to the owner who has to shell out for expensive replacement tyres.