H2

I'm looking for quieter tires than the Z-rated tires which make more road noise due to stiffer sidewalls. This is my daily driver and I'd like to try some quieter (non z-rated) for a while). I track my other car so I don't need heavy tires for this one.

Suggestions? Thanks, guys.

Harvey

yellowline

Goodyear Assurance TripleTred. Decent grip, excellent in wet weather (you need to be seriously exceeding the limit to feel hydroplane), road hazard warranty, 80k mile treadwear rating. Don't expect that on a Porsche- mine are at 50% with 20k. They're T-rated, so unless you plan on exceeding 120, you should be fine.

Bill Lucas

I'm sorry Joel, I have to disagree on your assertion. The rating don't just correlate with speed. Softer tires also grip much better in the corners and there is a reason they are specified for the car. Your insurance company CAN deny a claim if you are in an accident with incorrect tires installed on the car. In fact, your local tire shop is NOT supposed to sell and install tires that are not properly rated for the vehicle.

Harvey,

I run all my automobiles with Michelins. I've always been a fan of the Michelin ride comfort and road noise. Quiet and smooth in my book.

Regards.

Manning

Noise is a product of tread design as much as construction

I have Avon Tech M500s on two cars right now and love them. Great handling and very quiet. And the added bonus is they are inexpensive.

xsboost90

toyo proxes are great. I have the T1-S's and they are real quiet- even at autox- but they are 280 treadwear. Other proxes are great as well, my mom has some on her car and they stick well, wear well and are quiet.

Tom M'Guinn

Don't get Bridgestone RE730's. I have them on my 951 -- loudest tires I've ever heard on a vehicle without a gun rack.

H2

I have Michelin Pilot Sports on my 968 right now and definitely feel that they are too noisy....but the are approaching end of life. However, on my 928 I also have new Pilot Sports...and they've been noisy from the beginning (I also flat-spotted one on the track but that was my fault). I've tried a couple other z-rated tires and wasn't satisfied either (for daily driving anyway...on the track, tire noise is not a factor) so I'm opting for something else for the street. But I will not be buying Z-rated this time round. Maybe what I'm looking for isn't made but I understand that by their very construction, z-rated tires are more noisy. Surely there's a manufacturer that recognizes this and has a quieter tread design, rubber formulation, or something?

Harvey

H2

Someone said there was a tire with dB in the name...that would suggest quieter. Anyone know about these?

H2

phil0618

I'll second the Avons. I had Pirelli Asimmetricos and they were much much louder than the Avon's

Phil

kcryan

My allante, had goodyear somethings on it when i got it, loud as all hell, but then again they were pretty worn, i got continental Extremecontacts, real real quiet now, even with the top down

ninefiveone

There's nothing about a z-rated tire that makes it noisier than a non z-rated tire. Tire noise is predominantly about tread design, not sidewall stiffness.

You're just as likely to find a noisy tire in a non z-rated tire.

Try a Bridgestone S03. Do a search at tirerack on their survey results. You can sort tires on noise levels.

H2

I have S03s on my Audi TT....way too loud for me. I think z-rated tires have stiffer walls that help contribute to the added noise...then again, the tread design probably makes the biggest difference.

H2

RMills944

The ES100's don't seem too bad to me, but then again it's hard to hear anything over the exhaust system. On the VW, the Yokohama Parada Spec 2's are grippy as hell, but WAY too loud.

AndyK

How are the Conti's in winter weather?? I may wanna buy these for the 944.

Phi1720

I've got Michelin Pilot non-Sprots on my 944 & I still get great daily driver performance with minimal noise. I have experienced the Michelin Pilot Sports on my roomates car and can attest that his are noiser. Just incase you were wanting to stay with Michelin.

________________
-Scott
85.5 944
96 Mazda Miata