Avensis T4 Road Noise

May 11, 2005

Hi

New here but looking for advice.

Collected a new car yesterday - 03 plate T4 Avensis Tourer. Previously owned '00 1.8GS VVti Avensis tourer so well used to these cars.

Problem is this - first time with car that has alloys on but noticed, particulary around 60-70 mph significant road noise (like the drumming sound you get when back windows are open - really annoys my ears!). Is this due to the alloy wheels giving more road noise? It's not the engine as when the accelerator is pressed at these speeds, the increased revs to the engine are distinguishable from this noise and the engine is very quiet.

When we test drove the car, first myself then my husband, I noticed the noise and mentioned to the assistant saleman out on the test drive with us and he said it was due to lower side walls on alloys leading to more road noise i.e. less cushioning and absorbance of sound. That seemed OK especially as the noise happened on both test runs at exactly same bit of road so i put it down to that road surface as well. Forgot to mention to his senior salesman on return to garage but now worried having done 100 miles since yesterday!

So, I guess my query is, do alloy wheels lead to more road noise or what else could it be?

I have no problems mentioning it with the senior saleman who will be phoning tomorrow, after us having the car for a few days but just thought, having stumbled across this site, that I would ask here.

Of the top of my head I can't remember which wheels are on the T4 but they are the factory fitted ones.

Thanks

Sara

May 11, 2005

The salesman was correct in his statement that this is due to the side walls of the tyres. One option could be to get the dealer to fit smaller alloys with 'thicker' tyres, which is known to alleviate the problem. Or find another avensis owner with smaller alloy wheels and negotiate a swap!

May 11, 2005

Thanks for replying - at last someone has commented (my impatience probably shows due to being anxious about the 'problem')

To be honest, if all is Ok I'm just going to get use to it rather than getting into any hassles of changing tyres. I'm sure I will get use to the noise but I just wanted to know it was normal and that we hadn't slipped up and bought a car with a problem.

Thanks again

Sara

May 11, 2005

My 03 T Spirit had the same problem and it is down to the 17" wheels and low profile tyres.

When swapping the car this year I did a deal with the dealer to get 16" wheels and standard tyres and the difference is remarkable with very little difference to the road holding or handling. The big wheels seem to be just for style effect.

May 11, 2005

My 03 T Spirit had the same problem and it is down to the 17" wheels and low profile tyres.
When swapping the car this year I did a deal with the dealer to get 16" wheels and standard tyres and the difference is remarkable with very little difference to the road holding or handling. The big wheels seem to be just for style effect.
←

Yep, it happens on other makes too. The Honest John Agony column of the Daily Telegraph has a few references - 17" wheels and low profile tyres emphasise road noise, sometimes alarmingly. My T3-X has them, noise can be intrusive. But it depends on the road surface too, a trip round the M25 at the weekend showed that the surface is crap. Bits of the M3 where quiet, whereas most of Germany seems to be surfaced with cotton wool. Otherwise the rest of the car is quieter than many prestige marques, including my last Merc.