To the whiners. May I recommend Continental DWS and Hankook Ventus Evo V12.

I actually keep some earplugs in mine for those days when I'm crusin' my 65 mile commute to work. I used to fly Helicopters every day so loud doesn't bother me... I just toss in some plugs and enjoy the sound of freedom

same old same old
 

Its amazing to me how many people have this problem and still Nissan does nothing.. I started a thread about this about three years ago and the issue is still here..

Even professional auto reviewers have mentioned this..

Just get the damn thing coated with Dynamat , hatch and doors especially, and if you dont mind sacrificing a small bit of performance for a better ride and less noise get Continental Extreme Contact tires...I use the DWS but if you live in a warmer climate you might choose DWs..

We had a very long thread about this some time ago and each person has their own ideas but to me I dont mind an extra 25 pounds in order to get a car that I can enjoy each day and not have to shout when I talk..and I dont enter the car in any kind of race competition so a few fractions of a second off track time doesnt bother me..

It's going to take a redesign to fix this. If Nissan added more sound deadening the car will weigh too much. They added a little in 2011. more in 2012, and a little more in 2013. If they put G37 sound deadening we'd gain 100lbs.
In the case of the Z, performance before noise issues. At the end it's a performance car. I know plenty of reviewers have called the car out. But if you did a owner count. 75% of owners seem to deal with it because they dont find it severe or it doesn't bother them at all. 25% complain and find it to be annoying.
So it doesn't warrant Nissan to make extreme changes in noise reduction. Furthermore, at sales of 5,500 units a year. Nissan isn't making enough money on the car to fix multiple issues. If Nissan did fix things though. The noise level to most owners is on the low level of the totem pole.

I'd say if you want a Z with less road noise, the Infiniti dealership is down the street.

It's one of those things that reminds me when I see someone in a minivan trying to gun it down the street. Clearly you'd be happier with a faster car, so why are you trying to use a minivan in a way that it is not intended? Most would be happier matching their desires with what a thing is, or vice versa.

get some GTMat (they're a forum sponsor)... I've been very pleased with the decrease in road noise after my hatch install

Ya but they are all young guys..whose hearing has been damaged by decades of listening to loud I Pods!! :icon18:

No need to suffer with Z's insufferable road noise. I changed out the tires that came with my '09 base and got Continentals. Check the threads for the exact one (pro contact or extreme or something, don't quite remember now and I'm not home to look). But these tires diminished the road noise by at least 50%---maybe a lot more. Z became a totally different, comfortable car and the ride even felt less harsh and stiff. I don't track my car and handling/performance are not my priorities. Talk to Tire Rack or your local guy. It was the best $850 or so I ever spent (and these tires may also last longer than the stock performance tires).

The road noise in this car is horrendous, especially on the concrete tollways here in IL. I'm not looking for quiet, but the constant tire roar on different surfaces does cause fatigue and take away from my overall enjoyment of the car.

Since I don't DD the car, it's not a huge deal but I still plan on sound deadening the hatch and doors when the weather warms. That should reduce noise enough to what I consider acceptable for the few times I'll be taking the Z on weekend trips with the wife.

Keep your pimp hand strong!

Please assure me that everyone that complained about road noise didn't add any aftermarket exhaust/intake items to make the car sound more...."aggressive". If so... stop crying! Get a corrolla.

I have intakes and will eventually get an exhaust. That didn't stop me from sound deadening my hatch (doors to follow). Cruising at highway speeds has lots of road noise but not much exhaust note unless I get on it (>4K RPMs). As a DD its nice and quiet while cruising, and mean and nasty at wot. Plus exhaust/intake note > road noise any day...

aka...you dealt with it.

Yeah... and tbh, road noise never bothered me. I drive with the windows down 90% of the time even in the hot Texas summers :ugh2: I love hearing the car :tup:

The sound deadening was mostly for trips with my wife. It takes hours to get anywhere in Texas, and she doesn't like the windows down at highway speed. It is also much easier to hear a phone call in the car after installing GTMat - I don't answer the phone in the car if I can avoid it, but it's nice for a passenger.

Exactly. I've never had a problem with road noise unless I was literally on a noisy road, if that makes sense. You can hear it...sure, but as far as horrendous, lol that might be taking it a little over the top.

Here's the thing, what's acceptable road noise is all relative. I know that my tires have a big play in it, but I've also come to terms that summer tires are going to be noisy. There's a difference between mechanical noise from an intake or exhaust and just plain road noise. The majority of the roads I drive on are concrete and you literally have to yell at your passenger when going down the highway at 70mph. That, to me, is horrendous. With an exhaust or intake, I can control the noise the car makes...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for anything near g37 quiet, I'm just looking to tone it down and eliminate some of the "hollowness". BTW my car is 100% stock. Adding 30-35lbs of sound deadening is OK with me. I'll take that over putting the mushy DWS on my Z. (Had them on my Altima and hated the soft sidewalls. they were quiet though)

:iagree:

And that is the end all, be all of advice.:tup:

I am seriously considering having a local audio shop do the complete Dynamat or equivalent treatment to my '09 in a few months. I really love the car but the road noise is excessive and does take away from the enjoyment of a road trip. I like to listen to music when I cruise or talk to my passenger. When on a mountain road for a little curves exercise I roll down the windows and listen to the engine sing, but that is less than 5% of the miles that I accumulate each year.

man what's wrong with you guys this isn't a brand new problem. you heard the car when you drove it, and yet you still bought it. it's not like your problem that you realize over time. it's there from the second you hop in it. no offense, but our car isn't a Mercedes or Porsche. it will be lacking some refinement. maybe it's something you should look for next time you test drive a car.

GTMat you mean? ;) :stirthepot:

I too have considered adding sound deadening material, but would never do it due to the added weight. Luckily when I do road trips in my Z, which is rare, has been by myself. If that is the case for you just listen to some audio books or music to distract you from the noise. Oh and when you say the road noise takes away from the experience, I think having a heavier car can take away the same experience!

Pintsize I love your profile pic. You can easily add a Nissan logo and a slogan to make that a legit poster ad for the Z!

:iagree: Come on brother!! Lets beat this dead horse to death once again.:tup: thunder...thunder...thunder cats... ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
See previous page for my reply.

I had my car for about 8 months now. This is my 3rd Z in about 4 years.. After 3 months I decided to dynamat it with the dyamat xtreme. I started with just the rear hatch area. I took out all of the panels, carpets and misc items and did from the roll bar all the way back through the tail lights and fender wells. Next I took out the Passenger seat along with carpet and center console and did the whole right side interior.. Next was the same for the driver. I did both doors along with the foam blocks inside the doors for the speakers. The only thing left to do is the headliner.

The sound has been cut by over 50% and is very comfortable when on the highway. The only problem I have now is my non res HFC with 12" res Fast Intentions exhaust and the rattles!! I have a good 4 or 5 rattles on the front and back of the car that are quite annoying...Any good tips for finding and fixing rattles??

You're only talking about an extra 10- maybe 20 pounds..does that make such a difference?

Us old geezers think the same way..guess we still have our hearing!! :tup:

:tiphat: Thanks, but they will have to pay me and my friend first. :icon17:



And if anyone in this thread needs a quote for sound deadener, hit me up for GTMat!!!

It can if you're really tracking the car. Every lb counts. For most of us though it'll go unnoticed. I've seen a lot of talk about switch tires to the Continental DWS- which are knocked for having a very soft sidewall. Even on my Altima I noticed their mushy feeling, I couldn't imagine that on the Z. IMO, I think this would take away from the driving experience much more than 20lbs of sound deadening + summer tires. But hey you know what they say, opinions are like....

Living in Texas I would think you would be accustomed to loud noises,,what with all those buffalo constantly stampeding..:)

Hey there! I see you have the same color as I do..I constantly get complements about the car which is funny since I never thought I would like a white car..

I did not add anything..

I thought the car was loud stock, but you guys need to try it with some Blizzaks. It takes the noise to a whole new level.

Road noise is definitely loud in this car. And as it turns out, it's not an issue for many members on this forum. It wasn't for me at first either, but after a few years of ownership, it is starting to wear me down. So I can understand where they're coming from.

:hello:

Hm didnt think it was that light! I agree with Pintsize, GTmat has some pretty good deals.

:hello:

one solution = turn up the tunes, road noise gone. :rofl2:

I've never had that problem . I just tune it out . My dad and sister both have a sentra and I think that has louder road noise .

No question they are a bit mushy and , although i never get involved in track, i can easily see how someone that does would not want them..