Road Noise

ElVee · 03-26-2013, 11:31 AM

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.

JARblue · 03-26-2013, 11:40 AM

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

RiCharlie · 03-26-2013, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370

75% of owners seem to deal with it because they dont find it severe or it doesn't bother them at .

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

OldGuy · 03-26-2013, 03:07 PM

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).

b15 · 03-26-2013, 03:07 PM

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.

1st · 03-26-2013, 03:13 PM

Keep your pimp hand strong!

Voice59 · 03-26-2013, 03:18 PM

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.

JARblue · 03-26-2013, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voice59

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...

Voice59 · 03-26-2013, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

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.

JARblue · 03-26-2013, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voice59

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

I love hearing the car

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.

Voice59 · 03-26-2013, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

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

I love hearing the car

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.

b15 · 03-26-2013, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voice59

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)

Streetlife · 03-26-2013, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370

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.

UNKNOWN_370 · 03-26-2013, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldGuy

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).

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

Dwight Frye · 03-26-2013, 06:36 PM

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.

03-26-2013, 11:31 AM	#46 (permalink)
ElVee Track Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Iowa Posts: 750 Drives: 13 370z 7at t+s grey Rep Power: 17	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. Voice59 likes this.

03-26-2013, 11:40 AM	#47 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 44 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684441	get some GTMat (they're a forum sponsor)... I've been very pleased with the decrease in road noise after my hatch install __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

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03-26-2013, 03:07 PM	#49 (permalink)
OldGuy Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Greensburg PA Posts: 899 Drives: '09370Z Red Base A7 Rep Power: 17	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).

03-26-2013, 03:07 PM	#50 (permalink)
b15 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,229 Drives: 4drz Rep Power: 36572	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.

03-26-2013, 03:13 PM	#51 (permalink)
1st A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: I 80 Biz U.S. 50 Posts: 1,710 Drives: Platinum Z Rep Power: 1617	Keep your pimp hand strong!

03-26-2013, 03:18 PM	#52 (permalink)
Voice59 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Va Beach, Virginia Posts: 1,418 Drives: 2009 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 16	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.

03-26-2013, 06:36 PM	#60 (permalink)
Dwight Frye Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Occupied California Posts: 423 Drives: '09 Tour/Sport/6MT Rep Power: 17	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.