Are Bridgestone Tires Quiet Or Noisy? (Solved)

Bridgestone is presently the biggest tire brand in the world.

Over the years, it has produced exceptional tires, many of which offer stability, fuel efficiency, and comfort. However, noise is often a deal-breaker for many buyers.

Are Bridgestone tires quiet or noisy?

Bridgestone tires are generally quiet, although this may vary depending on the model. Bridgestone tires feature Resonance Noise Attenuated (RENOA) silencer grooves that reduce road noise. This helps increase ride quality and makes for a quiet ride.

Are Bridgestone Tires More Quiet Than Other Brands?

Traditional tires hardly have features dedicated to reducing noise and vibration.

However, Bridgestone’s tires feature advanced noise-reduction technology aimed at decreasing road noise drastically.

This makes them quieter than many tire brands.

An example of such technology is the Resonance Noise Attenuated silencer grooves used in newer Bridgestone tires.

How do These Grooves Work to Reduce Noise?

The Resonance Noise Attenuated Silencer Grooves reduce “pattern noise” by preventing it from filtering into the cabin.

Typically, pattern noise is formed by compression of the air between the road and tread as the tire moves.

As the tire keeps rolling, the air decompresses, too, making a ‘pop’ sound. Now, this popping occurs in all four tires, every second, and it eventually results in a high-frequency noise that is audible as you drive.

The specially designed grooves on Bridgestone tires trap pattern noise in the tread elements, reducing road noise.

Other noise-reduction features on Bridgestone tires include the use of high-quality tread compounds that absorb vibrations easily, preventing excessive cabin noise.

How Are Bridgestone Tires Tested for Noise?

Typically, tire manufacturers test tires for ‘internal noise’ and ‘external noise.’

Internal noise refers to tire noise audible to occupants of a car, while external noise is tire noise that people outside the vehicle can hear.

We do not have insider knowledge of how Bridgestone conducts its noise tests.

However, here is a guide that details noise testing procedures used by major manufacturers:

1. External noise:

There are different techniques for measuring external noise on tires.

This includes:

1. Coast-by technique
2. Cruise-by technique
3. Drive-by technique

The test takes place in a test zone that measures 20m x 20m, with microphones placed 7.5m apart from each other (in the center).

Per requirements, the driver enters the test zone at a specified speed and then engages neutral gear and switches off the engine.

In most cases, the driver will repeat the maneuver four times while in the 44-50 mph (70-80 kph) speed range. He will also do it four times while in the 50-56 mph (80-90 kph) speed range.

The method described above applies to the coast-by technique. In the drive-by technique, the driver enters the test zone at 31 mph (50 kph), with the car in second or third gear.

Once he nears the middle area (where the microphones are located), he accelerates.

This differs from the cruise-by technique, where the driver enters and goes through the test zone at a constant speed.

2. Internal noise:

Unlike the external noise test, dummies, not humans, are used here.

The test dummy sits in the passenger seat with mikes in its ears connected to a computer and recording device.

Engineers accelerate the car to a certain speed, say 50 mph, and then trigger the measuring apparatus to record the noise level for a specific duration.

This process often takes place at different speeds just so they can measure the level of tire noise at different points.

What Bridgestone Tires Are the Quietest?

The following are some of the quietest tires from the Bridgestone brand:

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 Winter Radial Tire

One of the best winter tires in Bridgestone’s collection, the Blizzak WS80 is suitable for diverse road conditions.

It shines more on wet roads, though, thanks to a hydrophilic coat that makes it flexible even in sub-zero temperatures.

The Blizzak WS80’s defining feature is the noiseless ride it provides. Using asymmetric tread pattern allows the tire to absorb impact easily. This delivers a quiet and comfortable ride.

If you need a standard winter tire that produces virtually no noise, the Blizzak is an advisable choice.

However, we would not recommend that you use this tire in other seasons.

Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack All-Season

This all-season tire uses Bridgestone’s QuietTrack technology to reduce noise.

It performs well in different road conditions, including snow, summer, and rain.

Particularly, the Turanza QuietTrack offers excellent traction on slippery surfaces. This is because of its use of 3D full-depth sipes and open shoulder slots.

The QuietTrack technology features several enhancements aimed at decreasing road noise.

There are also in-groove “Quiettracks” that limit noise and improve stability on slick surfaces.

If you want an all-season touring tire that offers superior and quiet performance, you cannot go wrong with the Turanza QuietTrack tire.

Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus

Another of Bridgestone’s all-season offerings, the Turanza Serenity Plus, is one of the best tires in the Japanese manufacturer’s lineup.

It offers impressive handling and control, even on wet roads. Its unique tread design makes for reduced fuel consumption and better treadwear.

The Turanza Serenity Plus features Resonance Noise Attenuated (RENOA) silencer grooves in its tread blocks. Combined with the circumferential grooves, the silencer grooves decrease trapped air sound that causes road noise.

This ultimately leads to a quieter and more comfortable ride.

Bridgestone Dueler H/T 684 II

Designed for SUVs, crossovers, and trucks, this all-season tire is a delight for driving.

Thanks to a rounded casing profile and notched grooves, this tire is quiet and comfortable.

Other features that boost noise reduction on the Dueler H/T 684 II include a four-channel design and asymmetrical tread pattern.

Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza

This Dueler all-season touring tire comes with an asymmetrical ribbed tread pattern that merges with the road surface easily.

This makes reduces rolling resistance when driving.

Coupled with the sturdy sidewalls, the reduced rolling resistance allows the tire to absorb road shock and impact.

It delivers a quiet and comfortable ride.

What Bridgestone Tires Are Noisier?

While Bridgestone has some of the quietest tires on the market, not all its products enjoy this quality.

Here are some noisy tires from the brand:

Bridgestone Turanza EL400

The Turanza EL400 is a sedan-only tire that offers year-round traction and stability.

However, its good qualities are significantly lesser than their bad qualities. In particular, the noise seems to be an issue for many vehicle owners using this tire.

In our research, we found that the Turanza EL400 is used as OEM tires on some cars, such as Toyota’s Camry. And this is where most of the complaints came from.

Owners using these tires reported experiencing excessive road noise at speed.

For example, a Camry XLE owner explained that his Turanza EL400 became extremely noisy, even though they had barely crossed 20,000 miles.

Another Camry XLE owner said he switched the OEM Bridgestones on his car after 1,550 miles and had a quieter ride.

Given the noise-related complaints about this model, always keep this in mind before choosing this Bridgestone tire.

Bridgestone Ecopia

The Bridgestone Ecopia is an eco-friendly tire design that offers reduced fuel consumption and better treadwear.

However, that is perhaps the only thing this tire is good at. Many reviews have found that the Ecopia offers poor wet grip and is less comfortable compared to rivals.

Worse, many riders using the Bridgestone Ecopias have complained of a high level of road noise.

On a particular Toyota Prius forum, we came across a handful of owners reported experiencing noisy rides on the Ecopia tires.

It seems this tire offers a trade-off between gas mileage and comfortable riding.

A likely cause of road noise on the Bridgestone Ecopias is the tread pattern that often picks up road debris such as gravel.

As the tire rotates, it crushes these objects, which leads to increased noise.

Can You Make Bridgestone Tires Quieter?

Excessive tire noise can be very annoying, as they often ruin the riding experience for both driver and passenger.

Below is a guide on how you can decrease noise on your tires:

1. Regular Maintenance:

It is necessary that you maintain your Bridgestone tires regularly, or you may experience excessive road noise.

This is because your tires need maintenance to wear evenly; uneven wear is a principal cause of tire noise on most vehicles.

Tire maintenance activities include:

• Rotation
• Re-alignment
• Rebalancing

2. Regular Inspections:

In some cases, tire noise may be because of a mechanical fault.

For example, bad wheel bearings could be responsible for the noise coming from the tires. Additionally, if what you hear is a rubbing noise, it may mean that the wheel is moving on the hub.

Whatever the cause, it helps to have a technician look at your wheels to deduce the reason for the road noise.

3. Monitor Air Pressure:

Low levels of air pressure in the tires will always lead to problems, including noise-related ones.

Particularly, you may start hearing a squealing noise when you turn a corner.

Ensure the air pressure is always up to specifications.

Which Tire Brand Is The QUIETEST?

Given that many tire brands lay claim to being the quietest, it is hard to pick any brand as the least noisy.

However, we have compiled a list comprising the quietest tire brands available:

• Michelin:
  With its Acoustic Technology, Michelin’s tires produce minimal road noise.
• Goodyear:
  Goodyear tires utilize SoundComfort technology to reduce vibrations and noise on trips.
• Pirelli:
  The Pirelli Noise Cancelation System (PNCS) keeps tire cavity noise to a minimum for exceptional ride quality.
• Continental:
  Continental tires feature the German tiremaker’s renowned ContiSilent noise-reduction technology, which assures a comfortable ride.
• Bridgestone:
  Bridgestone uses Resonance Noise Attenuated silencer grooves on its tires for noiseless performance.
• Hankook:
  Hankook’s Sound Absorber technology ensures its tires provide quiet rides for users.

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