Dear Alex,
About a year ago we bought our first electric car, a nearly new Kia e-Niro. We were very satisfied with it, so in August we decided to change it for the later Kia Niro EV. But this car has been a disappointment due to road and wind noise, which affects me, as I suffer with tinnitus. I noticed on the first car that the tyres were Michelin and these are Continental. Is there a tyre which might make the car run quieter?
– KR
Dear KR,
The reason lies not just in the brand of tyre you’re using, but also the type. The original e-Niro came with Michelin Primacy tyres – a high-end model that has good noise and grip characteristics.
By contrast, the Niro EV comes with Continental EcoContact tyres, designed to reduce energy consumption and therefore increase range.
Eco-friendly tyres like these are usually constructed from a harder compound that makes them last longer and reduces rolling resistance, but this has downsides – one of which is that the harder compound makes more noise as it passes over those cracks and crevices in the road.
Swapping the tyres for any high-end brand – but avoiding an eco-friendly model of tyre – should help reduce road noise. And the quietest tyre available to fit your Niro EV is – surprise, surprise – the Michelin Primacy 4 S1.
If you’re still struggling, you could look into getting some extra sound deadening fitted to your car. Dynamat, or a similar soundproofing product, fitted inside your car’s doors, on the roof or behind the trim on the A-pillars might help.
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