Noisy Car Cabin? Ride In Silence With These Soundproofing Tips
Traffic, rain, wind, and rattles heard in your car while driving can be headache-inducing.
Commuting is stressful enough, but when you have to turn up the radio so you can hear it over the noise from outside it gets even worse.
Driving should be an enjoyable and calm experience. When you have a loud car cabin it’s the opposite.
There is something that can be done. Reducing the noise in your car is possible and easy to do. Soundproof your car and enjoy a quiet ride finally!
There is plenty that can be done about the noise. From Second Skin sound deadening materials to using the right tire, we’ll cover some tips on making your car cabin as silent as possible.
Reduce the noise for better mental health
Commuting is really stressful. Everybody knows that.
When you have a noisy car cabin, it can also affect your mental health. Studies show that excess noise can lead to depression and anxiety. Taking an already stressful daily event and making it noisy can be disastrous for mental health.
Since we spend so much time in our car, we need to make it as calm an experience as possible. Reducing the noise in the cabin can help a bit in reducing the anxiety of our commute and make it pleasant.
Even by dropping the noise by just a few decibels will make a difference.
When you can hear the radio without it being too loud. Or, when you don’t have to raise your voice to talk to passengers, your ride will be more comfortable. And there is nothing like blocking the sounds from outside and just riding in pre peace.
What is the source of the noise?
Many new cars are very well protected from outside noise. That said, there are still ways for it to be too loud inside any car cabin.
Here are some of the most common reasons for excess noise.
Tires
Some tires are just noisy. They way they react with the asphalt can sound quite grating. The tread on a tire is designed to help it grip the road for stability and safety.
One problem with some designs is how the tread channels air inside them which then compresses it. The wider the tread channel, the more air is allowed in. Thus, the louder the sound.
Wind
Not all cars are as aerodynamic as they should be. Wind can swirl around angles and cause noise that can be heard inside.
There are also areas where the wind can get inside the car making it even louder. Bad seals in the windows and doors can cause the wind to make a racket. Plus, thin doors also allow the noise of the rushing air to be heard inside the cabin.
Vibrations
Engines can cause rattling and vibrations that can be heard inside the car cabin. The sound can travel through gaps in the doors. Windows can vibrate and increase the noise from the engine.
These vibrations can even be the cause of faulty electrical since it can be so pervasive.
How does soundproofing work?
Taking measures to soundproof the car can decrease the decibel levels considerably. Even a reduction by 3dB can be enough to hear a difference.
Sound deadening car mats are the easiest to deal with since they simply replace the car mats you already have. They can reduce the noise from vibration and can seal any thin spots on the floor of the car.
Choosing touring tires instead of all-season ones can also reduce the sound when driving. Touring tires have a narrower tread which is also asymmetrical. This reduces the air that gets into the channels and doesn’t compress the air.
Foam sound deadeners can be used to fill in any gaps in the cabin. By blocking the gaps, this keeps the sound out quite a bit. They also absorb vibrations to reduce the noise. Used in conjunction with sound deadening mats, your cabin can be sealed very effectively.
Lastly, rubber seals around the windows and doors will block the sound of the wind as it rushes around the car. Older cars can benefit especially from sealing the windows. As the car ages, the rubber seal gets rigid and doesn’t get as flush as it used to.
These tips should help reduce the sound by up to 10 dB or more. Considering that the sound of normal conversation is 60 dB, that kind of reduction will make a huge difference.
