How to Choose the Best Low-Noise Tyres in Malaysia

To understand how our solution works, let's look at where the noise comes from. The sound you hear inside the car does not come from the tyres. It actually comes from the bumps on the road that hit the tyre tread, creating vibrations. These vibrations can vary based on the road quality, vehicle speed, and tyre  type.

Tyres are hollow and filled with compressed air, so they act like drums. When the vibrations happen, they get amplified, and people in the car hear an annoying buzzing noise.

Certain types of tyres are inherently louder due to their design, particularly those with aggressive tread patterns found on some SUVs or off-road vehicles. However, if your tyres are noisier than usual, it could indicate wear and tear or other issues, such as incorrect tyre pressure, misalignment, imbalance, or problems with the wheel bearings.

While the best quiet tyres are designed to excel in all conditions, thinking about your daily drive helps you understand which of their benefits you'll appreciate most.

• If you mainly drive in the city, you'll value tyres that are not only quiet at low speeds but also durable and responsive for stop-and-go traffic. These tyres are engineered to absorb road imperfections that can contribute to interior noise, while also offering a comfortable ride.

• If you're often on the highway, you’ll get the most benefit from advanced noise-reducing technologies that cancel out the fatiguing drone of high-speed travel.

• If your driving is mixed, you'll appreciate an all-around performer that delivers a quiet ride in town, stability on the highway, and safety on every road in between.

You can identify quiet car tyres by their design and technology. Many low-noise tyres are engineered with special noise-reducing features. Look for product descriptions that mention advanced tread patterns or comfort-oriented technologies designed to absorb road vibrations. These are often the clearest indicators of a tyre built for a peaceful ride.

You can find the EU tyre label on a tyre, which includes important product details. At the bottom of the label, there is a value for external rolling noise, measured in decibels, shown with a loudspeaker symbol. This value shows how loud the noise is from outside the vehicle. It does not reflect the sound quality inside the car. External rolling noise is measured in A-weighted decibels, or dB(A), which indicates how loud it sounds to humans.

Tyres are categorised into three noise classes: 'A', 'B', and 'C'. Most tyres are in class B, and very few are in class C. Choosing a tyre with a good noise rating, as in class A, can reduce the noise you create while driving.

To give you a clearer picture, a normal conversation is around 60 dB, while highway traffic is about 70 dB. Tyres with low noise levels range from 67 to 71 dB, while the loudest tyres reach up to 77 dB.  A change of 3 dB can double the noise your tyre makes outside.

A surprising amount of tyre noise comes from its tread pattern and rubber compound. So, what should you look for?

The Silent Rib Gen 3 technology in one of our best quiet tyres, MICHELIN Primacy 5. This technology features a uniquely designed tread pattern that effectively minimises vibrations. As a result, it provides a smoother, quieter, and more comfortable ride.

Additionally, a polyurethane foam solution used in MICHELIN Acoustic Technology can also help reduce tyre noise by muffling its resonance, resulting in a reduction of interior noise by approximately 20%

The short answer is yes. While our teams work passionately to design tyres that offer a quiet and comfortable ride, changing tyre size on your vehicle can alter the sound levels you experience inside the cabin.

To ensure your safety and acoustic comfort, we always advise that you follow your car manufacturer’s recommended tyre size, load index, and speed rating.

Why wider tyres can be noisier

When you opt for wider tyres, you increase the amount of rubber in contact with the road. This larger contact patch naturally creates more friction, which generates higher noise levels. Additionally, as the tyre rolls, air gets trapped and compressed within the tread grooves; with a wider surface area, there is more air movement, which often results in a louder ride on the highway.

The effect of lower profiles

Changing tyre size often involves switching to a low-profile tyre to fit a larger wheel rim. These tyres have shorter, stiffer sidewalls compared to standard sizes. While this looks sporty, there is less rubber cushion between the rim and the road surface. This rigid structure transfers vibrations from bumps and road texture directly into your car, reducing comfort.

With advanced tyre technology used in MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV, MICHELIN Pilot Sport 4 SUV, and MICHELIN Primacy 5, you can enjoy a quieter, smoother ride across Malaysia’s varied roads. Whether you're on a city commute or a long highway drive, our low-noise tyres will make every trip much more comfortable, without compromising safety and performance.