Tyre/road noise measurements

for passenger cars

according to EU directive 2001/43

M+P Noise and Vibration Consultants, the Netherlands

date: January 16th 2003
author: ir. M.S. Roovers
e-mail: roovers@db.mp.nl
 Introduction
M+P Noise and Vibration Consultants conducted a study on tyre noise as part
of a project which was commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Housing,
Physical planning and Environment [1]. The aim of this project was to
determine the feasibility of a regulation for silent tyres. This project was carried
out together with KPMG BEA, a Dutch consultant agency on economic
questions.
Within the framework of this project a measurement program was conducted
to obtain detailed information on the noise emission of tyres which are widely
available at the consumer market. This measurement program was carried out
at the RDW test centre in Lelystad (the Netherlands) on August 13th and 14th
2002 (see figure 1).

figure 1 Measurement in action at the RDW testing facilities near Lelystad

This measurement report describes the measurement program as well as the

obtained results.

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 Measurement method
The measurements were carried out according to EU directive 2001/43 [2].
This method consists of the measurement of the maximum sound pressure
level during vehicle passage with turned-off engine and disconnected gear (coast-
by, or coast-down) at a speed of 80 ± 10 km/h. Noise levels are recorded at 1.2m
height at both sides of the passing vehicle at 7.5m distance at a road surface
according to ISO 10844 [3].
26 sets of tyres were tested. Two vehicles were used to deal with the different
tyre sizes: a Peugeot 206 for smaller tyres, and a Volkswagen Passat for larger
tyres. Loading conditions and tyre pressures were chosen in such a way that the
requirements of the directive were met.
Additional measurements were carried out at a speed of 50 km/h, with turned-
on engine (cruise-by), with different loading conditions and with different tyre
pressure conditions. Cruise-by measurements were carried out using the 4th gear
at 50 km/h, and the 5th gear at 80 km/h.
All measurements were carried out at ISO 10844 asphalt [3] as well as at a
double layered porous asphalt. All passages were additionally measured at
heights of 3.0m and 5.0m at one side of the ISO test track, and at 5.0m height
at the double layered porous asphalt.
In figure 2 the measurement design is drawn.

figure 2 Measurement set-up at the RDW test facilities

26 sets of tyres were tested. The details of these tyres are given in table I.

2
table I Tyres under test
Nr Brand Type Usage Size Test
vehicle

1 Goodyear Eagle NCT 2 7000km 175/65 R14T Peugeot 206

2 Pirelli P3000 Energy 100km 175/70 R13T Peugeot 206

3 Michelin Energy XT-1 100km 175/65 R14T Peugeot 206

4 Pirelli P 3000 Energy 100km 175/65 R14T Peugeot 206

5 Semperit Sportlife 100km 175/65 R14T Peugeot 206

6 Continental ContiEcoContact EP 100km 175/65 R14T Peugeot 206

7 Goodyear GT3 100km 175/65 R14T Peugeot 206

8 Kormoran Impulser 100km 175/65 R14T Peugeot 206

9 Michelin Energy XT-2 100km 185/65 R14T Peugeot 206

10 Pirelli P 3000 Energy 100km 185/65 R14T Peugeot 206

11 Pirelli P 5000 Drago 100km 195/50 R15V Peugeot 206

12 Continental ContiEcoContact CP 1300km 195/65 R15H VW Passat

13 Pirelli P6 100km 195/65 R15H VW Passat

14 Michelin Energy XH-1 100km 195/65 R15H VW Passat

15 Hankook K406 100km 195/65 R15H VW Passat

16 Goodyear Eagle NCT 5 100km 195/65 R15H VW Passat

17 Yokohama AVS dB 500 100km 195/65 R15H VW Passat

18 Continental ContiPremiumContact 100km 195/65 R15H VW Passat

19 Michelin Energy XH-1 100km 195/60 R15H VW Passat

20 Goodyear Eagle NCT 5 100km 195/60 R15H VW Passat

21 Bridgestone Turanza ER 70 100km 195/60 R15H VW Passat

22 Hankook 866 100km 195/60 R15H VW Passat

23 Vredestein Sportrac 100km 205/55 R16W VW Passat

24 Continental ContiPremiumContact 100km 205/55 R16W VW Passat

25 Pirelli P Zero Rosso 100km 225/45 R17Y VW Passat

Assimetric

26 Vredestein Snowtrac 100km 195/65 R15T VW Passat

3
The tyres are depicted in figure 3.

Tyres 1 to 4

Tyres 5 to 8

Tyres 9 to 12

4
Tyres 13 to 16

Tyres 17 to 20

Tyres 21 to 24

5
 Tyres 25 and 26
figure 3 The 26 tyres which were tested

The originally mounted tyres of the test vehicles were numbered Tyre 1 and
Tyre 12. These tyres were not included in the measurements according to the
EU directive, since they were used for 7000 and 1300 kilometres respectively.
All other tyres were bought new, and were driven for 100 km to ensure proper
testing according to the EU directive.
In table II the loading conditions for the measurements according to the EU
directive are given.

table II Loading conditions for testing vehicles

source entity Peugeot 206 Volkswagen Passat

specs empty mass 925 kg 1375 kg

specs maximum load 525 kg 475 kg

measurement axle load front 570 kg 780 kg

unloaded

measurement axle load behind 400 kg 620 kg

unloaded

measurement axle load front 740 kg (370 kg/tyre) 860 kg (430 kg/tyre)
loaded

measurement axle load behind 740 kg (370 kg/tyre) 860 kg (430 kg/tyre)
loaded

calculated total load 1480 kg (370 kg/tyre) 1720 kg (430 kg/tyre)

On base of these loading conditions all tyres with various load indices were
tested at a tyre pressure of 1.8 bar, which is according to the regulations on this
matter in the EU directive.

6
 In table III the measurements are given which were carried out for the various
tyres. Column A shows the measurements which were carried out according to
the EU directive (note: only those measurements at speeds of 80 ± 10 km/h).

table III List of measurements per tyre set

A B C D E F
1.8 bar1 1.8 bar 1.8 bar 1.8 bar 2.4 bar 2.4 bar
Tyre loaded2 loaded unloaded unloaded unloaded unloaded
No. coast-by3 cruise-by coast-by cruise-by coast-by cruise-by

1 50/80 50/80
2 50/804 50/80 50/80 50/80 50/80
3 50/80 50/80 50/80
4 50/80
5 50/80
6 50/80 50/80

7 50/80 50/80
8 50/80 50/80

9 50/80 50/80
10 50/80 50/80
11 50/80 50/80

12 50/80 50/80
13 50/80

14 50/80 50/80
15 50/80
16 50/80 50/80
17 50/80 50/80
18 50/80 50/80

19 50/80 50/80
20 50/80 50/80
21 50/80 50/80
22 50/80 50/80
23 50/80 50/80

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 A B C D E F
1.8 bar1 1.8 bar 1.8 bar 1.8 bar 2.4 bar 2.4 bar
Tyre loaded2 loaded unloaded unloaded unloaded unloaded
No. coast-by3 cruise-by coast-by cruise-by coast-by cruise-by

24 50/80 50/80
25 50/80 50/80
26 50/80 50/80
1 tyre pressure [bar]
2 load according to table II
3 engine mode
4 testing speed [km/h]

All measurements were carried out using PAK®. All data is available in 3rd
octave bands. In this report only A-weighted overall results are presented.

8
 Results
In table IV and table V the results of the noise measurements as described in
Column A and Column B of table III are given using the measurement results
at all speeds (including 50 km/h) to calculate the noise level at 80 km/h using
the logarithmic regression technique which is described in the EU directive.
Measurement results are given for ISO asphalt (denoted by “ISO 10844”) and
double layered porous asphalt (denoted by “DPA”).

table IV Noise emission for different tyres at 80 km/h using the Peugeot
No. Brand Type coast-by cruise-by coast-by cruise-by
ISO 10844 ISO 10844 DPA DPA
1 Goodyear Eagle NCT 2 - - - -
2 Pirelli P3000 Energy 72.9 - 67.5 -
3 Michelin Energy XT-1 72.0 - 67.4 -
4 Pirelli P 3000 Energy 72.9 - 67.6 -
5 Semperit Sportlife 71.2 - 66.7 -

6 Continental ContiEcoContact 72.4 73.1 67.7 68.3

EP
7 Goodyear GT3 71.5 72.1 67.5 68.3
8 Kormoran Impulser 73.3 73.4 68.3 68.5

9 Michelin Energy XT-2 73.8 74.3 68.0 68.3

10 Pirelli P 3000 Energy 72.6 73.2 67.8 68.4
11 Pirelli P 5000 Drago - - - -

table V Noise emission for different tyres at 80 km/h using the Volkswagen
No. Brand Type coast-by cruise-by coast-by cruise-by
ISO 10844 ISO 10844 DPA 10844 DPA

12 Continental ContiEcoContact 73.8 74.1 68.6 69.1

CP

13 Pirelli P6 72.9 - 68.6 -

14 Michelin Energy XH-1 72.1 73.3 66.9 67.9

15 Hankook K406 70.6 - 66.0 -

16 Goodyear Eagle NCT 5 71.6 72.3 67.2 67.9

17 Yokohama AVS dB 500 69.5 70.0 65.7 66.2

18 Continental ContiPremium- 71.7 72.0 67.4 68.0

Contact

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No. Brand Type coast-by cruise-by coast-by cruise-by
ISO 10844 ISO 10844 DPA 10844 DPA

19 Michelin Energy XH-1 72.9 73.1 67.6 68.4

20 Goodyear Eagle NCT 5 71.1 71.6 67.4 68.2

21 Bridgestone Turanza ER 70 72.4 72.4 66.7 67.4

22 Hankook 866 70.5 71.1 66.7 67.4

23 Vredestein Sportrac 72.6 72.8 67.1 68.0

24 Continental ContiPremium- 71.6 72.1 67.3 68.2

Contact

25 Pirelli P Zero Rosso 73.5 73.5 66.7 67.6

Assimetric

26 Vredestein Snowtrac 73.4 73.9 66.8 67.4

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 Results according to the EU directive
In figure 4 the noise emission of 23 tyres is presented as they were measured
according to the EU directive. These values were calculated using only the
measurements which are appropriate for this matter. The prescribed
temperature correction is included, values are rounded to the lower whole
number, and 1 dB(A) is subtracted.

76

75
EU Noise Level [dB(A)]

74

73

72

71

70

69

68
165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235

Nominal Section Width [mm]

figure 4 EU Noise levels of 23 tyres as a function of the nominal section widt; the size of a dot
represents the number of tyres with a certain noise level ranging from 1 (smaller dot) to 3
(larger dot). The discontinuous line represents the EU limit values which become effective
between 2003 and 2005.

All tyres already meet the EU limit values which will become effective between
2003 and 2005.

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 Tyre/road noise reduction of double layered porous asphalt
The difference between the most noisy and least noisy tyre at the ISO asphalt is
measured to be 4.4 dB(A); at DPA this difference is only 2.9 dB(A), both under
coast-by measurement circumstances. The noise emission of the noisier tyres at
ISO asphalt seems to be better reduced at DPA than the more silent tyres at
ISO asphalt, as can be seen in figure 5.

75
Coast-by noise level at DPA [dB(A)]

73

71

69

67

65
65 67 69 71 73 75

Coast-by noise level at ISO [dB(A)]

figure 5 Relation between coast-by noise level at ISO asphalt and at DPA at a speed of 80 km/h,
measured at 1.2m height. The dotted line represents a 1:1 relationship, which is drawn to
visualize the deviance of the measured data from a 1:1 relationship.

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 The effect of the engine
During coast-by only rolling noise is measured. During cruise-by both rolling
noise as well as driveline noise is measured. In figure 6 the relation between
coast-by and cruise-by measurements at ISO asphalt at a speed of 80 km/h is
presented. Driveline noise only differs between cruise-by measurements using
the Peugeot or the Volkswagen. However, the measured cruise-by noise levels
indicate a strong relation (correlation coefficient of 0.93) with the measured
rolling noise levels, indicating a strong dominancy of rolling noise over
driveline noise at this speed. As a conclusion it can be stated that silent tyres are
very effective to reduce road traffic noise at higher speeds.

76
Cruise-by noise level at ISO [dB(A)]

74

72

70

68
68 70 72 74 76

Coast-by noise level at ISO [dB(A)]

figure 6 Relation between coast-by and cruise-by noise level at ISO asphalt at a speed of 80 km/h at
a measurement height of 1.2m. The dotted line represents a 1:1 relationship, which is drawn
to visualize the deviance of the measured data from a 1:1 relationship.

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 The effect of vehicle load and tyre pressure
The results of the remaining coast-by measurements at the ISO asphalt (see
table III) are given in table VI.

table VI Effect of vehicle load and tyre pressure on the noise emission of tyres
Tyre number loaded 1.8 bar unloaded 1.8 bar unloaded 2.4 bar
[dB(A)] [dB(A)] [dB(A)]

1 - - 71.5

2 72.9 71.5 71.2

3 72.0 70.9 -

11 - 72.0 -

The addition of a load results in an increase of the noise level of tyre 2 and 3 of
1.4 and 1.1 dB(A) respectively. A higher tyre pressure results in a decrease of
the noise emission of tyre 2 of 0.3 dB(A).

The effect of measurement height

In table VII the average results of coast-by measurements are given for
different heights at the two surfaces.

table VII Average coast-by levels at heights of 1.2m, 3.0m, and 5.0m.
ISO ISO ISO DPA DPA

Tyres 1.2m 3.0m 5.0m 1.2m 5.0m

Tyres mounted at 72.5 71.9 70.5 67.6 67.6

the Peugeot

Tyres mounted at 71.9 71.1 69.8 67.0 66.9

the Volkswagen

All tyres 72.1 71.4 70.1 67.2 67.2

At ISO asphalt lower noise levels are measured at higher measurement

positions, which is in accordance with the larger travelling distance of the
emitted sound for the higher measurement positions.
At DPA no significant difference between the noise levels at 1.2m and 5.0m
height is measured. This may be due to the large sound absorption, which arises
from the extension of the double layered porous asphalt over the whole sound
transmission area. This absorption mainly influences the noise transmission
near the ground surface, resulting in a lower noise level at the measurement
position at 1.2m.

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 Literature
[1] M.S. Roovers, “Studie naar de effecten van een regeling stille banden” (“Study of
the effects of a regulation for silent tyres” – in Dutch), M+P report
M+P.KPMG.02.1.1rev0, December 6th 2002;
[2] EU-directive, “Directive 2001/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 27 June 2001 amending Council Directive 92/23/EEC relating to
tyres for motor vehicles and their trailers and to their fitting”, Official Journal
of EU, L 211/25, August 4th 2001;
[3] ISO 10844, “Specification of test tracks for the purpose of measuring noise
emitted by road vehicles”, Geneva, Switserland, 1994.

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