There’s no doubt that a quiet ride is one of the most important goals of any tire, but it’s hard to achieve when vehicle performance demands product performance. Hankook says it has solved the problem with a new Sound Absorber technology that will be used on Audi’s Q Line tires. Hankook says the technology is currently only available on the Ventus S1 evo2 SUV but is in the process of applying it to other sizes and products.
These are mostly low-profile UHP tires. Excessive noise can be due to many factors, including compound, construction, and tread pattern. In this case, the problem is the increased cavity noise characteristic of lightweight, low-profile tires. Less noise without sacrificing fuel efficiency To help manage noise, Hankook technologists used a noise-absorbing sheet of polyurethane foam that’s attached to the inside of the tire using Sealguard material.
Hankook says the technology reduces tire noise by more than five decibels, which in turn gives drivers the impression that road noise has been reduced by more than 50 percent. The internal foam cushion adds 450 grams of weight to the tire, but Hankook engineers assure that it is placed inside the tire, not engineered into the tread or sidewall, and it will not affect fuel efficiency.
Do quiet tires improve driving? The system is not unique to Hankook, and similar solutions are used in Pirelli and Continental’s ContiSilent noise suppression system. Such a tendency is traced because EU countries are more favorable to manufacturers of “quiet” tires, giving them advantages in the market. The notorious EU Tire label is a vivid example. Since the noise cushion is inside the wheel, without any changes to the tire structure or tread, the tire must provide the same level of drivability as without special technology.
