Road Noise and a Flare in Tinnitus Level

[JRS]

Tells, thanks with the undercoating suggestion. I have had no luck in finding soundproofing, $500 would be a bargain, and quieter tires maybe after that. I will look into that.

 

[Steve]

Tells, thanks with the undercoating suggestion. I have had no luck in finding soundproofing, $500 would be a bargain, and quieter tires maybe after that. I will look into that.

This is the UK site I've looked at before, looks like they are UK only but hopefully it may help out for searching for a similar supplier in your area http://www.nkgroup.co.uk/product-category/vehicles/

 

[Rube]

Tells, thanks with the undercoating suggestion. I have had no luck in finding soundproofing, $500 would be a bargain, and quieter tires maybe after that. I will look into that.

Most stereo places do dynamat interior sound proofing installs. You can try them if you haven't yet. Take some db readings before and after to see if it has helped.

 

[JRS]

I was looking for this at stereo places and they don't list it so I will call, thanks. I did find Zeibart has an undercoating but read mixed reviews and it is not convenient... Thanks, and sorry for the type on Telis' name, for some reason I cannot edit it.

 

[Thongjy]

Here's something I forgot to mention. My first couple of years with T, driving would always spike while driving every single time. Now a few years later, driving and road noises makes zero difference. It does not spike my or anything. Not sure what exactly changed this. My T level is still the same. I am still driving the same car. I suspect it is due to the fact that I am used to my own T, it rarely bothers me loud or soft. I don't really think about driving and road noise affecting my T, so I suppose it doesn't.

Short trips I use compressed cotton, it's not a lot of protection but takes it down a notch. For longer drives I use ear muffs which looks a little stupid but whatever.
You could always just undercoat your car, this helps a lot. Should cost you about 500 dollars.

is it safe to drive with obstructed hearing?

 

[Telis]

is it safe to drive with obstructed hearing?

Sure, I think so. I have driven around with my stereo turned up (as many people do) for all these years, this is the same thing as plugging your ears. I'm pretty sure deaf people are allowed to drive as well? I was never given a hearing test when I received my license.

Also, there are a ton of people on loud motorcycles along with wind noise obstructing their hearing.

If it were not safe I would imagine there would be laws against these other things.

 

[JRS]

I have been test driving vehicles known to be quiet, my ears are still not happy. I have a very high spike today, maybe it started last night. I drove vehicles for over an hour yesterday. They were nice Luxus', known for contained noise. Makes me question if i should bother even selling a car and sprnding more money, lot's more money. Very frustrsting. Will try Ginkgo Biloba when it arrives next week.

 

[Jamie]

I have taken out many cars trying to find a quieter one at the road noise spikes my T. I am in New Zealand and european cars are very expensive here, espically if they break down, the best I have found is a 4X4 ute, I'm not sure why but the bigger the wheels the less road noise. I have a ford ranger 2012 which also has a lot of sound proofing as standard. It's fine driving around town but if I'm on the open road I wear bose noise cancelling headphones, these are great at taking out that low down roar but you can still hear people talk. I will still get a bit of a spike after a long trip like this but nothing like it I wear nothing. If I come to a small town or slow down for what ever reason I take them off, I only want to wear them for the shortest time possible. Maybe a good reson to speed??

 

[JRS]

Bought a Luxus GS last week due to the seats which seem great for my back. Also had the dealer swap the tires after a lot of research To Pirelli P7 all season plus. They seem very quiet. More than i wanted to spend, not one drop of wind noise(test drove 3 and picked what i felt was the quietest. Time will tell but i think I got the right car, right color and right tires. Thanks again.

 

[Blujay]

Possibly, by the time you are ready for your next car, you won't need such a quiet one. There are many accounts of people whose sensitivity or reactive T reduced over time, and they were able to drive and ride in louder cars.

This is not your imagination. If you test-drive cars and look at a decibel meter, you'll see a huge variance between models.

Driving a car is probably the loudest thing you'll do in a day. Road noise and bumps can reach damaging levels, even for those with normal hearing. Those people just can't hear it like you can.

 

[Bobby B]

The best solution for road noise are the Bose noise cancelling earbuds
You can hear what people say and of course listen to music but the road noise is cut by a large portion
And as for cars - the latest models have to be fuel efficient and energy absorbing in terms of collision shocks so the body is built with very thin steel
Try the older larger luxury cars like an older Mercedes form the 80's or 90s or a Cadillac
Had one - whisper quiet , huge difference with the recent models even the more expensive ones

 

[Bertman]

For me, cars are my passion in life. In particular, loud, fast sports cars. I love the sound of a wailing Porsche flat-six, but my ears can't tolerate it anymore . If anyone else is like me I just read about a product called dynamat(Second skin is another brand), which is like aftermarket sound insulation that you can put under the floor carpet, on the doors and in the trunk and hood. If fully installed it can provide around 10+db reduction, so with that I hope that one day I can drive any car I want, and if I'm going to drive it hard I can put in my earplugs for good measure. But for most people, I think that with some kind of product like this, we can buy almost any car we want, not just the quietest one.

And btw, @JRS, Congrats on the new car! Post some pics if you wouldn't mind

Edit: Just saw that someone else mentioned dynamat already, guess I'm late to the party

 

[Blujay]

Noise cancellation technology is now starting to appear in less expensive cars. And Bose is working on one that works through Bose car radios.

 

[LeQuack]

I just can't get a break it seems. Today I was driving as usual on the freeway and a rock must've hit the windshield, but it sounded so loud, like a small explosion. Seriously, I've had pebbles hit my windshield before but this sounded like a large rock hitting it, although I couldn't see any damage. And now I'm scared of what effect it will have on my hearing an tinnitus. It just felt so loud and it came out of nowhere. Anyone else had this happen?

 

[Michael Leigh]

I just can't get a break it seems.

I have had a similar experience in the past. You could have hyperaucusis (sensitivity to sound) have you been examined at ENT and had any treatment? Do you listen to music through headphones, if so I advise you to stop even at low volumes. In the car, do you listen to music at high volume levels? If there are no other medical conditions causing the tinnitus and hyperacusis, loud noise exposure is usually the cause. Please click on the link below as you might find the posts helpful. See your Dr and get referred to ENT is my advice.
Michael
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/search/member?user_id=3134&content=thread

 

[LeQuack]

I have had a similar experience in the past. You could have hyperaucusis (sensitivity to sound) have you been examined at ENT and had any treatment? Do you listen to music through headphones, if so I advise you to stop even at low volumes. In the car, do you listen to music at high volume levels? If there are no other medical conditions causing the tinnitus and hyperacusis, loud noise exposure is usually the cause. Please click on the link below as you might find the posts helpful. See your Dr and get referred to ENT is my advice.
Michael
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/search/member?user_id=3134&content=thread

Not sure if its hyperacusis but more an extreme fear of loud noises. I can listen to headphones fine at low volume, never listen to loud music.

But today was just one of those days where things were somewhat fine or at least manageable and then this happens. A lousy pebble hits my windshield and of course creates a loud noise and instantly my day is ruined. That will teach me for thinking it can get better.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@LeQuack
If you have tinnitus even if it's slight, then it's not a good idea in my opinion to listen to music through headphones even at low volume.
However, it's up to you.
Take care
Michael

 

[LeQuack]

Well my T does seem higher today, so that sucks. It may just be my nerves but who knows.

Everyone who's ever experienced a rock hitting the windshield can confirm that it is usually very loud. I mean I take so many precautions and stuff so I don't get exposed to loud noises but then something unexpected like this totally screws with me. It was probably one of the loudest sounds I've experienced in the last few years, that's what has got me worried.

 

[JRS]

Update 9 Years Later:

I traded my car and did well on the trade, getting a 2015 Lexus GS at a good deal. They were updating the front end on the newer models, so they wanted to sell the remaining '15s. This Lexus has been the quietest car I have ever driven. I put Pirelli tires on it initially, and I was in heaven.

Three years ago, at around 40,000 miles, I replaced the Pirelli tires with Vredestein Quatrac Pros. They were fine for the first 10,000 miles, but then things took a turn. Shortly after I had new brakes and rotors installed, within 500 miles or less, the elevated noise began. Vredestein was great about it and sent out replacement HiTracs, but unfortunately, these were noisy too. I ended up switching back to Pirelli tires, yet the noise persisted.

At this point, I wonder if it might be my hearing. I recently had it checked and discovered I will need hearing aids. I am not sure if the noise is from hearing loss at high and low frequencies, but my tinnitus has spiked as well. I even tried three sessions of TMS therapy, and after the third session, my tinnitus reached new levels. It tends to be quieter during the day but spikes in the evening, especially when the house is silent.

I have an appointment for hearing aids next week and hope they will help. I also cannot help but wonder if part of the brake job contributed to the noise issue. Time will tell.