2023 A3 Sportback TFSI 35 S-Line Road Noise

[NMB123]

Hi all, I have just purchased a nearly new A3 Sportback with 2,600 on the clock from an Audi dealer. I am surprised by the amount of road noise that I have encountered on a recent 200 mile round trip to the Midlands from London. The car is running on Bridgestone Turanza tyres (18 inch) and the actual tyre noise itself does not seem excessive. However, the vibrations from the road are creating a reverberating droning noise which is present at all speeds but worse at over 60 mph and gets worse the rougher the road surface. 

The noise is present even when the car is in neutral and is coasting, so I do not think it can be the engine or transmission. It is really irritating and is spoiling the enjoyment of what, otherwise, is a very nice car. 

Has anyone else experienced this and is there a cure? Thanks

[Stevey Y]

48 minutes ago, NMB123 said:

Hi all, I have just purchased a nearly new A3 Sportback with 2,600 on the clock from an Audi dealer. I am surprised by the amount of road noise that I have encountered on a recent 200 mile round trip to the Midlands from London. The car is running on Bridgestone Turanza tyres (18 inch) and the actual tyre noise itself does not seem excessive. However, the vibrations from the road are creating a reverberating droning noise which is present at all speeds but worse at over 60 mph and gets worse the rougher the road surface. 

The noise is present even when the car is in neutral and is coasting, so I do not think it can be the engine or transmission. It is really irritating and is spoiling the enjoyment of what, otherwise, is a very nice car. 

Has anyone else experienced this and is there a cure? Thanks

Hi buy smaller wheels with higher profile tyres, 17inch, thats the main function of pneumatics it subjugates the road noise from the surfaces, unfortunately people only want BIG wheels with lower profile tyres for which there is a penalty, normally extra road noise, anything under a 50 profile will exhibit this problem.

Steve.

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply. I'll investigate that option.

[Magnet]

Hello Nick,

As Stevey says.
 I been putting a dampener on anything to do with large wheels for some time, since the trend seems to be for the largest wheels and the skinniest tyres - because they look good. Yet, you cannot see the wheels when you are sat in the car, but you are the one who suffers the adverse ride quality. 
Add to the potential of harder sidewalls, probably XL etc. and everything gets magnified. 
An equally aged friend found the ride to be not to his liking on an S.Line with skinny tyres chosen for him by his children - it went back. 
Mind, I’d not be too happy about the expense of changing wheels and tyres, but…

Interesting you mention Bridgestone, since I have been considering these on our non-Audi.

For me, I want as comfortable ride as I can get from the tyres, and as much mileage as poss. so any recommendations are welcome.

Kind regards,

Gareth.

[Guest]

Hi Gareth, regarding the Bridgestones, I had these (also 18 inch) on my previous car 2018 Audi A6 Avant S-Line and found them to be fine. Its not so much the ride, more the road noise - the tyre noise itself isnt too bad but the resonance from the wheel/surface contact is vrry irritating - a low level drone/hum.

I'm not sure whether the car can go back as I have had it for three weeks and have done around 600 miles.

However, anyone considering an A3 Sportback S-Line should be prepared for above average road noise at motorway speeds.

[Stevey Y]

13 minutes ago, NMB2024 said:

Hi Gareth, regarding the Bridgestones, I had these (also 18 inch) on my previous car 2018 Audi A6 Avant S-Line and found them to be fine. Its not so much the ride, more the road noise - the tyre noise itself isnt too bad but the resonance from the wheel/surface contact is vrry irritating - a low level drone/hum.

I'm not sure whether the car can go back as I have had it for three weeks and have done around 600 miles.

However, anyone considering an A3 Sportback S-Line should be prepared for above average road noise at motorway speeds.

Hi the Bridgestones would probably work better on the A6 but the denominator is that the A6 is a far heavier car.

Steve.

[Stevey Y]

4 hours ago, Magnet said:

Hello Nick,

As Stevey says.
 I been putting a dampener on anything to do with large wheels for some time, since the trend seems to be for the largest wheels and the skinniest tyres - because they look good. Yet, you cannot see the wheels when you are sat in the car, but you are the one who suffers the adverse ride quality. 
Add to the potential of harder sidewalls, probably XL etc. and everything gets magnified. 
An equally aged friend found the ride to be not to his liking on an S.Line with skinny tyres chosen for him by his children - it went back. 
Mind, I’d not be too happy about the expense of changing wheels and tyres, but…

Interesting you mention Bridgestone, since I have been considering these on our non-Audi.

For me, I want as comfortable ride as I can get from the tyres, and as much mileage as poss. so any recommendations are welcome.

Kind regards,

Gareth.

Hi Gareth, try TOYO PROXES my mate has just fitted those to his wife's golf and reckons its like driving on air compared to the Continentals he previously had and also reports back the wet grip is phenomenal.

Steve.

[Guest]

Pure coincidence but when i picked up my rental car at the weekend at Inverness Airport it was a '73 plate Audi A3 TFSI 35 S-Line on 18inch Bridgestone Turanza tyres. So, the identical car to mine with similar mileage. That wretched hum/droning noise (think blowing across a glass bottle top) is present from the rental car too. It must be specific to the model - probably the tyre size/profile. I am not impressed because, other than this noise which occurs at speed and on rough surfaces, the car is very good.

[Stevey Y]

53 minutes ago, NMB2024 said:

Pure coincidence but when i picked up my rental car at the weekend at Inverness Airport it was a '73 plate Audi A3 TFSI 35 S-Line on 18inch Bridgestone Turanza tyres. So, the identical car to mine with similar mileage. That wretched hum/droning noise (think blowing across a glass bottle top) is present from the rental car too. It must be specific to the model - probably the tyre size/profile. I am not impressed because, other than this noise which occurs at speed and on rough surfaces, the car is very good.

Hi it looks like time to broker the deal for other wheels or back the car.

Steve

[Guest]

Not sure the dealer will accept a return if there is no fault. The thing is, I test drove the identical car but, obviously, missed this Audi "sound".

[Stevey Y]

28 minutes ago, NMB2024 said:

Not sure the dealer will accept a return if there is no fault. The thing is, I test drove the identical car but, obviously, missed this Audi "sound".

Hi if you are happy with the rest of the car I know it means more money but go and consult your nearest wheel and tyre specialist and ask if they do a tyre that is different and may solve your problem, if not try the old how much will I get trade in for my stuff against a set of decent 17inch wheels and tyres, find out what your wheel offset is and go looking on eBay, factor in that you may have to have the wheels refurbed and new tyres but you get to keep the old wheels for when you get the car, multiple variables with this problem.

Steve.

[Guest]

Update. Got back from holiday. Picked up car from Gatwick Airport. Definitely more obtrusive noise from my car than the rental. Got the tyres checked by local tyre company. All fitted properly, all balanced well all wearing well. So, what is going on?

[backayard]

On 3/29/2024 at 7:22 PM, Stevey Y said:

Hi Gareth, try TOYO PROXES my mate has just fitted those to his wife's golf and reckons its like driving on air compared to the Continentals he previously had and also reports back the wet grip is phenomenal.

Steve.

Hi Steve was it the Toyo Proxes Comfort your mate had fitted?

[Stevey Y]

16 hours ago, backayard said:

Hi Steve was it the Toyo Proxes Comfort your mate had fitted?

Hi Richard, spot on, my mate reckons still that the ride is much quieter and the grip in the wet is excellent, running a mid range Laufenn made by Toyo on my taxi very good for the money.

Steve.

[mwwwwwm]

Hello, 

Just wondering if you resolved your noise issue? My other half has recently got herself a 2021 A3 35 tfsi s-line with 18" wheels and I'm amazed at how much road noise there is, it's really bad. 

The tyres are Hanhook ventus S1 evo3, which appear to get a decent reviews. 

There's a little bit of chatter online about the A3 being noisy but I still can't believe it can be this bad.

So other than the tyres, which I've tried at various pressures, what else could it be? 

Is it possible the car has insulation missing? 

Any advice welcome. 

Thanks

 

 

 

[Guest]

Hi, after a few weeks I'd had enough of the excessive noise and decided to cut my losses. I traded the car in for a 6 month old BMW 320i Sport.

The BMW is so much quieter. Audi ought to be ashamed of the A3. I did read reviews that mentioned excess noise but I didn't expect what I experienced. Admittedly, my previous car was an A6 Avant but the A3 was still much noisier than I think is acceptable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mwwwwwm]

Haha, yeah I think if it was my car I would do similar, she doesn't seem overly bothered but the only trouble is I have to drive it a couple of times a week and it amazes me how 'unpremium' it feels compared to other stuff.

Some people must have different tolerances to noise, a bit like some people were very accepting of the terrible Audi suspensions of old. I will get her to ask the friendly local service team what they think when she takes it in next and I will change tyre brand but I suspect the issue is not specific to this car. 

Thanks

[Guest]

Not sure changing tyres will make that much difference. I think the car lacks insulation. I did try stuffing the boot well with towels to see if it helped - it didn't.

Lack of insulation combined with low profile tyres is the cause I suspect.

Good luck. 

[Guest]

 Not sure changing tyres will make that much difference. I think the car lacks insulation. I did try stuffing the boot well with towels to see if it helped - it didn't.

Lack of insulation combined with low profile tyres is the cause I suspect.

I had forgotten I was still on this forum. I'll be leavinfg it now. Good luck.