Cutting out distractions on long drives, being able to talk easily, and improving the listening experience from your sound system: Learn how to reduce road noise in car environments, and you have all these benefits to look forward to.
In this article, we’ll explain how to cut the road noise you hear in your car dramatically. We won’t just cover how to reduce noise from passing traffic, we will also talk about how to decrease the volume of all external sounds, as well as the noise you hear from your engine.
The noise that you hear in your car can be split into 3 main categories:
- Noise from traffic
- Noise from your vehicle (engine and tires)
- Noise from the wind
These sources of noise can all make an impact on your experience as a driver or passenger. So now we’ll outline the 8 best car soundproofing methods to reduce these sounds. (These methods can also apply to trucks, trailers, and RVs).
We’ll follow this list with sections on the best approach for reducing road noise in your car, and how to use Dynamat, a car soundproofing material you’ll read a lot about in this article.
Skip to:
- Soundproof your vehicle doors
- Install sound damping mats
- Soundproof the trunk of your vehicle
- Sound deadening spray
- Buy quieter tire
- Soundproof the hood of your vehicle
- Muffle your exhaust
- Strengthen your car windows
1. Soundproof Your Vehicle Doors
Our mantra in the majority of soundproofing advice is to a) add mass and b) fill gaps. Considering that a lot of vehicle doors are thin (Jeep drivers, you know what we mean!), and small gaps can be present, soundproofing your vehicle doors could make a difference when it comes to noise entering the cabin.
Firstly, you might like to check that your doors are actually closing with a proper seal. Pay attention to this, especially if you have an older car. There might be a gap between the frame and the seal, meaning the door might not seal properly. This can let in noise, as well as disrupt your temperature control. If the seal is a little bit loose, you could fix it with super glue. But if the problem is bigger, you may want to take off the whole seal assembly and replace it (a new seal might only cost $40-50).
When it comes to adding mass, insulation is the way. You can add extra insulation to your car doors, bulking up the existing installation. This is a moderately difficult task that doesn’t necessarily need to be left to the professionals – the key thing is to avoid breaking something in your doors’ electrical circuitry. Here’s a good tutorial we found:
2. Install sound damping mats
An excellent all-round car soundproofing tactic!
Using soundproofing material is a permanent solution to invading noise in many parts of your car. Sound damping mats are excellent sound blockers that are fairly easy to add to the interior of your car. Also, they don’t give off a stench. One thing – it’s just absolutely crucial that you use the correct material. We’ll come on to how to choose sound damping mats a little further on in this section.
So where in your car can you use sound damping mats? Under your floor mats – this has the effect of blocking sound coming from your tires, which is a big source of noise in your car. The trunk, where noise comes into your vehicle from the rear wheels. The hood, where the engine makes a lot of noise. And even your doors – sound damping material can be installed within your car doors for sound insulation in the same way we have shown in the previous section.
In our view, the industry standard sound deadening material for cars is Dynamat. Dynamat is made from sticky butyl rubber that has been bonded to aluminum skin. Of course, there are cheaper versions on the market. Buy why go with a cheaper option that risks being low quality?
3. Soundproof the trunk of your vehicle
We touched on this in the previous section, but let’s give it a section of its own – because we don’t want you to overlook the importance of soundproofing the trunk and trunk lid of your vehicle.
Road noise can enter the cabin through the trunk, and there are also the squeaks that you can expect from your trunk panel. Soundproof the trunk of your car successfully, and you can reduce these noises, as well as improve the audio experience inside your car, especially your subwoofer. As with many soundproofing methods, there is also the additional benefit of heat insulation, ensuring heat doesn’t escape during the winter, and that hot air doesn’t enter during the summer.
So how to go about soundproofing the trunk of your vehicle? The best way to soundproof your trunk from external noise is to remove the panels and lay Dynamat or another sound deadening material underneath. Here’s a good tutorial we found:
This will help to block noise from outside entering your vehicle. If you have a subwoofer, you could also add a sound absorbing material on top of the Dynamat or panels above. Acoustic foam is one of these sound absorbing materials that will improve the sound quality of the sub, reducing echoes and reverberation. Lastly, check that your trunk lid’s seal is in good working order. It shouldn’t show any signs of wear or be loose. If it is, have it replaced with a new seal (also known as weatherstripping), to ensure that there are no gaps for sound to enter or escape.
4. Sound deadening spray
Does sound deadening spray really work? How can something that comes out of a can provide a discernable difference when it comes to sound blocking or sound absorption?
Sound deadening spray is made from a variety of materials – including butyl rubber, acrylic resin, and asphalt. Then there is soundproof spray foam which uses polyurethane foam insulation similar to the eggbox-shaped acoustic foam you may be familiar with from recording studios.
We recommend that you use sound deadening spray around your car as an addition to denser soundproofing material such as Dynamat. This is because when it comes to how to reduce road noise in car environments – sound deadening spray is a decent sound absorber but doesn’t have the required mass to make a huge difference to sound entering the cabin from outside.
It is especially useful for; areas that are hard-to-reach and larger areas that need a consistent coating, such as the floor of a van or truck. Consider using sound deadening spray – particularly the variety with rubberized undercoating, on the underside of your vehicle. It offers the advantages of protecting this part of the car from rust and dirt, being resistant to scratches, and waterproof.
5. Buy quieter tires
Getting the right tires can really make a difference in reducing road noise in your vehicle.
Narrow tires are quieter. That’s because there is less contact with the road, meaning less friction and vibration. You should also look out for tires with smaller grooves and the softer type of rubber. Bigger grooves give you more traction but will make more noise. As tires wear, especially if they wear unevenly, they may make more noise due to the deterioration of a uniform tread pattern
Normal cars will generally have quieter tires than off-roaders or SUVs. Also – it’s worth remembering that the surface you are driving on will make a difference to how much noise the tires make.
6. Soundproof the hood of your vehicle
Soundproofing the hood of your vehicle comes down to personal choice, we think. Depending on the type of car you drive, you might like to hear the roar when you put your foot down.
However, you might not want your engine contributing to the amount of noise in your car. Does your engine sound louder than it does usually? If this has happened almost overnight, there is a chance you might have a problem. Consider taking your car to a local service center for a check, if this is the case. If it has got gradually louder over time, the increase in noise could just be to do with age.
As with many other areas of your vehicle, if you are serious about soundproofing your car hood, Dynamat, the sound deadening material, is your friend. It will be effective in blocking sound, preventing the transfer of sound energy, and eliminating vibrations and airborne noise transmission.
7. Muffle the exhaust of your vehicle
Do you have a loud exhaust? Sports car drivers stand up!
Again, this is a preference thing – if you are lucky enough to drive a Porsche Carrera GT or Lamborghini Aventador, you might like that attention-grabbing growl that you hear from your exhaust. However, if you do want to reduce noise in your vehicle, muffling your exhaust could be the solution.
If your exhaust has got loud all of a sudden – it could suggest a problem with the silencer or that components have come loose. Get your car checked by a garage or service center.
For loud exhausts that need quietening, fit a muffler. They are easily found online and are a budget-friendly solution to an exhaust that won’t shut up. Look for a muffler that fits the exhaust of your vehicle (sizes vary). We found a good versatile exhaust muffler, see the link below:
Check exhaust muffler price on Amazon
8. Strengthen Your Car Windows
There are a couple of ways you can increase the soundproofing ability of your windows.
Firstly, check for gaps. If wind is coming through gaps around your windows, you are likely to hear a whistling noise. This could mean the gasket that fits around your windows is not providing an effective seal. If your gasket has become loose, you could fix it with glue, or simply replace it. If your gasket has become deformed over time, it will need replacing. If you can’t see any signs of wear, try giving your gasket a thorough clean, removing all dirt and grime, before considering replacing it.
If you are serious about maximising soundproofing in your vehicle and minimizing external noise, you may want to modify your car with thicker windows. However, be aware that this might also involve changing the window slot and electrical circuitry, meaning it could be an expensive job.
How to reduce road noise in car: The best approach
As always, the question of the best approach to soundproofing will be influenced by budget, objectives, and expectations.
An obvious starting point is to identify and fill any gaps and cracks which shouldn’t be there. If there are loosely fitting windows or door gaskets, these don’t require much time, or money, to fix. You should also address any mechanical problems your car has – if your exhaust or engine is much louder than normal, get your car checked.
Next, look at affixing Dynamat underneath your car flooring. This will immediately have an impact on noise coming into the vehicle from the front tires and road. Next, use Dynamat or another sound deadening material under the panels in your trunk, reducing road noise and sound from your rear tires. If it’s an especially loud engine that’s disturbing you, think about installing Dynamat in the hood of your car, too.
If it’s an audio quality issue, installing sound deadening material will keep out external road noise and improve the listening experience. Also consider sound foam spray or acoustic foam to reduce echo and reverberation, especially in the compartment where your subwoofer lives (usually the trunk).
How to use Dynamat for car soundproofing
We’ll conclude this guide with a recap on Dynamat, the car soundproofing material. You’ll learn what it is, why it is considered the ‘gold standard’ for car soundproofing, and how to use it.
What is Dynamat?
Dynamat is one of the best materials designed for car soundproofing. This flexible, thin sheeting stops the vibrations and resonance that cause noise. Dynamat works by enabling vibro-acoustic energy conversion, converting noise into silent energy
The cost of Dynamat will vary according to the type of Dynamat used and the quantity you need. You can pick up 9 24”x 12” sheets of Dynamat Xtreme for just shy of $140 on Amazon. This convenient size gives you plenty of car soundproofing options, and the Dynamat comes with a handy roller for sticking it down.
Why is Dynamat the gold standard for car soundproofing?
Dynamat is a byword for quality when it comes to car soundproofing – but why? It’s a bit of a cliche, but the proof is in the pudding. You can rely on the product because Dynamat has proven effective in stopping vibration and reducing road noise, blocking unwanted external noise, and improving the driving experience. Like any leading brand, they might not be able to claim they are miles better than the competition, but there is a reason why they have attained the status of market leader.
And it’s not just reducing road noise and improving your audio experience. Dynmat can cut out the noise of wind and rain, soften the slam of doors and trunks, and provide heat insulation that helps you keep your vehicle at the preferred temperature in all seasons.
How to Use Dynamat to Soundproof a Car
Here’s a quick tutorial for you on how to use Dynamat to soundproof a car, using the trunk as an example. These steps could also be applied to other areas of your car, including the flooring or hood.
To soundproof your car trunk using Dynamat, follow these steps:
- Clean – After removing existing panels, you should give your car trunk a good clean. Removing dirt and debris will ensure you get the best adhesion when sticking the Dynamat down.
- Measure and cut – Measure your car trunk’s dimensions so that you know how much Dynamat to buy for the job. Dynamat estimates you’ll need 20 square feet for the average car trunk. Ensure you cover the entire surface area, and cut the Dynamat at the edges of your trunk to fit properly.
- Apply sheeting – It’s fairly easy to apply Dynamat. You just need to peel off the back to reveal the self-adhesive side, before applying it carefully using the roller provided.
- Properly seal the edges – Cutting your Dynamat accurately to size will help to ensure there are no air pockets or gaps. But you must also ensure there is a tight seal all the way around the edges.
- Test for noise reduction – once you have repeated the process above until the whole trunk is covered, close the trunk and go for a test drive. There are plenty of free sound measuring apps in Google Play and the Apple Store. Download one to your phone and measure the noise level before you apply Dynamat. Then go for your test drive, measure the noise level again and note the difference.
