HOW CAN I STOP MY KIA BEING SO NOISY THAT I CAN’T TALK TO A PASSENGER?

Q I have a 2018 Kia Ceed 1.4 T-GDI First Edition, which I love – apart from the fact it’s the loudest car I’ve ever driven. The problem seems to be road noise, to the extent that it’s impossible to have a conversation with a passenger. It was so bad that I even paid to have the car stripped out and insulated with extra sound deadening, but the difference has been negligible. Should I try smaller wheels – or have you any other ideas? JC

A Road noise at speed is sadly one of the less wholesome attributes of the latest Ceed, and it is a characteristic a few of us road testers have already noted, so you aren’t alone. That said, I don’t recollect it being an issue to quite the extent you describe in the Ceeds I’ve driven.

You’ve gone to quite some lengths to try and soundproof your car, but the difficulty you have is that road noise can resonate through the entire structure, with the body of the car acting like an acoustic box to transmit the drone through to the cabin, irrespective of how much sound deadening you use.

You’re right that one option could be to fit your car with smaller wheels and tyres. The majority of road noise comes from the sound your tyres make as they roll over the tarmac. Fitting smaller wheels results in narrow tyres, and less rubber making contact with the road; consequently, road noise is reduced.

There are a few downsides to this: firstly, you’ll have to tell your insurance company you’ve modified the car. You’ll also have to fit higher-profile tyres that match the rolling radius you currently have, so that your

speedometer’s accuracy isn’t compromised. These narrower, taller tyres may slightly compromise your car’s handling, reducing grip and increasing body roll.

What’s more, you’ll find that if you change the wheels on your car, you’ll invalidate its warranty (though you may find you’ve already done so by fitting more sound deadening; the manufacturer will probably class this as a modification, too).

Quite a few downsides, then, apart of course from the expense, and I suspect you’d be disappointed by the results you’d get, as the gains wouldn’t be vast.

A less costly option would be to try a new set of tyres; this can make a difference. I’ve had a look around, and it seems the quietest-rated tyre available in your tyre size is the Michelin e.Primacy. Fitting a set of these will probably be a cheaper option than changing the wheels entirely, though again the improvement probably won’t be huge.

One other thought occurs: road noise can also be caused by a mechanical fault, such as a wheel bearing. I’d consider this unlikely, given the car is so new and the problem has been present since you bought it – but it might be worth getting it checked.