Sound deadening tips?

[ambitio]

A personal luxury car is a North American classification for sporty, sophisticated mass-market coupés that prioritize comfort over raw performance. Iconic examples include the hand-assembled Continental Mark II, the sleek Studebaker Avanti, the Packard Caribbean, and of course, the venerable Thunderbirds. While not strictly classics, modern takes, like the Mercedes SL or our Retro Birds, fit the bill too.

From the day I bought my Bird, it's been a joy to drive as, likely, Ford's last take on personal luxury. But I've always felt the comfort angle falls short in one key area: road noise. I remember venting here about how surprisingly loud these cars can be. So, has anyone had success adding sound-deadening layers to wheel wells, the convertible top storage, doors, or similar spots?

[merlot4]

While this isn't going to get rid of all noise, Reza, the type of tire is one contributing factor.

[DavidA]

i agree, tires are the key. When I put on the set of Nokian tires, I was amazed at how quiet the car became. It's been 5 years now and they are still quite and probably the best wet road tires I've ever had.

[ambitio]

Thank you, Richard.

I’m running a set of tires from about five years ago, rated as some of the quietest back then. After watching one of Bob’s YouTube videos, I noticed the bare metal under the convertible top, which seems to resonate and amplify road noise. I’m curious if anyone’s explored sound-deadening solutions specifically for that area or found other effective spots to tackle the noise without major mods.

[007Cruiser]

I don’t have any magic answers but I agree with the others that tires are your best answer. Do some research to find today’s quietest tires and make the switch. Reality is that you’ll hear lots of things in a convertible . At five years you’re probably due for new tires anyway so try making a switch. I hope it works for you.

[007Cruiser]

I just did an AI search for quieting a vehicle. The number one answer was the same as here. New tires. I then searched for quiet tires with the following results:


Top Quiet Tire Models
The following specific models consistently rank highly for their low noise levels in professional tests and consumer reviews:

Turanza QuietTrack	Bridgestone	QuietTrack Technology (optimized tread design, in-groove quiet tracks)	Sedans, CUVs, Luxury vehicles, EVs
Defender 2 / LTX M/S2	Michelin	Acoustic Technology (foam insert) and optimized tread design	Sedans, SUVs, Light Trucks
Primacy MXM4 / Tour A/S	Michelin	Comfort Control/Acoustic Technology (optimized tread, foam insert)	Luxury sedans, Coupes, SUVs
TrueContact Tour	Continental	ContiSilent Technology (foam insert), EV compatible design	Cars, CUVs, EVs
P7 All Season Plus 3	Pirelli	PNCS (foam insert) and computer-tuned asymmetrical tread pattern	Sedans, Coupes
Assurance ComfortDrive	Goodyear	SoundComfort Technology (foam insert), noise-reducing tread	Passenger cars, CUVs,

[007Cruiser]

Most of those use some sort of foam insert. I’m unfamiliar with that technology but many seem to use it. Good luck with your search.

[ambitio]

Thank you Gene

Very much appreciate all the effort. With these tires getting old, I will get the bird a new set from the list next spring, when she comes out of the winter slow months.