I had 25,000 miles on my Scorpion Verdes and although they still had 5/32 inch of tread depth left, Costco was running a sale on the Michelin's so I decided to get new tires for my XC90. I've got 20 inch wheels on my car, and while I've never found the noise obtrusive, I could honestly say the car was not super quiet. So my left brain talked me into installing an app on my iPhone (Decibel X) and finding a nice smooth patch of road, I drove that distance with the record feature on the app. I held the car at a constant 50 mph, and the radio off, but AC running, fan on low. The result was 79.5 dB, frequency weighting A. I just reran the same course, using the same conditions, but with the new tires and the result was 63.1 dB, which is astounding to me. A 3 dB difference in sound level amounts to doubling of the sound intensity, but it is commonly believed that the human ear requires a 10dB difference to perceive a doubling of intensity.
I am sure, the age of the Pirellis and the tread depth difference contributed to this difference, but I am impressed with the Michelins. It makes listening to the B&W a lot nicer now.
I am sure, the age of the Pirellis and the tread depth difference contributed to this difference, but I am impressed with the Michelins. It makes listening to the B&W a lot nicer now.
