[BruceK]

Quote:

Originally posted by Cape Cod MINI
Wondering how quiet/noisy you percieve the interior road-noise at highway cruising speeds. Does anyone have a decibel meter who could take a reading while on the motor way?

I've never understood how a car's noise level can accurately be measured in the real world - it's too subjective for valid comparisons. For instance, my wife's Nissan acquired new set of Michelins last week. To my ears, the road noise level in the car fitted with these tires dropped significantly. These new tires are quieter, but the car hasn't changed at all, has it? So what is being measured?

Interior road noise levels drop or rise considerably when the type of road surface changes during the course of a single drive - tarmac to concrete for example. Unless there is some standardized protocol to follow, and standardized road surfaces and specific tires to be used, interior noise levels are as meaningless as the treadwear number on tires.