Low-noise tyres for quiet roads
Due to increasing road traffic, the noise pollution of the Austrian population is also constantly increasing. The main cause of noise emissions from cars and trucks over a wide speed range is the noise generated by tyre-road contact. To reduce this noise, new, stricter limit values for the maximum permitted noise from new tyres coming onto the market have been laid down in EU Regulation 2009/661/EC. These reduce the emission limit values by 3-6 dB, depending on the tyre dimension. The rolling noise emission values are also mandatory on the new tyre stickers, laid down in the EU Regulation 2009/1222/EC, when buying new tyres, to make it easier for customers to choose.
Due to the interaction of the tyres and the road surface, the LARA project investigated the effects of these limit values with a focus on Austria's high-level road network and frequently occurring road surface types. The extent to which a reduction in noise pollution can be expected was estimated. Within the framework of the project, measurements of the pass-by level of motor vehicles equipped with tyres that meet the new limit values of the EU regulation were carried out. These tests have shown that the sound emission values currently used in the Austrian regulations to assess road noise reflect the expected emissions from road traffic well. A reduction in road traffic noise due to the new rolling noise limit values cannot therefore be expected.
Further information (in German)
This project was financed by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (bmvit) and ASFINAG as part of the FFG's transport infrastructure research programme VIF 2011.
