Reducing wind noise in your car starts with identifying where the wind noise is coming from and what is causing it. Once the source of the offending noise is located, you can take steps to address it—either by replacing old weather stripping, repairing obvious damage, or installing sound-deadening equipment.
Audible wind noise in the cabin is normal for any car, but sometimes it can sound as though you’ve left a window or door open with how loud it is. In many cases, faulty weatherstripping or damage to your car door is the problem and can be fixed with relative ease. But, if the source isn’t obvious, sound-deadening products, like mats or panels, may need to be installed to absorb road vibrations.
Driving down the highway with the sound of the wind howling through your vehicle can be an incredibly annoying experience. That’s why car insurance
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has put together this article detailing everything you need to know about how to reduce wind noise in your car (and how to lower your car insurance costs with our trusted quote comparison tool
). What causes wind noise in cars
No matter what sort of car you drive, there is always going to be some level of audible wind noise. After all, a two-ton hunk of metal hurtling down the highway at 70 mph will encounter some wind resistance, making the problem of wind noise completely unavoidable.
That said, as long as we understand how wind noise is created, we can take measures to reduce it—so let’s break down the three main causes of wind noise: aerodynamics, your vehicle’s seals, and changes in air pressure.
Aerodynamics
Generally speaking, the larger and more cumbersome your vehicle is, the more wind noise it generates when you are driving. If your vehicle is unable to efficiently “slice” through the air, so to speak, it will create more wind noise as it is a greater disturbance to the surrounding air pressure.
If you drive a smaller vehicle, such as a sports car, you won’t generate as much wind noise as you aren’t as great of a disturbance. So, if you hear a lot of wind noise and drive a smaller car, it’s probably for a reason other than aerodynamics.
Faulty seals
Another reason your car may be generating excess wind noise is due to bad seals, particularly the weatherstripping seals around your doors, windshield, and windows. This is especially likely if your vehicle is older or you live in a warm climate.
If the seals become damaged, the air in your cabin will take the path of least resistance and go through the cracks in your weatherstripping, creating unnecessary wind noise.
Changes in air pressure
As you drive, the air pressure inside your vehicle is greater than the air pressure outside of your vehicle. Because of this, the air inside the cabin wants to escape to the lower pressure air outside but can only do so if it has holes to exit through.
Usually, this air is directed through vents in your vehicle. These vents are designed with the sole purpose of allowing air to escape in the quietest manner possible while maintaining proper cabin pressure. But if that air is allowed to escape by other means—such as the faulty weather stripping mentioned above—it will disrupt the proper flow and result in increased wind noise.
How to reduce wind noise in your car
Before you can reduce wind noise in your car, you’ll need to pinpoint where exactly it’s coming from. To do this, begin driving while making the cabin as quiet as possible, and listen for the noise. If possible, have a few passengers do the same to better cover the entire vehicle.
Once you’ve located the source of the offending wind noise, you can do one or more of the following:
Replace worn seals and weatherstripping around windows and doors
Clean, fix, or replace faulty door latches
Repair holes, cracks in the body, and patches of rust or corrosion
Repair or replace cracked glass
Install sound deadening mats on the floor and/or doors
Apply acoustic caulk around permanently sealed windows and soundproofing spray along your vehicle’s undercarriage
If excessive wind noise persists, even with these measures, you may be dealing with a more serious issue, in which case you should have a mechanic inspect your vehicle.
How to save money on car insurance
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