| DECIBELS | DESCRIPTION |
| 0 | Threshold of normal hearing |
| 10 | Normal breathing |
| 20 | Mosquito, rustling leaves |
| 30 | Whisper |
| 40 | Stream, refrigerator humming |
| 50 | Quiet office (50-6 0), normal conversation (50-65) |
| 60 | Laughter (60-65) |
| 70 | Vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, dishwasher (75) |
| 80 | Garbage disposal, city traffic noise |
| 85 | Diesel truck (84), RV (70-90), |
| subway, motorcycle (88), lawnmower (85-90) |
| PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ANY NOISE OVER |
| 90dB CAN CAUSE GRADUAL HEARING LOSS |
| 100 | Train, garbage truck, farm trac |
| tor (98), newspaper press (97) |
| NO MORE THAN 15 MINUTES UNPROTECTED |
| EXPOSURE RECOMMENDED |
| 110 | Jet flyover (103dB at 100 ft.), |
| snowmobile (105), drill/jack |
| hammer (110), power saw |
| (110), symphony orchestra (110) |
| REGULAR EXPOSURE OF MORE THAN 1 MINUTE |
| RISKS PERMANENT HEARING LOSS |
| 120 | Thunderclap (120), stereo |
| (110-125), discotheque/boom box (120) |
| 140 | Rock concerts (110-140), jet |
| takeoff (130), shotgun firing |
| (130), boom cars (145) |
Test-Result Analysis
Surprisingly, there wasn't a wide margin between the quietest and the noisiest tires for both run-flats and non-run-flats; in fact, the difference was astonishingly small, as these examples illustrate:@ 35 mph -the quietest run-flat tire measured 71dB;the quietest non-run-flat measured 68db;Difference: 3dB
Kumho Ecsta ASX
Yokohama Advan Sport
Kumho Ecsta MX
@ 45 mph -
the quietest run-flat tire measured 72dB;the quietest non-run-flat measured 72db;Difference: 0dB
@ 55 mph -
the quietest run-flat tire measured 76dB;the quietest non-run-flat measured 78db;Difference: 2dB
@ 65 mph -
the quietest run-flat tire measured 76dB;the quietest non-run-flat measured 74db;Difference: 2dB
@ 70 mph -
the quietest run-flat tire measured 78dB;the quietest non-run-flat measured 75db;Difference: 3dB
Putting things into a perspective that's easier to relate to, consider this: the total difference between the quietest tire tested at 35 mph (68dB-the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 non-run-flat) and the loudest tire tested at 70 mph (a 79dB tie between the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS EMT and the Kumho Ecsta MX XRP which are both run-flats) was only 11 decibels-or roughly the sound level of normal human breathing.
Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S (All...
Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S (All Season)
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
Sumitomo HTR ZIII