I have a 2006 Toyota 4Runner and the road and wind noise is really loud. I’m thinking of installing some sound deadening but I’m confused about what material works best. Some people say basic thin sound deadening is enough, but others add foam and say that’s just for improving speaker quality and won’t do much for road noise. I mainly want to make the cabin quieter. Any recommendations on what materials I should use? Any links would help, thanks!
Start here with these resources:
ResoNix Sound Deadening Materials Reference Info
Then check out the ResoNix Buyers Guide
These two should give you a lot of useful information about different materials, how they work, where to use them in the car, and options for various budgets and goals.
If you’re aiming to cut down on road noise, consider getting quieter tires and maybe a quieter exhaust. Wind noise can be trickier to deal with, as design features like the rearview mirrors or windshield wipers might cause noise. Also, check for any water leaks and fix the weather strips. For sound deadening, you can use Dynamat or something similar to cover resonating surfaces inside the cabin. There are even brush-on sound deadening products that can be used under carpets or behind door panels.
A lot of people overlook sound deadening, but it can really make a difference. Reducing road noise even a little bit can improve the clarity of your sound system, making everything sound better.
I did a half-assed sound deadening job on my front doors in my 4Runner. I need to do more, but I really went all out in the cargo area, and it made a big difference. I’m planning to switch to Michelin tires once my Toyo all-terrain tires are worn out for a quieter ride.
@Fallon
What did you use in your cargo area?
Oaklan said:
@Fallon
What did you use in your cargo area?
I used Kilmat.
Oaklan said:
@Fallon
What did you use in your cargo area?
I used Kilmat.
This one? Did you add any foam with it?
Amazon Price History:
KILMAT 80 mil 36 sqft Car Sound Deadening Mat, Butyl Automotive Sound Deadener, Audio Noise Insulation and Dampening
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Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.8 (10,885 ratings)
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Current Price: $69.95
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Lowest Price: $48.99
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Highest Price: $74.99
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Average Price: $59.84
| Month | Low | High | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-2024 | $59.99 | $69.95 | ████████████ |
| 10-2024 | $59.99 | $69.95 | ████████████ |
| 09-2024 | $59.49 | $69.95 | ████████████ |
| 08-2024 | $54.99 | $69.99 | ██████████ |
| 07-2024 | $54.99 | $69.99 | ██████████ |
Source: GOSH Price Tracker
^(Bleep bleep boop. I am a bot here to serve by providing helpful price history data on products. I am not affiliated with Amazon. Upvote if this was helpful. PM to report issues or to opt-out.)
Oaklan said:
@Dell
Good bot. What about this one?
Amazon Price History:
Amazon Basics Car Sound Deadener, 9.8” x 15.7” (34-Piece)
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Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.7 (578 ratings)
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Current Price: $66.39
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Lowest Price: $39.99
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Highest Price: $70.50
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Average Price: $58.06
| Month | Low | High | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01-2025 | $66.39 | $66.39 | ██████████████ |
| 12-2024 | $61.64 | $66.83 | ██████████████ |
| 11-2024 | $49.16 | $62.20 | ██████████ |
| 10-2024 | $61.50 | $61.63 | ██████████ |
| 09-2024 | $61.40 | $64.00 | ██████████ |
Source: GOSH Price Tracker
^(Bleep bleep boop. I am a bot here to serve by providing helpful price history data on products. I am not affiliated with Amazon. Upvote if this was helpful. PM to report issues or to opt-out.)
Oaklan said:
@Dell
Good bot. What about this one?
Save your money. Kilmat is one of the worst performers on the market.
Sometimes the tires are what makes the ride noisy. If you have grabber or mud tires, they can be loud. I’m not sure about materials, but whatever the stock car has probably isn’t great, so go with what’s recommended. I had an older Tahoe with a hole in the floor, and it was really loud. As long as the material you use blocks all the gaps, you shouldn’t have much noise. Based on what I know from physics… I’d say start with foam, then cover it with something before it dries. The noise will bounce around between the door, foam, and the insulator. Maybe even add foam again if you have room for the door panels.
@Zhen
Let the foam dry before you put the door back on, or you’ll regret it later when you can’t reach anything. Also, if you cover too much, it might be hard to work on the car later.
Here’s a link that compares sound deadeners without foam. I don’t know if foam helps, but I’ll be watching this thread to see what others think.
@Perry
This test includes some products with a foam layer, but CCF doesn’t do much for panel damping, which is the focus of this test. CCF is just a basic decoupler, nothing more.