Test drove a 2026 Badlands - do all Broncos have this much tire noise?

[Ratfink33]

Let's just say at 70 MPH you can't carry on a conversation and at in town speeds it's loud enough for me to wonder if I can live with it. I'd be a bit embarrassed if someone jumped into this 70,000 vehicle as I'd feel compelled to tell them it's just an off road vehicle but I'm guessing that's exactly what it is. I'd love to go play on the back roads but getting there is what worries me.

See I don't get how you folks complain about the road noise. What are you expecting, dead silence? If that's the case, go buy an explorer and get the tremor package if you want to look the part of off-road. I have a 2 door with a hard top on the rear and a beststop half convertible on the front, lifted, with 37 inch nitro terra grapplers (mud tires) and while I hear the road noise, I can still talk on the phone just fine or have a conversation with passengers at highway speeds. I think you just expect too much.

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[RadDad]

I've read that if you strike the big scary loud tire noise with your purse, it will quiet down.

 

[GoHawks63]

Sorry but I'm not sure what you are referring to as the trim level other than it's a Badlands fully loaded without the Sasquatch package.

My previous vehicle was a BMW X5. I wanted to replace it with something a bit more rugged since we camp often and spend time in Northern Michigan.

I considered the Land Cruiser (a bit watered down in my opinion) and the new 4Runner. I primarily ruled them out because I wasn't interested in the hybrid powertrain.

So I landed on a new leftover 2024 WildTrak (SAS) that has the same Goodyears that are on the vehicle you tested. When considering all three of the vehicles I mentioned, I fully prepared myself for a different driving experience than the BMW. Especially so with the Bronco since it is a brick on wheels with the aerodynamics of a barn door, not to mention that it has a removable roof and rugged off-road tires.

Maybe because I set my expectations so low on the NVH aspects, I was actually pleasantly surprised with my vehicle. I had prepared myself for much worse.

Yes, there is a bit more tire noise around town and I don't really notice the wind noise until I'm driving over 70mph. We have taken several road trips and even at speeds around 80mph, I have no issues having a conversation with passengers. Yes, the noise is a bit more than the BMW, but it's not overbearing. Quite honestly, my Mustang convertible (with the top closed) is noisier than my Bronco. Even my CTS-V can get noisy depending on the road I'm on, which I attribute to the summer performance tires on both.

 

[24GTBadlands]

There is a noise adjustment knob on the dash, if you turn to the right the outside noises become more music like.

ok I currently have no doors and no roof on this week plus SAS, I dont hear the tires at all or if I do barely. but I can hear turbo noises pretty decently. Mine is raised 3 inches maybe the noise stays down cuz I am higher off the road LOL

 

[BillyB]

Guys,
I want a Bronco so bad. I've been test driving several different Badlands (non Sasquatch) and I'm not sure I can live with the tire noise on this vehicle. Do all full size 4 door Broncos make this much tire noise?

TIA

U want The Filson...wait for it, and save up more $$...then go for it !!!

 

[rbroncotx]

Half of what you're hearing at 70 is wind off the frameless doors and mirrors, not the tires — run it at 45 on rough pavement if you want to isolate the tire hum. Also check the pressures, lot cars sit at 40+ PSI and that alone will make an all-terrain roar.

 

[MEDISN]

2023 Wildtrak SAS with stock GY and conversation is easy with the roof off around town. Even 70mph on the interstate with windows up and no roof, I don't have to raise my voice to talk to my passenger. I raise my voice at the kids in the backseat but for different reasons

 

[vrtical]

Broncos and noise are synonymous.

 

[Blackcat]

Base, Big Bend, Outerbanks all come with 'street friendly' tires (unless you opt for Sasquatch or Black Diamond trim). Maybe test one of those and see what you think?

 

[MrBell]

Some general thoughts on road noise and my bronco experience.

I had a 23 Badlands 2 door and it was LOUD on the freeway. Swapping out the factory KO2's helped but long highway drives were fatiguing. Picked up a 4 door 25 OBX and it is much quieter. The factory General Tire Grabbers are significantly quieter (and ride far better) than the KO2's. Next I added the Hot Head roof liners that velcro into the ceiling. These don't affect tire noise, but the overall highway experience is very good. Long trips are no problem and I only hear tire noise on the roads in the worst condition.

Not sure if the OBX is better insulated than a Badlands?

 

[Summit981]

Guys,
I want a Bronco so bad. I've been test driving several different Badlands (non Sasquatch) and I'm not sure I can live with the tire noise on this vehicle. Do all full size 4 door Broncos make this much tire noise?

TIA

Yes, Broncos are loud and noisy. So, ask yourself WHY you want a Bronco. If you don’t have a use-case for this vehicle - like being an outdoorsman (hunter, fisherman, etc.), a 4x4 trail rider, a Baja runner or an overlander, etc. then this might not be the right car for your needs. I have a 2022 non-SAS Badlands and I took apart the interior and put Dynamat in it. It’s way quieter than I expected it to be but you’re still going to have wind noise, turbo spooling noise, rattling/squeaking top noises, etc. It is what it is. Otherwise, it has been a great vehicle.

 

[DBX2]

Each trim has different tires based on their intended use case.

Badlands is the most off-road capable trim, so it has more off-road oriented tires. If you get a more "daily driver" oriented trim—such as Outer Banks—it will have more road-oriented tires. If you get the Sasquatch package, you'll get rugged terrain tires, which are kind of a hybrid mud-terrain/all-terrain.

But fundamentally Bronco is an off-road vehicle shaped like a brick with a removable top, so... yes... it will be louder on the road than most other modern SUVs that you may have driven in the past.

True, but at least it will steer and stay on the road vs a Jeep!!

 

[BroncoChallenger]

Guys,
I want a Bronco so bad. I've been test driving several different Badlands (non Sasquatch) and I'm not sure I can live with the tire noise on this vehicle. Do all full size 4 door Broncos make this much tire noise?

TIA

As many others have said, if you aren't liking the road noise, you never will. They don't get quieter, not really. The roof panels make it always have wind noise, the tires, depending on what you have on them, will make road noise.

Look at the doors - they're MUCH thinner than most normal vehicles.

Look in the back of the vehicle - you can see the sheetmetal in some places by design, which means there's NO sound deadening.

From reading your first couple comments, I'd say a Bronco is not for you.

 

[ayem-bee]

Sorry but I'm not sure what you are referring to as the trim level other than it's a Badlands fully loaded without the Sasquatch package.

Yikes - complaining about noise WITH the Sound Deadening Headliner! I wonder what it would have sounded like to the OP without that add-on?

When I first test-drove my Bronco (with the soft top), I was overwhelmed by how loud the wind noise was. I was really disappointed, and couldn't believe that people put up with such noise. I almost walked away from the purchase. But then I realized two things:
- Whoever looked at the vehicle before me didn't fully close the soft-top "hatch," so there was a gap between the soft-top and the gate.
- The two rear windows were not closing/sealing correctly, and needed to be reset.
Once those two things were addressed, the noise was gone - and I became a Bronco owner.

 

[Nick72]

Guys,
I want a Bronco so bad. I've been test driving several different Badlands (non Sasquatch) and I'm not sure I can live with the tire noise on this vehicle. Do all full size 4 door Broncos make this much tire noise?

TIA

Noise is subjective, but you are looking at an offer road vehicle that is also a convertible. I had a Jeep JK; both the soft top and hard top Broncos I've had are quieter than the JK.
You can always change out the tires if it's that bad, or buy a different off-road vehicle with a non removable top.
I never thought the SAS GY M/Ts were very loud for what they were and had 30k miles when I replaced them.
My 5th gen 4runner came with Nitto Ridge Grapplers that were super quiet when new. By 15k miles they were louder than the SAS GYs at 30k.

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