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Wheel Well Sound Deadening

Sound Deadening Wheel Wells to Stop Tire Noise

Author: Eric Zuck

Last Updated: January 9, 2024

Read Time: 7 Minutes

Sound Deadening Wheel Wells to Stop Tire Noise

Author: Eric Zuck

Last Updated: January 9, 2024

Read Time: 7 Minutes

Author: Eric Zuck

Last Updated: January 9, 2024

Read Time: 7 Minutes

Author: Eric Zuck

Last Updated: January 9, 2024

Read Time: 7 Minutes

Author:

Eric Zuck

Last Updated:

January 9, 2024

Read Time:

7 Minutes

Author: Eric Zuck

Updated: Jan. 9, 2024

Read Time: 7 Minutes

A freshly paved road is pleasantly quiet and smooth, but the reality is, we spend wayyyy more time on bumpy, rough surfaces than smooth pavement. It makes it nearly impossible to hear phone calls, music and each other!

Sound deadening your wheel wells is one of the most overlooked and underappreciated treatments in the industry, able to make your vehicle perceivably 20-30% quieter, and you never have to get inside the car!

Whether you drive a commercial truck, sports car, or hot rod, our sound deadening paint for metal will reduce road noise. Yes, even Jeep Wrangler road noise.

A freshly paved road is pleasantly quiet and smooth, but the reality is, we spend wayyyy more time on bumpy, rough surfaces than smooth pavement. It makes it nearly impossible to hear phone calls, music and each other!

Sound deadening your wheel wells is one of the most overlooked and underappreciated treatments in the industry, able to make your vehicle perceivably 20-30% quieter, and you never have to get inside the car!

Whether you drive a commercial truck, sports car, or hot rod, our sound deadening paint for metal will reduce road noise. Yes, even Jeep Wrangler road noise.

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Popular Wheel Well Sound Deadening Materials


EXTERIOR Wheel Well Soundproofing
Spectrum™ Wheel Well Soundproofing Kit
Reduce cabin noise by 25-35% without treating inside the vehicle
Most cost-effective and fastest way to reduce vehicle noise
Easy to brush, roll, or spray into wheel wells
INTERIOR Wheel Well Soundproofing
Full Vehicle Soundproofing Packages
Reduce cabin noise by 50%+ by treating structural & airborne noise
Damplifier Pro + Luxury Liner Pro for unmatched noise reduction
Custom package sizes to soundproof any vehicle

Why Soundproof Wheel Wells?

The wheel well is the first place that gets vibrations from the tire. That's why we recommend that folks with road noise consider soundproofing the wheel wells! Road noise is caused by two things: tire type and road conditions. Sound deadening truck wheel wells is even more important because of the types of tires used. Your wheel wells are directly above the road and they surround the tires, so attack the noise at its source by deadening vibrations there first. If you happen to be restoring an old car with fender skirts, a pair of your tires are nearly covered up by the body of your vehicle, which means there’s more metal catching tire vibrations.

As road noise from your tires travels into your vehicle through the wheel wells, it makes its way into the quarter panel, then spreads to the side panels, doors, and floor. As those vibrations travel, they become less and less noisy. If you catch them at the source (your wheel wells), you’ll make a big dent in soundproofing your vehicle. Soundproofing the wheel wells is an excellent treatment, because you can do the full project without getting into the vehicle's interior. For the best results, combine your wheel well treatment with sound deadening materials inside the car.

Let’s take a look at a few different scenarios where it would pay to install wheel well insulation.

offroad jeep

Scenario A

The owner of a 2001 Jeep Wrangler lives on a dirt road. He has trouble listening to the radio in his car on the way to work every day because loud road noise makes it difficult to hear. He wants a quieter ride, but doesn’t want to give his car a full soundproofing treatment.

Our recommendation: This vehicle owner should install Spectrum spray on deadener inside the wheel wells. Spectrum is the best vibration damping material for wheel wells because it's an easy to install high-heat, water based, viscoelastic polymer. The curvature of a wheel well is best suited for a liquid sound deadener like Spectrum. It's easy to apply, waterproof, durable, and has rust inhibiting properties.

Scenario B

The owner of an F150 Super Crew diesel truck is annoyed by how loud the diesel engine in his work truck is. He often has to make phone calls from the road, and the amount of noise coming from his vehicle makes it nearly impossible to hold a conversation.

Our recommendation: Start by applying the same Spectrum liquid sound deadener to the wheel wells. Then cover the interior metal with the Damplifier Pro sound deadening mat and a mass loaded vinyl sound blocking layer on the inside of the truck. Luxury Liner Pro™ is our best automotive noise barrier, and is the best available solution for soundproofing out diesel noise.

Scenario C

The new owner of a 1969 Pontiac GTO is beginning full car restoration project. He has stripped out the entire interior, because this car is being built from the ground up.

Our recommendation: Because you’re dealing with a wide open piece of metal, you want to spray down the entire metal body with Spectrum spray on deadener. Do the entire interior of the car to deaden the metal and add a good bit of thermal insulation. You should also use Spectrum as an undercoating and inside the wheel wells to get the exterior metal as well. As an added benefit, Spectrum contains rust inhibitors and will protect your new baby from road debris. Combine that Spectrum treatment with Luxury Liner Pro™ MLV on the floor to block out road noise and Heat Wave Pro™ on the roof to help keep the cabin cool.

1969 Pontiac GTO treated with Spectrum

The last thing to note when we’re talking about wheel wells is that most vehicles simply don’t come equipped with great soundproofing. Manufacturers skimp on wheel well insulation and when you take your vehicle off road (or you drive on poorly maintained roads), the absence of insulation can be very noticeable in certain vehicles. Although wheel well soundproofing isn’t the end all solution, it’s a critical component and will go a long way towards a more enjoyable ride.

Second Skin Case Study: Spectrum™ Wheel Well Treatment

 

 

wheel well before sound deadener

Before

"Amazing Product. Probably the most noticeable upgrade to my car's quietness."

- Raphael S.

wheel well after sound deadener

After

How to Reduce Road Noise From Tires

STEPS to sound deadening wheel wells

If you’re ready to attack road noise from the ground up, it’s time to soundproof the wheel wells. We recommend wheel well sound deadening as just one part of a well-rounded soundproofing project.

    1.  Prepare your vehicle
    2.  Check for rust
    3.  Apply Spectrum™ Spray on Deadener to the exterior wheel wells
    4.  Treat the interior wheel wells for maximum results

STEP 1: Prep Your Vehicle 

You’ll need to start by lifting the vehicle on either a mechanic’s lift or jack. Once at a comfortable height, remove the wheels and plastic wheel liners. Then, cover the surrounding frame and rotor with plastic or masking tape. Although you want to spray as much of the metal areas of your wheel wells as you can, you don’t want your wheel hubs gunked up with viscoelastic polymer.

STEP 2: Check For Rust

Look into each wheel well and examine for signs of rust. If it’s a newer vehicle or has already been effectively undercoated, simply give the wheel well a quick cleaning and move on to the next step.

If you do see rust, you’ll need to scrub it off with a wire brush. A primer is not necessary, as Spectrum will adhere strongly to metal, wood, and most other surfaces besides plastic. When applying Spectrum to metal, make sure your first layer is no more than 1mm thick. Spectrum adheres best to itself, so you can be a little more aggressive if doing multiple layers after the first one dries.

INSTALLATION TIPS

If applying Spectrum to plastic or a high-gloss surface, you are going to need to use a primer and to scuff up the surface a bit. We recommend using POR-15.

A thinner first layer is always better, because Spectrum adheres best to itself.

STEP 3: Spray the Wheel Well with Spectrum™

Once your wheel wells are free from dirt and rust, they’re ready to go. Spray Spectrum throughout the entirety of the wheel well, making sure to sweep the entire area in a continuous motion. For exterior wheel well applications, we recommend (3) 1mm layers for 3 total mm of thickness. If you’d like to apply Spectrum to your plastic wheel liners, you’ll need to first prep those with a primer. Plastic is one of the few material Spectrum does not adhere well to. Expect to use approximately one quart of Spectrum per wheel well. After you’re done applying Spectrum, you can re-attach the wheels as soon as Spectrum has cured. Wait 72 hours before driving.

We offer bundled Spectrum Spray Kits that include everything you need to spray on your Second Skin sound deadener. It includes a 10% discount too!

PROFESSIONAL TIPS

Spectrum does not require a gas mask, but you should work in a well ventilated area. If spraying Spectrum liquid deadener using our spray gun, use the short straw when spraying upside down and the longer straw when spraying right-side up.

A thinner first layer is always better, because Spectrum adheres best to itself.

Ant Spraying Spectrum in Jeep Wheel Wells

STEP 4: Treat the Interior Wheel Wells and Floor (RECOMmenDED)

Now that you’ve reduced road noise by deadening your vehicle's exterior metal, support it with a sound deadening and blocking on the interior as well. Use Damplifier Pro or Spectrum™ as your deadener, and a product like Luxury Liner Pro™ as your noise barrier. Your deadener of choice should be applied first on the topside of the wheel wells inside the car.

Next apply Luxury Liner Pro™ to block out any residual sound. Luxury Liner Pro™ is a 2-in-1 noise that combines a layer of high r-value, insulating closed cell foam with the mass loaded vinyl you need to really block the airborne sound waves from road noise.

Keep in mind that the average surface area of a car’s interior floor is between 35-45 square feet, so you’ll likely need 2-3 gallons of Spectrum and 4-5 sheets of Luxury Liner Pro™. If you just cover the tops of the wheel wells, it will help some, but you’ll still have plenty of sound going around your barrier and into your vehicle. The key with a noise barrier is to cover 100%.

PROFESSIONAL TIPS

With Damplifier Pro™, be sure to use a hand roller for the best results.

For Spectrum™ we recommend an 80 PSI compressor and the Second Skin spray gun. Hold the spray gun 4 to 8 inches away from the surface and apply with a slow sweeping motion. Clean your gun and bottle within 20 minutes so that Spectrum does not set inside.

The Ultimate Wheel Well Sound Deadening Bundle

Tired of hearing the road noise from your wheels and missing out on your favorite tunes or podcasts? Say no more! Our Wheel Well Sound Deadening Kit has got you covered! This easy-to-install kit will turn your noisy ride into a peaceful oasis. Our liquid sound deadening material Spectrum is designed to reduce road noise and vibration, giving you a more comfortable and enjoyable driving experience.

  • The Spectrum Wheel Well Soundproofing Kit is an external treatment that reduces cabin noise by 3-5 decibels with minimal investment and no need to access the vehicle interior.
  • The kit consists of two gallons of our Spectrum liquid sound deadening solution, which is enough to do all four wheel wells with a total thickness of 3mm (3 layers) and can be applied with a brush, roller, or spray gun.
  • Deaden vibrations at the wheel well for the easiest and most cost-effective treatment for your vehicle.

Learn More Ways to Soundproof Your Vehicle

Most cars can benefit from adding a sound deadener to their wheel wells. Even an electric vehicle can benefit from a good wheel well sound deadening treatment. Using Spectrum will help significantly cut down on Tesla Model Y road noise, for example. If you happen to drive a truck, an SUV, or a restored hot rod, or are soundproofing a van and are experiencing road noise, the wheel wells are a good place to take a hard look at. For the exterior, we recommend a liquid deadener like Spectrum. For the interior wheel wells, Spectrum works again or you can go with a sound deadening mat like Damplifier Pro. Finish off the interior with a Luxury Liner Pro automotive noise barrier and you'll have the best defense against road noise that money can buy.

If you want to lay the smack down on road noise, give us a call or shoot us a message. We'll walk you through how to get the best results possible for your vehicle!

Have questions about your project?

Call us at 1.800.679.8511