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Without the masking effect of a combustion engine, noise from the road is much more prominent in electric vehicles (EV) and has become the dominant source of noise for drivers and passengers. Road noise however is a complex problem. Unlike engine noise, which comes from a single, well-defined source, road noise finds its origins in the road-to-tire contact. This means that there are typically 4 sources (assuming a 4-wheel vehicle) which are influenced by the roughness and profile of the road as well as the compliance of the tires. From an engineering point of view it’s easy to appreciate the added complexity compared to engine noise. In addition to the engineering complexity, there is also a supplier-OEM relationship that comes into play. Most OEMs do not manufacture their own tires and may even have multiple tire suppliers for the same vehicle. This brings on another set of complications.