How to Eliminate Thule Noise

[djshaunmichael]

I am getting a loud whistle noise from my aero bars when driving... anyway to eliminate that?

[riceboy22]

I am getting a loud whistle noise from my aero bars when driving... anyway to eliminate that?

Do you have them facing in the right direction? Not trying to be a smart ass, but the first time I looked at them I assumed the wider side should be towards the rear when it's actually the opposite. I don't get any whistling noise from them, so I'm assuming something must be off with yours.

[jaboki]

Do you have them facing in the right direction? Not trying to be a smart ass, but the first time I looked at them I assumed the wider side should be towards the rear when it's actually the opposite. I don't get any whistling noise from them, so I'm assuming something must be off with yours.

Picture reference to what @riceboy22 said:

[MacFady]

Like any airfoil.

[dassq5]

It also depends on which rubber inserts you have. The older Thule bars have a smooth rubber strip which lends itself to whistling noises. The newer bars have raised diagonals on the rubber strips which breaks up the airflow that causes the whistling.

[AUDuffer]

It also depends on which rubber inserts you have. The older Thule bars have a smooth rubber strip which lends itself to whistling noises. The newer bars have raised diagonals on the rubber strips which breaks up the airflow that causes the whistling.

Which can be purchased for cheap.

[eggdog]

Are the Thule Aero bars much different than the Audi bars that came with the Q5? Looks like the Thule are more aero in shape vs the Audi ones. Just wondering if anyone has had both and experienced much of a differnce between the two in regard to wind noise? I have the Audi ones but was wondering if it was much of a noticeable difference to upgrade to the Thule Aeros.

I use it with bike racks ( Thule Thru ride 535) so I don't know if it will really make much of a difference anyway.

[Tinpusher]

Leaving bars on when not actually carrying anything (an empty bike rack does not count as something) seems to be fashionable. If you are carrying something be it a bike or whatever, its going to be noisy so worrying about the noise your bars might make is a bit pointless. If you're not using them, take them off, then you wont have any extra noise.

[riceboy22]

The Thule AeroBlades are definitely quieter for me than the OEM bars. I hear almost nothing with the AeroBlades by themselves. It may not make as much of a difference though as you pointed out when you have bike racks up there. Those are going to make more noise than either set of bars.

@Tinpusher, I hear you about taking them off when not in use, but that's not always practical or convenient to do on a regular basis. I don't use them on the weekdays, but I'm not going to take them on-and-off every weekend.