Posted on 4/25/2025
If you’ve ever noticed a loud humming or whistling sound while driving—especially at highway speeds—it might not be your tires or engine. It could be your roof rack. While roof racks are great for hauling gear, bikes, or cargo boxes, they can also be the source of unexpected wind noise that quickly becomes annoying. So yes, roof racks can absolutely create extra wind noise. But why does it happen, and what can you do to reduce it without giving up the convenience? Why Roof Racks Create Wind Noise When air flows over your car, it usually moves smoothly across the roof. Adding a roof rack interrupts that flow. The crossbars, mounting brackets, and cargo carriers stick up into the airstream and create turbulence—similar to how blowing across a bottle’s opening creates a whistle. The speed of the vehicle, the shape of the rack, and even the spacing between crossbars can all affect how much noise is produced. On some vehicles, especially th ... read more