Questions on powertrain and seating configurations aside, the all-new 2024 Honda CR-V that's just been launched in Malaysia also comes with a rather novel feature – noise reducing wheels.

Limited to the highest, price-to-be-announced RS e:HEV variant, this set of noise reducing wheels isn't a first for Malaysia (the 10th-gen Accord had it as well), but...how does it work?

In simple, succint terms: "We apply a sponge-like material to the inner side of the wheel, which improves the noise and vibration performance," surmised the CR-V's Large Project Leader, Eisuke Sato.

Going deeper, its about cancelling the resonance that occurs in the tyres' hollow cavities when driving over uneven surfaces. It's essentially the same principle when bouncing a basketball or a volleyball on the floor, only that this sound travels into the cabin.

Also read: All-new 2024 Honda CR-V launched in Malaysia - 4 variants, including hybrid, from RM 159,900

This is called pipe resonance. It's something that naturally occurs when a sound wave is created near an air-filled pipe (in this case, tyres), creating a sound wave within the pipe which amplifies the original sound. The positives? It's how most musical instruments work. The negatives? It's not wanted in cars, because it transfers road noise to the cabin.

Utilising the knowledge that pipe resonance frequency depends on the shape and capacity of an air container (which is why a basketball and a volleyball sounds different), so by determining the tyre size, the engineering principle then is to generate a sound that cancels out this frequency, thereby suppressing pipe resonance.

Essentially, what this 'sponge-like material' – the resonator – does is vibrates at the same frequency as pipe resonance, effectively cancelling the unwanted pipe resonance.

Also read: Over 2,000 Malaysian bookings for the all-new 2024 Honda CR-V collected in a month

Note, however, that since tyre size was taken into account by the manufacturer, owners will likely need to maintain the same tyre size when changing them later on. However, this noise-reducing tech only applies to the wheel, so the tyres are just regular SUV tyres.

Studies show these Honda-developed noise-reducing wheels reduce sound frequencies at around 220 Hz.

These resonators are made of lightweight resin, and are fitted to the rim barrels without bolts, and are able to withstand up to 1,500 G during high-speed driving. This multi-chambered design is the second generation of the product that was first introduced in 2010.