I just upgraded rims and tires. I used to use Dunlop SP Sport 2000 225/50/16 tires, now I am using Pirelli P7000 Supersport Asym 225/45/17 tires. The Pirelli's are crazy loud compared to the Dunlop's. I hear the tires when speeding up and slowing down around 20mph-ish. On the freeway, there's this tire drone that is just there. Are M3's just better insulated? Is this normal?

Its most likely the tires.. P7000s are loud tires at times. Mine are quiet when they were new...gets loud as it wears. M3s are not better insulated.. that would mean more weight.

The P7000 compound seems to be made of cement. The tires are just too hard. Mine are plenty loud as well and stick about as well as oil on a pane of glass.

p7000 suck from what I have heard..........but I dunno about tire noise......I have the Dunlop Sport W-10's and they're pretty quiet.