Installing 24-in diameter pipie piles using Pre-drilling to avoid noise and vibration

[geoneeds]

For a bridge foundation, we have 24" dia open end pipe piles. I wrote the foundation report (FR), and in FR, center relief drilling was recommended if hard driving is encountered. But the contractor (for construction) suggests installing 24-in diameter pipe piles using Pre-drilling to avoid noise and vibration. If we do that we will lose a lot of capacity by side resistance/skin friction. I have seen/heard that many precast concrete piles are driven in pre-drilled holes due to hard driving (whereas concrete pile are displacement piles), but I have not seen/heard open end pipe piles(24” open end pipe piles are non-displacement piles)installed in pre-drilled holes.I am wondering whether I should change the design to drilled shaft. The soil is mostly sandy with few gravels. The ground water is deep.Thanks in advance for your suggestions.