Imagine this: You’re driving down the road when you hear a noise, and it is noticeable. In fact, it might even be LOUD.
Maybe it occurs during specific scenarios, like when you’re traveling over a certain speed.
As you listen to the sound and try to figure out where it’s coming from, you might wonder if it’s the road you’re on. Or does it have something to do with your vehicle?
What you could be hearing is tire noise.
What can cause tire noises?
Tire noise can be the result of common problems, such as cupping, feathering and defects – like a slipped belt.
The underlying factors that may lead to those issues include driving conditions. You could get a slipped belt if you hit a pothole or it might be defective from the manufacturer.
Feathering tends to stem from the tire quality or not rotating your tires. Cheaper tires are more prone to feathering.
Cupping is a pattern across the tire. Usually, that can be a culmination of a lack of tire rotations and possibly worn out suspension components.
What does bad tire noise sound like?
If we were to describe a bad tire noise it’s almost like when you’re driving over gravel. It could also feel like you’re traveling on a tar and chip road that’s not quite paved but it’s also not gravel – it’s somewhere in between. Those are loud roads. That’s kind of what tire noise sounds like.
Why is my tire noise so loud?
You’ve got vehicles that weigh a minimum of 3,000 pounds, and the first thing that touches the road is the rubber. So, you’ve got the primary load that all the energy directly goes down, and your first point of contact is the tire.
What sounds like tire noise but isn’t?
Sounds related to wheel bearings or brakes can resemble tire noise. When bearings start to lose their lubrication they might make a roaring noise that’s similar to a tire noise. They could be commonly mistaken for each other.
If you have rust spots or lips or something like that on the brake rotors, it can create a similar type of noise.
Usually, when we’re looking into certain sounds, we have to consider all three possibilities because the noise needs to be isolated.
How to tell the difference between tire noise and wheel bearing noise?
There are a few ways we can determine if the sound you’re hearing has to do with the wheel bearing or tires.
Tires are easy. If the noise is coming from the front or rear, you can rotate the tires and see if the sound follows. With the bearing, we take a stethoscope and put it on each of the bearings and see if one is distinct.
Sometimes, we’re able to decipher if it’s a tire or bearing noise by loading up the front of the vehicle. If you put all of the weight up front and it intensifies the sound, a lot of times that’s telling us it’s related to the tires.
With bearings, they may change pitch when you’re turning.
In some cases, you can throw the tires on the wheel balancer and see if any of the tires are out of round or grossly out of balance.
HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Michelin and BFGoodrich tire dealer located in Woodbridge, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.
