Tire noise

[Thelt]

Do you guys get a lot of noise coming from the tires at freeway speeds? Mine has always had more tire whine than I thought it should. I am on my second set of tires and they both did it.

 

[m4dc0w]

Depending on the size and type of you tires, you will always get some noise at freeway speeds.

-mc

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

I'm getting more tire noise as mine are getting some more miles on them. When I first installed them, they were real quiet. Rotating them helped a little.
According to Ford, the correct way to rotate tires on these is to cross the two rear tires side-to-side, then rotate them to the front.
I.E. Left rear to right front, Right rear to left front, left front to left rear, right front to right rear.

Doing it this way seems to make a difference in how nice the tires wear.

 

[Thelt]

It has Michelin LTX M/S on it when I bought it and they were loud. When they wore out I replaced them with a store brand tire Savero with highway tread but they are still loud.

I have just learned to tune it out I guess but I test drove a new car the other day and the difference was very obvious.

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

You sure it's tires and not a wheel bearing?

 

[tower]

Or the rear end?

 

[Thelt]

You sure it's tires and not a wheel bearing?

No not really, how would I tell the difference? It sounds more like it is coming from the back. I have not had any other issues to make me suspect the rear. It does not have any shudder.

 

[tower]

Does the noise change when you make a turn? Does it change when you come off the gas at highway speed?

 

[James909]

According to Ford, the correct way to rotate tires on these is to cross the two rear tires side-to-side, then rotate them to the front.
I.E. Left rear to right front, Right rear to left front, left front to left rear, right front to right rear.

Sorry about the thread hijack but I have heard that you should not rotate steel belted tires this way because you are changing the direction of rotation. I have always heard with these tires to just rotate front to back. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

 

[Fantasymon]

I did it with my last set of tires (they had about 50k of miles on them) and they seemed to get MUCH louder. I got rid of them shortly due to the noise. I personally will only rotate from front to back for now on.

 

[Thelt]

Does the noise change when you make a turn? Does it change when you come off the gas at highway speed?

No not really.

 

[tower]

Well if the noise does not change then I would look at the tires and brakes (parking one too), but as you already changed the tires that's most likely not it.

What does it sound like you said whine is it high pitch? Steady? Next time you go really listen, change speeds, make hard turns see what the noise does.

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

Sorry about the thread hijack but I have heard that you should not rotate steel belted tires this way because you are changing the direction of rotation. I have always heard with these tires to just rotate front to back. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

That used to be the recommended procedure, but in more recent times, they've been recommending for 2WD vehicles, to cross the two fronts and rotate them to the rear, and for 4WD vehicles, to cross the two rears and rotate them to the front.

My dad and boss are still "old school" in keeping the tires on the same side for the life of them, but I've had great results in doing it the way I described. Even your owner's manual will recommend crossing the tires as I described.

Ask around at some dealerships and tire stores, and you might get varied opinions, but you'll probably get more people now that agree with crossing them during a rotation than you will keeping them on the same side of the vehicle.

 

[Thelt]

Well if the noise does not change then I would look at the tires and brakes (parking one too), but as you already changed the tires that's most likely not it.

What does it sound like you said whine is it high pitch? Steady? Next time you go really listen, change speeds, make hard turns see what the noise does.

I had the brakes done about a year ago and it did not affect the noise. I will listen closer next time I drive on the freeway. It is probably nothing though.

How hard would it be for a shop to check my wheel bearings? I need to get my oil changed soon. Unfortunately I am not much of a mechanic.....

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

Most competent experienced mechanics can take a simple road test and tell you if it's a wheel bearing that's making the noise.

For me being in the used car business, we get accustomed to common noises such as failed wheel bearings, etc. and know what to listen for and how to diagnose them. On a deserted road, get going fast enough to make the noise audible, then (traffic permitting) quickly change lanes. When you do, you're loading the side opposite of the direction you're turning, and the noise will usually either get softer or louder. For example, if you're hearing a mild howling noise coming from one of the wheel bearings, and on a left lane change, the noise goes away somewhat, that means the left side is the suspect one, as you're now loading the right side of the vehicle more than the left, taking pressure off of the left side. Another way is to have a guy up in the vehicle on a hoist running it in drive at around 50 MPH, and another guy listening at each corner for a noisy bearing.

 

[Thelt]

I am going to take it in for an oil change and inspection in a few days. I will see if they will check it for me.

I noticed today that one of my back tires is a little low. That may have made it louder than normal.

 

[Thelt]

The shop tells me that the wheel bearing is going out. They want $160 for the hub assembly and $140 to install it. Is that a bad price?

 

[tower]

That would be about right and less the Ford would charge you.

 

[Thelt]

I had it done today. It ended up being about $400. They had to get an outside shop to press it. They told me that it is still making a slight noise (I can not tell if it is wheel bearing or tires) and to bring it back in a few days so they can check it again. They think the other shop may have screwed up when they pressed it.

 

[fitlogicbmx]

when my tires started vibrating and being real loud i figured it out it was the ball bearing