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Road Noise: tires or bearing?

Posted on 9/5/23 at 3:59 pm
Posted by nolatiger711
Metairie, LA
Member since Oct 2009
767 posts
Posted on 9/5/23 at 3:59 pm
I got four new tires a month ago and they probably have around 1,000 miles on them. Also got an alignment at the same time. 130,000 miles on vehicle.

A day or two ago I started hearing a helicopter type hum. The hum is not very noticeable at speeds 20 mph or less. Also, the hum seems to go away on certain road surfaces. The sound is definitely proportional to wheel rotation and not RPM’s.

I am worried about my wheel bearings, but the sound going away makes me think just an odd wearing in moment for the tires in combo to certain surfaces, right?

Can it be anything else besides tires or bearings?
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
24984 posts
Posted on 9/5/23 at 4:00 pm to
Tire may have a slipped/broken band in it
Posted by Northshore Aggie
Mandeville, LA
Member since Sep 2022
4667 posts
Posted on 9/5/23 at 4:00 pm to
Is it louder if you move the steering wheel, like changing lanes or something
Posted by jroy64
Alexandria
Member since Mar 2023
142 posts
Posted on 9/5/23 at 4:00 pm to
i would think its the tires wearing oddly. i would go get them checked to be sure. just in case
Posted by UncleFestersLegs
Member since Nov 2010
10825 posts
Posted on 9/5/23 at 4:01 pm to
Helicopter is thump thump thump afaik
Posted by Northshore Aggie
Mandeville, LA
Member since Sep 2022
4667 posts
Posted on 9/5/23 at 4:01 pm to
Could also be one out of balance if it lost a weight or something
Posted by Boudreaux35
BR
Member since Sep 2007
21465 posts
Posted on 9/5/23 at 4:03 pm to
What vehicle?

What size and type tires?
Posted by LSUDad
Still on the move
Member since May 2004
58744 posts
Posted on 9/5/23 at 4:04 pm to
If all it is, road noise at certain speeds, could be the tire tread design. Google the tire name and road noise, see if anything pops up.
Where you located?
Posted by Boudreaux35
BR
Member since Sep 2007
21465 posts
Posted on 9/5/23 at 4:04 pm to
quote:

Can it be anything else besides tires or bearings?


yes
Posted by Boudreaux35
BR
Member since Sep 2007
21465 posts
Posted on 9/5/23 at 4:08 pm to
My experience with bearing failures is the sound is not a "hum" but more of a deep roar kinda like wind noise. The noticeable thing is that the sound is much louder and deeper than wind noise should be at the speed traveled. Sound would be more expected at highway speed but you might be only going 40mph or even less.
Posted by SeaBass23
VA
Member since Jul 2019
1586 posts
Posted on 9/5/23 at 4:40 pm to
quote:

y experience with bearing failures is the sound is not a "hum" but more of a deep roar kinda like wind noise. The noticeable thing is that the sound is much louder and deeper than wind noise should be at the speed traveled. Sound would be more expected at highway speed but you might be only going 40mph or even less.


When my bearing went out it was similar to this. Also, there is more of a metallic noise (light grinding noise)
Posted by nctiger71
North Carolina
Member since Oct 2017
1320 posts
Posted on 9/5/23 at 4:43 pm to
We’ve got a 2020 Toyota Avalon that makes what I think is tire noise because I hear it on some road types and not others. The noise seems worse on black asphalt roads. Does not have a noticeable noise on white concrete surfaces. The car & tires have 40,000 miles on them.

If you just started noticing the noise after getting new tires that probably the source.
Posted by gmac8604
Green Bay, WI
Member since Jun 2012
1095 posts
Posted on 9/5/23 at 4:44 pm to
What are you driving? Does the steering wheel shake at 20mph or above? If it shakes, I think it’d be an alignment/balance issue with the new tires.
Posted by Boudreaux35
BR
Member since Sep 2007
21465 posts
Posted on 9/6/23 at 7:55 am to
quote:

what I think is tire noise because I hear it on some road types and not others. The noise seems worse on black asphalt roads. Does not have a noticeable noise on white concrete surfaces


Concrete road surfaces tend to mask those types of noises because if the joints in the surface. Asphalt roads (at least newer ones) will provide a more consistent surface at least for a distance long enough to hear those repetitive sounds.

At 40K miles, your tires have established the wear pattern. If it is a wear issue, there isn't much you can do at that point. Wear issues need to be addressed quickly.
Posted by Macfly
BR & DS
Member since Jan 2016
8065 posts
Posted on 9/6/23 at 8:15 am to
Many times wheel bearings make more noise when cornering as a result of more load on them. Maybe listen for a metallic noise also.
Posted by CVW
Member since May 2018
18 posts
Posted on 9/6/23 at 8:27 am to
Might also replace the gear oil in rear differential. Could be low on fluid. Normally replace every 60-80,000 miles
Posted by glassart
Member since Apr 2021
292 posts
Posted on 9/6/23 at 9:06 am to
It’s not the bearings. They would make a noise at every speed and particularly when you turn the wheel hard and make a sharp turn.

It sounds like the minimum wage employees just half a$$ balanced your rims because dude got paid like $3 to work on your vehicle while the shop owner got ya. Unless you’re driving in Pointe Coupee where the tractor tires destroyed our new roads. Then it’s the gouged out ruts in the pavement from the big tractors.
Posted by White Bear
Yonnygo
Member since Jul 2014
13884 posts
Posted on 9/6/23 at 9:09 am to
What brand tires? If cheap Chinese tires it might be the tires.
Posted by glassart
Member since Apr 2021
292 posts
Posted on 9/6/23 at 9:10 am to
If you have a Ford and your front wheels are making the noise it could be your rotors are worn down and you need a brake job. Ford typically puts tiny rotors and pads on the lineup. The Windstar had brakes meant for an economy car not a minivan.
Posted by McGruff21
Member since Aug 2023
372 posts
Posted on 9/6/23 at 9:18 am to
Your tires need balancing. I had a leak in mine and thought to patch it with the fix a flat stuff they sell in Walmart. It stopped the leak but threw my tire balance way off. I wouldn’t feel much of a vibration on my floorboard under 50 mph, but over 50 mph it was bad. Took it into a tire shop and they rebalanced and it did improve but still not perfect bc of the gunk I put into the tires to patch the leak. I’m just going to have to get new tires at some point if I want a completely smooth ride
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