It is never a good indication when a car makes sounds where it shouldn’t, particularly regarding the tires. I was traveling when I first noticed a buzzing sound coming from my front tire, and I immediately had two inquiries:
- What on earth is making that racket?
- Is this something I can repair, or do I need to pay a mechanic?
It turns out that by asking these questions about tire sounds and my wheel bearing, I was able to save some money and perhaps even my life.
Tire Wear
Any noise originating from your tires is often explained by the fact that they are worn unevenly. This may be brought on by problems with tire pressure, potholes, poor tire care, or even the passage of time.
Your tires’ exact form of tire wear should be simple to identify under careful inspection, and this may assist you in identifying any underlying problems.
Center Wear
The center of your tire will be worn down more than the edges, a sign of center wear. The most frequent cause of this is an overinflated tire.
Edge Wear
Your tire’s edges will show signs of edge wear if they are more worn than the center. Tires with low air pressure are the main culprit.
Toe Wear
Excessive wear on your tire’s inner or outside margins might be a sign of toe wear. This occurs when there are problems with the wheel alignment, which we shall discuss more.
Patchy Wear
The wear on your tires will show intermittent spots, a sign of patchy wear. Out-of-balance wheels are to blame, which naturally indicates your tires need to be rotated and spun. Feel woozy!
Cupping Wear
You might see diagonal wear signs on your tires that indicate cupping wear. If you value maintaining comfort, this is a clue that your suspension requires quick adjustment.
Are you already worn down? Antidotes exist…
Avoiding Tire Wear in the Future
All tire are subject to wear and will ultimately need to be replaced, but there are steps we can all take to keep them in outstanding shape and noise-free for as long as possible.
The greatest thing you can do for your tire—and this may seem obvious—is to periodically check its air pressure. For the longest tire life, double-check the handbook or, as I did, do a simple Google search to determine the optimal PSI for your tires.
For as long as possible, you should be able to avoid uneven tire wear by rotating your tires often and having the alignment adjusted at least once a year. If you do not feel confident doing it yourself, scheduling tire maintenance on a semi-regular basis based on mileage and road conditions is also advised. And neither am I.
Alignment Issues
Listed below is another. If your tire also creates strange drumming sounds, like Rainbow’s Cozy Powell, during a live performance, in addition to the humming, it can be a sign that your vehicle or truck’s wheels need to be realigned. It could even sound like you have a flat tire and feel like it. As noted, “Toe Wear” on your tire’s treads may also be used to identify alignment problems.
Verify your vehicle’s handbook instructions to correct any alignment problems yourself. Determine the “toe,” the distance between the rear and front edges of the tires, with the aid of perseverance, a buddy, and a sturdy measuring tape. Next, measure the “camber” or the vertical angle of the wheels.
Find the L-shaped tie rod ends between the wheels and the steering system behind your tire once you have taken your measurements and determined what is not aligning. You should be able to modify the alignment to your vehicle’s specifications after the lock nut has been loosened.
Wheel Bearing Problems
You need a new wheel bearing, which is the loudest and riskiest explanation for tire noise. Wheel bearings help in braking, steering, & suspension, enabling your automobile to turn.
The most recognizable sound of a damaged or fractured wheel bearing is that of a helicopter hovering above. Even the inside of your automobile could shake erratically. A damaged wheel bearing first makes a humming or groaning noise. When turning, a wheel-bearing noise is particularly audible.
It is hazardous! In the worst-case circumstances, your wheel and tire can separate while you are driving. Rest confident that the risk of this occurring has been greatly decreased just by realizing that the problem has to be fixed.
Although wheel bearings are designed to span the lifetime of a car, it is not unusual for them to fail due to a pothole, a curb, or an off-roading weekend. Additionally, debris like dirt, snow, or sand entering the bearings may contaminate or degrade the grease.
Replacing Your Wheel Bearings
Wheel bearings may fail in various ways, so, fortunately, there are simple methods for replacing them as well. You will need some common tools, bearing lubricant, a cotter pin, and replacement wheel bearings made specifically for your car if you wish to repair your wheel bearing at home.
Step-by-step Guidelines
- Start by raising your car with a reliable jack.
- Do not forget to secure the wheels with chocks.
- Remove the tire that is nearest to the worn-out wheel bearing with care.
- Locate the brake caliper, then take out the caliper’s bracket bolts from the spindle using a ratchet.
- When removing the actual caliper, I advise using a screwdriver or comparable instrument.
- Remove the cotter pin and retaining nut using pliers.
- Outer wheel bearing removal
- Remove the inner wheel bearing and the rotor.
- It is crucial to remember that every vehicle is unique, so check your car handbook for instructions on removing and replacing wheel bearings.
- The housing of the new wheel bearing should be greased.
- Replace the item just as you did the original.
- Do not forget to change the cotter pin as well.
- Reassembling and double and triple verifying your work are the next steps.
Summary
There is always a reason why your tire is making noise, whether it sounds like a flat, like a helicopter, or like the automobile is headed to its first audition for The Blue Man Group. Wheel bearings, tire wear, and alignment problems are some of the most frequent reasons for tire sounds, but the solution can be as simple as the fact that your Goodyears need to be replaced.
Whatever the issue, it is always worthwhile to look into. I am not sure what would have occurred if I had not seen the damaged wheel bearing on my vehicle at that precise moment. But let us face it, is it not remarkable how many issues may be avoided if we just listen to what our automobiles are trying to tell us?
What odd noises can your car make?
