If not repaired, it may cause the wheel bearing to become overheated due to internal friction, causing it to seize. This problem must be resolved as soon as possible. However, it is more like a high-pitched squeak or grinding noise than a humming noise. Source: Cash Cars BuyerĪ bad wheel bearing can also cause a noise that sounds like it’s coming from the tires. But eventually, you will need to replace all four tires with new tires. To maximize your tread life, do a tire rotation – moving the rear tires to the front and vice versa – to eliminate noise for a while. You have a couple of options to deal with this. If the tires have worn in unusual patterns (the most common pattern is the rear tires “cupping,” a high and low pattern in the rubber that causes a change in the surface area that touches the road), you can see it immediately when inspecting the tread. Weak rear shocks (particularly on front-wheel-drive vehicles), wheel alignment issues, improper tire pressure, and other issues can all contribute to this problem. Uneven tire wear is the most common cause of humming noise from the tires. There are a few reasons that contribute to loud tire hum: abnormal tire wear, tire damage, tire scuffing, etc.
Then again, if the noise is louder than usual, that means there is something you need to do about it. It is the usual noise of your tire rolling on asphalt. Pretty much every car will experience some tire hum. So to save you time, money, and effort on those problems, check your alignment after every 6000 miles (9656 km), or at least every time you change your oil or when you see that your tires wear out too early. Most of us cannot fix wheel alignment at home because it requires specialized equipment to diagnose and correct, so take your car to your local garage and have them do it for you.Ī wrong alignment will put more strain on your steering and suspension parts, and it can shorten your tires’ life by one thousand miles! Your fuel economy will be terribly affected and cause you pain at the gas pump. Wheel alignment issues cause your wheels to pull in slightly different directions, causing the tires to rub against the road and create a squealing noise.
If your tires are fine, the problem may lie in the alignment. Remember that your tires will need a little lower PSI in hot months and a little higher in cold months. You should check your PSI every month to ensure your tires’ performance. Overinflated tires do not make proper contact with the road, it will cause uneven wear on your tires (like cupping tires) and make the tire more likely to puncture. But overinflating is also advised against. Most cars will tell you the exact PSI for your wheels on the inside of the driver door frame. This is why when you hear the squealing noise from your tires, check the PSI first. Instead, the rubber will slide more sideways and cause a squeal. When your tires are worn down, the sidewalls flex excessively and are unable to generate enough traction to turn the car smoothly. When you take a corner on properly inflated tires, they retain their shape better, allowing them to maintain the proper amount of contact with the road. Underinflated tires can not handle well the physical forces at work during a turn. However, if you make a gentle turn but still hear noises, you may have underinflated tires or there is a problem with alignment. Sharp cornering can cause the rubber to slide laterally on the road surface, making a noise. When you brake hard, your car also skids and makes a sound. That is the sound of the tread skidding against the road surface as it tries to gain traction. When you brake, turn, or accelerate quickie, you will most likely hear your tires squeal.
Let’s get into the details of common causes of tire noise and how to fix them. You will not have to replace your tires, because the sounds could also be the result of other problems that can be easily fixed, such as re-align your wheels. That can be a sign that something went wrong down there.īut don’t panic yet if you do hear it. However, once you get used to the sound coming from your tires, you may detect strange and weird noises coming from them at one time. There are many types of tires, so there are also many types of noises that they make. Tires always make noises, that is unavoidable. Other than the sound of the engine, noises coming from your tires are also another way your car communicates with you.