Have you ever found yourself driving quietly and enjoying your trip, only to be interrupted by an annoying hum or roar from your tires? If so, you’re not alone.
Tire noise is a problem that car owners know all too well. Besides causing inconvenience, hearing tire noise when driving could mean something is wrong with your vehicle. Nearly 11,000 car accidents occur yearly due to bad tires, so you must stay on top of this issue to keep yourself, your passengers, and everyone else sharing the road safely.
Find out why your tires are making a sound to help you make a more accurate tire noise diagnosis and understand how to reduce tire noise.
8 Reasons Tires Make Noises (and How to Fix Them)
Why is my back tire making a noise? Why is my front tire making a knocking noise? Pinpointing and addressing the common causes of tire noise can answer these questions and let you enjoy a smoother, quieter, and safer ride.
1. Wrong tire type
The first and probably most prevalent reason for tire noise is installing tires that don’t match your vehicle or driving conditions. Take performance tires, for example. They purposefully hug more of the road, creating greater friction and, in turn, more noise. Meanwhile, regular highway tires are quieter since they’re thicker and narrower than most.
To avoid any wheel mishaps, use the correct type of tire: summer tires when it’s hot out, off-roaders with aggressive treads when driving through mud or rocks, etc. If you’re not knowledgeable about tire types, consulting with your owner’s manual or a tire specialist can help you find the right match.
2. Tire defects
Defective tires create unusual noises that you may overlook as car damage rather than a bum tire. Noisy tires are more common than you might think. For instance, separated treads make your tire’s surface uneven and cause your vehicle to vibrate, especially at high speeds. These defects also worsen over time, leading to blowouts and other dangerous situations.
So, regularly inspect your tires for defects and damage like bulges, cracks, or wear. If you find any, replace the affected tires immediately. It’s best to purchase rubber from reputable manufacturers and dealers with reasonable warranties that cover manufacturing defects.
3. Wheel alignment issues
Poor wheel alignment is the root of many common car problems. It wears down your tires unevenly, leads to bad fuel economy, and causes heavy steering. Plus, it keeps treads from making proper contact with the road, causing that humming, buzzing, or squealing sound. So, if you’re wondering, “Why is my tire making a whistling noise,” poor alignment might be the culprit.
Your vehicle pulling to one side when driving and an off-center steering wheel are the tell-tale signs that it’s time to get an alignment check. Add it to your routine maintenance, especially after long drives.
4. Improper tire balance
Tire imbalance refers to an uneven weight distribution on your tires. It typically stems from daily wear, but it also happens if a wheel weight pops off, you drive poorly and often hit curbs, or you replace a tire. You might notice a rhythmic thumping noise from the undercarriage as a result.
A professional tire technician can rebalance your tires by placing small weights on the affected wheel to counteract any imbalances. As a rule of thumb, tire balancing is necessary after driving over 6,000 to 9 and a half-thousand kilometers or whenever you notice vibrations, noise, and a shaking steering wheel.
5. Incorrect tire pressure
Underinflated tires have greater contact with the road, which may cause a slapping sound as the rubber flexes more than it should. Meanwhile, overinflated tires are narrower, leading to a harsher ride and louder noise when driving at high speeds.
Check your tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) based on the car maker’s recommendation. You can often find this figure in your car manual or on a sticker inside the driver’s door. If they don’t match, deflate or inflate the affected tires accordingly.
6. Damaged suspensions and bearings
Worn or damaged suspensions and wheel bearings can lead to all sorts of car performance issues, including tire noise.
Shocks, struts, and bushings absorb impacts from uneven road surfaces or potholes. When they wear out or become faulty, they can lead to vibrations, rattling, and thumping noises. Likewise, worn wheel bearings produce grinding noises that get louder with speed.
Inspect these components regularly if you notice unusual sounds from your wheels. If you find any damage, don’t delay replacing the affected components to keep your drives comfortable and safe from accidents.
7. Type of road surface
Every car owner knows the hassle of driving on rough, uneven terrain like gravel and dilapidated asphalt. It’s bumpy, painful, and one of the biggest causes of unusual noises in new cars and tires.
While you can’t always choose the type of road you drive on, knowing how it causes tire noise can help manage your expectations. Pick routes with smoother, newer pavement to reduce tire noise and avoid wearing down your tires faster when driving long distances. As simple as they seem, mindful driving and route planning can make all the difference.
8. Tread design and wear
Aggressive tread patterns, like those on off-road and performance tires, tend to be louder since they have greater traction. Worn tires are also noisier than fresh ones. Even worse, uneven wear leads to other problems that make your tire noisier.
It’s also possible for tread design to interfere with tire performance. Ideally, you pick tires with treads that match surrounding driving conditions to enjoy a serene ride. If you primarily drive on highways with moderate speeds, opt for more relaxed patterns. Then, regularly inspect for tire wear and replace or vulcanize your tires when the treads reach a depth of 0.6 in (1.6 mm) or shallower.
Drive Safer and More Comfortably with Triangle Tires
Tires are what keeps your vehicle rolling down the road efficiently and safely. Ignoring signals that indicate problems, like tire noises, may worsen them to the point of significantly damaging your car. So, address these issues promptly to maintain a smoother, quieter, and safer drive.
Don’t wait for your tires to make noise. Proactively minimize their chances of happening by choosing high-quality tires from Triangle Tires. Our products serve various types of vehicles, from passenger cars to heavy equipment vehicles, and are available for delivery at affordable prices.
Interested? Browse our tire catalog today, or contact us for more information.
