Why Are My Tires Making Strange Noises?
The tires on your car or truck will make some noise as you roll down the highway — especially if you have snow or studded tires on your vehicle. That’s the sound of the tread, or studs, as those tires grip the road. Then there are the strange noises that can turn a peaceful drive into a worry fest. Whether it’s a screeching sound, womp-womp tire noise, or a rumbling or howling, ignoring unusual noises isn’t the best plan. Let’s take a look at the usual, and often easy-to-fix, causes for those strange tire noises and how Les Schwab can help.
Common Tire Noises and Their Causes
Tire sounds don’t always mean there’s a problem. For example, turning a sharp corner at a slow speed, like in a parking garage or on painted surfaces, often causes a harmless squeak. But there’s a risk of confusing normal tire squealing with sounds that indicate other problems. Those can include worn brake pads, or suspension parts that need to be replaced. Here’s a list of sounds along with some possible sources and fixes.
Squealing or Screeching Sounds
Often, squealing or screeching sounds are caused when tires slip. Those usually happen on a tight corner at a slow speed. But when you hear those sounds on regular paved roads at normal speeds, it can indicate brake or suspension issues. If you hear the sounds when accelerating, braking, or turning, get to Les Schwab. Our professionals can give your tires and vehicle a quick visual inspection and provide recommendations.
Womp-Womp Tire Noise
This special noise can worry even the most experienced driver. While a womp-womp noise is usually caused by underinflated tires, other causes include tires that are out of balance, worn suspension parts, tire tread that is separating, or uneven tire wear patterns that are throwing off your drivability. Uneven roads or deep ruts can make these noises worse. The fix? Get to Les Schwab for a free pre-trip safety check. We’ll check out your suspension and tire tread. If we find anything serious, we’ll show you all your options.
Humming or Rumbling Noises
A humming noise is pretty common with some tires, especially wide tires or tires with deep tread. But when those noises are so loud you cannot hear yourself think, or you hear a rumbling that doesn’t go away with a change in road surfaces, it’s time to pay closer attention. These sounds can be caused by uneven tire wear, bad wheel bearings, and issues with your suspension. Getting your tires rotated at Les Schwab could fix the issue. While we rotate your tires to reduce uneven wear, we’ll also check your wheel balance and wheel bearings for issues.
Howling Tire Noises
Cupping on your tire tread can cause howling noises as you drive. This may be an issue with your shocks or struts. Deteriorated wheel bearings can also be an issue. When your wheel bearings aren’t doing their job, it can cause some severe tread wear followed by howling tire noises. Learn how to read the tread on your tires. If you hear that howling get louder whenever you make a turn, it is likely wheel bearings. Schedule a time at Les Schwab, and our professionals will take a look at your tires, rotate them if needed, check out your alignment, other services.
How to Diagnose Tire Noises at Home
When strange noises start to come from your tires, don’t panic. There could be a perfectly normal reason for the sounds. Try these tips to pinpoint the issue.
Take a test drive. Listen carefully for which wheel and tire assembly is making the noise. If it’s more than one tire, make a note of it.
Check the tread on your tires. Here’s how to read your tire wear patterns. Look for cupping and uneven wear. If you find any, that wear can cause tire noises. Get to Les Schwab for a tire rotation and inspection of your vehicle’s suspension parts, including the tie rods, struts, shocks, and ball joints.
Get to Les Schwab. If your tire tread feels okay, the issue could be with your wheel bearings, alignment, and other suspension parts. The professionals at your nearby Les Schwab can do a quick inspection and offer advice.
When to Seek Professional Help
If your tire tread looks uneven or worn beyond 2/32 of an inch (the minimum amount of tread anyone should have on their vehicle), those tires will have less grip on the road. So when you take corners, accelerate, or brake, your tires will slip more easily. Additionally, worn wheel bearings, tire and wheel assemblies that are out of balance, as well as worn shocks and struts can cause uneven tire wear. That accelerated wear can lead to tire noises. Get to Les Schwab where our professionals can take a look.
Les Schwab’s Tire Diagnosis Process
When you schedule a time at Les Schwab to have a strange tire sound inspected, our professionals may need to take your car for a quick test drive. Once they can verify the noise, they’ll pull it into a service bay and use a lift to get it off the ground.
Utilizing specialized equipment and decades of expertise, Les Schwab has the know-how to inspect your vehicle, pinpoint any noises, and come up with options. Our professionals will then put together a free quote and help you make the right decision.
Preventing Unusual Tire Noises
One of the best ways to avoid unusual tire noises is with regular rotations every 5,000 miles. Plus, regular rotations can help minimize uneven tread wear, add life to your tires, and save you money. Other ways to avoid odd tire noises include light braking instead of slamming on the brakes, careful and thoughtful driving, and scheduling a free pre-trip safety check at Les Schwab every year.
Other Car Parts That Can Cause Strange Noises
Wheel-tire issues aren’t the only causes of auto noise. Other possibilities include:
- A brake pad wear indicator. If what started as a squeal becomes a metal-on-metal grinding sound, you may be overdue for brake servicing.
- Suspension parts. The bushings or bearings could be worn
- Steering system parts. Tie-rod ends, seals, ball joints, or universal joints may need lubrication.
- A loose or worn engine drive belt. If squealing increases with engine speed, this could be your cause.
Les Schwab’s Trusted Tire Service
Before you worry too much about strange tire noises, stop by Les Schwab. We’ll give your tires, wheels, and more a quick visual inspection to help find the issue.