not sure where this thread should be placed, but:


Lately, I've been noticing that my tires give a little screech, or chirp, when I go off from a dead stop.....my tires are the stock 15" continental 175/65 and the air is 32 all around and there is plenty of tread. I am not 'gunning' or flooring it but this screeching is new....any ideas anyone?

 

This may sound obvious, but what changed between the time they didn't screech and now? Did you get any wax, etc. on them? Go to a car wash? Do all of them do it, or just one? Do they do it all the time or just at certain locations? Did you hit the sport button?

 

Check the air.

 

Are you sure it is the tires and not a bushing in the suspension squeaking?

 

seems to be a tire screech from the front tires, but what would a bushing problem sound like?.....air is 32 all 4 tires....nope, no changes,no sport button as is a plain MC 5 speed....no wax or tire treatments, just my normal car washing routine but haven't washed in couple weeks as the occasional rain has been keeping the car looking just washed

 

Just like a squeak.Sometimes if a rubber bushing gets grease on it it will develop a squeak. Just the little bit of suspension travel caused by getting the car moving (assuming you don't accelerate glacially slow) can activate a bushing squeak. I speak from experience - it can drive you nuts. :impatient

You might also make sure that you don't have a belt slipping.

 

doesn't sound like a belt screech...soi suppose it could be a bushing squeak....I guess I should call the dealer for them to take a look

 

Are you under a lot of stress at work?
Is your Mini feeling particularly playful?
Have you changed to a heavier set of shoes?

Seriously, though...
Does your launch feel any more herky-jerky? if so, your clutch may not be releasing as smoothly, could be something as simple as a floormat getting bunched up under the pedal.

If your launch is really gentle, or you're getting the screetch noise on a really gentle launch, it may be a swaybar bushing or other bushing - probably not major at all, but noisy. Still under warranty? If so, get to a dealer. If not,, removing and lubing a bushing is usually not a big deal.

Check also tire wear - is it even? Cupped? Uneven side to side or side to middle? Is your alignment OK? All these things can cause the tires to hit the road unevenly and make noise.

 

Sometimes it's just the way the stars are aligned... temperature, rain, oil on the road surface, painted lines on the road (stop lines, crosswalks, etc)... I seem to remember a stretch of time where I was getting a lot of chirping when starting off downtown from the crosswalk lines. Then, it went away.

Perhaps summer heat brings more oil / fluids to the road surface? Perhaps the rain?

Perhaps something's wrong with the car, but I doubt it.

 

Agreed, actually.

 

well, it chirped several times yesterday, but not once today...maybe there was some oily film on the tires.......but I was walking in my running shoes today in the supermarket and my shoes(no kidding!) were chirping too...really...maybe there is some oily film on my shoes as well?

 

i was just going to say cause they suck. but i don't know much about tires. I dont have the SAME problem. I know why mine screech.... my foot is a bit heavy. and those tires do not promote "spirited" driving.