Im getting this rubbing tire sound or like something is stuck in the front right tire when I travel faster than 50 mph. The noise seems to start exactly at 50 mph and goes away at like 60 ( prob becuase I am traveling to fast to hear it anymore). I just had my 15K service and the dealer said maybe it was a slightly bent rim ( which he fixed) but that didnt solved the problem. Anyone else face this? thanks.

 

Does the steering wheel have a shimmy? Does the noise cadence change with road speed? Roll down the windows and see if the noise is there at low "parking lot" speeds. A little more info may be helpful.

 

Forgot to mention, had a pervious car with lots of scrapping noises coming from the front passenger wheel. It was caused by a small rock stuck in the rotor cooling vanes. It is hitting the brake shield and the cadence changed as the speed changed.

 

there is zero noise coming at slow speeds. As soon as the car hits 50 mph the noise starts. Mini just changed my tire, so I am sure if there was any debris they would have removed it.

 

Does the rubbing happen in a straight line or during turns?

 

Interesting.. It's sounds like something is getting excited harmonically at those speeds. I'd take a look at the wheel lining in the wheel well and see if any of the black nylon screws are missing. the rubbing tire sound, as you describe, I'm guessing is a sort of grating of scraping sound, as Slinger described? It's not a ringing type of sound?

How loud is the sound?

Bill in P.G.

 

Satsloader,

Your summation on the wheel lining sounds plausible. Just wanted a little more info will help a lot.

 

How did he "fix" the "slightly bent" rim, what caused that initially!!! you may have more damage in there than you think.

 

your mini is humming

 

turning or driving straight...the noise will be there. I guess he just trued the rim a bit, but that tire has been rotated to the back. I will check out the lining during the daytime tomm. I did install mudflaps, but that was a year ago. The noise is very loud and I can feel it a bit at the accelerator.

 

Does not sound like bearings (all speeds noisy and cadence changing) or CVs (turning is noisy).

My only wild guess without seeing and hearing the car is either the tires/rims or wheel well liner. Hope things work out for you.

 

How are your front pads/rotors. Does braking have any effect on the noise.?