My Mini makes a whining noise at about 25 MPH then gets quieter at about 40 MPH then it comes back about 65 MPH. The best I can describe it is when you go from pavement to cement. It just started doing this recently. I have about 10.5k miles on it. I don’t think I have hit anything that would have caused the alignment to go out. Does anyone know what would cause this?

 

what tires do you have. My yokohamas sounded like my wheel bearings were shot before replacing them. They got steadily worse over time. With new tires all is quiet again.

 

Sounds likw thw tread is 'blocking'. Have you rotated the tires at all?

 

Sounds like uneven tread wear...have you tried rotating them?

Most performance tires get noisy as they wear.

 

They are the standard Dunlop 195/55 R16 all-season run-flats.

I have not rotated them yet, but I was thinking about that being a possibility. Would they start making noise all of a sudden? I didn't notice them progressively getting worse, just started a few weeks ago. On my old car, which I haven’t rotated tires in a long time, I have never noticed any tire noise over time. I just want to make sure that there isn’t something else wrong.

 

>I just want to make sure that there isn’t something else wrong.

Yes, process of elimination. Let's rotate the tires first and see if it
changes anything. :smile: (you *may* hear a slight different howling
noise which is normal after rotation).

 

Ok now the weather is cooperating I am ready to rotate my tires, however I am not sure how. Which tire should go where, front to back, back strait up fronts to the opposite side on the rear? Also I have read that rotating could make more noise and could affect handling. Please help.

 

Bump.

Any suggestions on what tire goes where??

 

If tread is directional, you can only rotate front to rear, rears to front.
If tread is non-directional, rotate front to rear, cross rears to front.
In either case, don't forget to adjust the tire pressures.

 

have you had your first service yet? I was told the rotation was part of it.