Enroute to Mid-Ohio for vintage races, my '05 MCS with about 6000 miles began to emit what sounded like tire noise, so the next morning I checked the cold temperature of the Dunlop runflats and found all four at 34 psi, the pressure I had set months earlier.

On the way home to Kentucky from the races, the tire noise increased and the vibration through the steering wheel increased, making my fingers numb. The noise, speed related, entirely overwhelmed engine and exhaust sounds.

Once home, I rotated the runflat tires but the noise remained. Treadwear appeared even without feathering.

I replaced the tires with non-runflat Falken ZE512 tires. Although I now can barely hear the engine and exhaust, the noise remains with the new tires.

I haven't hit a pothole, so I can't imagine suspension settings have changed, and the original tires were quiet for 6,000 miles. A wheel bearing would be lower pitched. This sounds exactly like tire noise.

Anyone have an idea what's going on? Why would quiet tires become noisey in 100 miles, and why would new tires be nearly as loud?

I would like to resolve this problem locally if possible and have considered going back to the tire dealer to see whay they think, possibly to check the alignment. My dealer is 200 miles away.

 

If the sound remains the same level regardless of gear or amount of throttle, the most likely cause is a wheel bearing failure. In some cases, a failing wheel bearing will sound different with steering input as the tires become laterally loaded, shifting the applied loads to the bearings.

Transmission failure tends to make a similar sound but changes depending on gear selected and/or amount of throttle or engine braking.

Drive axle failure will almost always have a different sound depending on amount of throttle and/or the angle of the front wheels.

 

You can always check the Strut Mounts. Many of us have had them crack and replaced under warranty by the dealer. Some if out of warranty just got better aftermarket units. My noise wasn't constant but sounded like the tires or something rubbing when I turned the wheels almost to the stops. This doesn't sound like yours but w/ these little buggers you never know.

 

I think wheel bearings too. lift one of the front corners and hold your

tire with both hands, move it up down side to side without turning
the tire. if you hear thud/clank or can feel play, chances are that
side needs a new wheel bearing.

 

Thanks to all who replied regarding the mystery noise.

I checked each corner for play and found none. What I did notice, is that the scrub on each tire from pavement contact is the same across the tread except for the right rear which appears to be 1/4" short of reaching to the outside edge of the tire, indicating negative camber, I guess, on that corner. I dont' know if that's enough to cause tire noise, but the right rear appears to need correction.

 

Kenchan and Greatbear,

You were right, the noise was a wheel bearing.

Nate, Cincinnati MINI service team leader, needed only 15 seconds behind the wheel to know it was a wheel bearing. One tug left to right confirmed the right front. He said this is the first wheel bearing they have replaced outside collision repair.

We did not purchase our car from Cincinnati MINI, but they treated us as though we had and replaced the bearing in less than an hour.

Thanks for your input!

 

yeh, I check my bearings like that when I swap out my wheels or

do a rotation. :smile:

 

I seem to have lost my bearings... oh right I'm in Germany LOL