What’s Making My Tires Roar?

Hearing your tires roar? This “roar” can be caused by several things. Your tires might start to make a roaring sound because they have developed a bad or irregular wear pattern. You might not hear it at first because it happens gradually. Over the course of time, you might become accustomed to the sound. Once it becomes noticeable to you, your tires may be beyond the point of saving.

What causes irregular tire wear to occur?

Lack of Tire Rotation

The most common reasons for irregular tire wear are lack of tire rotation, worn out or loose suspension parts and mis-alignment.

Your vehicle’s tires need to be rotated at least every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual might state something different, however, the time to rotate your tires will depend on what kind of tires you have on your vehicle and how your vehicle is used. High performance/ low profile and/ or “all terrain” mud tires require rotation every 3,000 miles whereas standard types of tires with a “touring” tread design require rotation every 5,000 miles. This is due to the changes in tire tread designs that have occurred over the years to enhance traction levels and noise variations.

The rear tires on a front wheel drive car are the ones that are most susceptible to irregular wear. The front end of a front wheel drive vehicle carries all the weight of the engine, while the rear wheels and tires carry virtually no weight at all. The rear tires are generally “free wheeling” down the road with no weight on them. This causes the rear tires to “jump” or bounce much more frequently than the front tires. If your vehicle has “all season” tires, the irregular wear can become more obvious more quickly.

Worn Out Suspension Parts

Your vehicle’s suspension (shocks/ struts/ springs, etc.) absorb most of the “bouncing”, so you are not likely to feel what your rear tires are experiencing. Over a period of time, the rear tires, if not rotated properly, will develop irregular wear and start to make a roaring sound.

If the tires are not too badly worn, they can be moved to the front of the vehicle, and over time, begin to smooth back out. The downside to this is that the roaring has moved to the front of the vehicle and you will hear it much more clearly. If the tires cannot be rotated due to excessive wear, then it’s time to replace them, usually before you should have had to.

Bad Wheel Alignment

Worn front end, worn suspension parts or your vehicle being out of alignment can also cause premature and irregular tire wear. If you have weak shocks or struts, they will cause other front end and/ or suspension parts to wear out prematurely, and cause your tires to wear faster than they should.

Your vehicle’s alignment should be checked periodically (at least once per year) to avoid premature or irregular tire wear. Most newer vehicles with independent front and rear suspensions have alignment settings on both the front and rear of the vehicle.

If you have any questions regarding how your vehicle is riding, feel free to bring it by Postle’s Tire Barn and we will be happy to check it out for you. Postle’s has been solving ride problems for more than 40 years.

Postle Tire Barn is a locally owned, locally operated tire and automotive repair shop, serving Tuscaloosa and the surrounding area.

Contact Us

Postle Tire Barn is a fully licensed and insured tire and automotive repair dealer in Tuscaloosa, AL. For more information, feel free to contact us at [email protected]. Tires roar tires roar