Noise from brand new tires -- is this normal?

"Zibodiz" (zibodiz1) 03/30/2014 at 23:43 • Filed to: None

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I just purchased a new set of 4 tires for my wife's Escape. They're Goodyear Tracker 2's; just your vanilla all-seasons. After installation, we drove home, about 45 miles at 65 MPH. At speeds up to 50MPH, the tires are great; smooth riding and quiet. But as soon as we hit 50MPH there's a loud roar, which subsides a few MPH higher, then at 63MPH there's high-pitched whine which grows higher until about 66mph, where it fades away.

Is this a problem? I've purchased new tires for my car many times, and never experienced anything like this, but this is the first time I've purchased these tires, or put tires onto a CUV. Should I be complaining to WalMart TLE?

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Zibodiz 03/30/2014 at 23:51

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It's normal for tires to make noise depending on their tread, and different types of asphalt do factor in as well.

RotaryLover > Zibodiz 03/30/2014 at 23:51

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Is the tire pressure is at the right PSI as shown on your door?

bob and john > Zibodiz 03/30/2014 at 23:53

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ask someone whos had those tires before to see if the have the same. it could just be them (the tires). i know tht my dad got a set of italian winter tire from the audi dealer (surprisingly, best winters we have ever had) and they were CRAZY loud compared to the summer we had

EL_ULY > Zibodiz 03/30/2014 at 23:55

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Check the DOT number
It's a 4 digit number after is days DOT. For example, if the numbers are 2513, that meansthe tires were made on the 25th week of 2013. if came across some stores selling "new" tires with pretty old production dates. When I trying to RoadForce balance them, they do not balance well or cannot meet RoadForce specs.

Old-Busted-Hotness > RotaryLover 03/31/2014 at 06:30

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Hell no. Tire shops think 40-50 psi is appropriate for everything.

Takuro Spirit > Zibodiz 03/31/2014 at 06:57

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How loud were the previous tires? Maybe you're hearing things the old tired were hiding? Did you have it aligned after the new tires were put on?

If so, I would think it's the tires. I would take it back to WalMart, especially if they have a satisfaction guarantee, or one of those 30-day trial tire warranties.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Zibodiz 03/31/2014 at 08:49

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The biggest question should be what tires did you have on before this?

My dad for instance, when he had his Passat, had Continental tires standard. When he went to replace them, he switched to Michelins. The noise dropped a ton, but so did his gas mileage.

Maybe you went down quality and just arent used to it.

awe46m3zcp > Zibodiz 03/31/2014 at 10:35

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Give them some time to break in, and hope it goes away. Unlike my cheap Nexen tires that sound horrible at highway speeds. I will never buy cheap tires after this experience. They came on the car and I'm tempted everyday to replace them early with some Michelins.

Zibodiz > Takuro Spirit 03/31/2014 at 23:09

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The old tires were really quiet, but they were practically bald. We decided it was time for a new set when I noticed the steel belts starting to peek through.

No, we didn't get the wheels aligned, but the car doesn't seem to need it. It rides straight as an arrow down the road, and the old tires had worn really evenly without any indications of mis-alignment.

Yeah, Walmart doesn't have much of anything when it comes to standing behind their work. I guess you get what you pay for.

Zibodiz > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 03/31/2014 at 23:15

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The original tires were the set that came with the car when we bought it; they were mis-matched (2 of one brand, and 2 of another), all generics, and completely worn out. I never paid any attention to whether they were A/T or highway, but when they're bald I don't expect it made much of a difference.

The new tires are name-brand highway all-season LT tires. Should be better quality than what we had originally.

That's interesting that your dad had the opposite experience, with the noise decreasing. Since my wife doesn't care at all, and it seems that this is purely an aesthetic thing, I think we're just going to live with it. She can't even hear the sound unless I point it out to her. If it were my car, I probably would have demanded a new set or different model lol, but I'm the pedantic car guy of the family.

Zibodiz > awe46m3zcp 03/31/2014 at 23:21

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The funny thing is, I've bought generic tires many times. In the nearly-million-miles I've driven, this is only the second set of brand-new name-brand tires I've purchased. The 'walmart special' Douglas $60 tires wear out quickly, but they are stone silent. I've gone through probably a dozen or so of them through the years.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Zibodiz 04/01/2014 at 08:24

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I didn't realize this was an older Escape; just figured you bought it new. I would think they'd be better too. Especially seeing as they were an upgrade. Wish I could help you more.