Tyre Sounding Like A Worn Wheel Bearing

[Konrad C]

A while back, I asked for advise on how can I transfer the castilated ABS wheel and hub on from the rear wheel bear hub. I broke the ABS wheel off the hub bearing, so got another hub from a breakers yard. I got a refund on the new bearing, since I could not use it. Nobody could assist on the forum.

The wheel bearing sound was there but is not loud and can only be heard on very smooth surfaces. I lived with that.

On Christmas Day I had a puncture and changed to the spare, a different brand of tyre. The sound was gone!

What I thought was a worn wheel bearing turned out to be the tyre that had been on the car for 4 or more years.

I wish I changed changed to the spare in the first place. All the tyres on the car are 2 years or younger - I got 2 new tyres and got rid of the old tyres.

The reason I thought it was the wheel bearing, is that I change a wheel bearing at the front and it cured the noise then. The rear wheel had a similar noise.

I did read about noisy tyres sounding like wheel bearings in this forum in the past. Did try this with the front bearing at that time, but made no difference. It was the bearing. This time it actually worked on the rear.

The age of the tyre may have been the factor.

Hope this helps others.

[Mean Green]

Hi Mate,

I had the same problem a few months ago - apparently it is when the tyres get to around half worn they start to make the noise.

Out of interest what brand of tyre did you have on?

Mines were some cheapo brand - Westlake or something similar.

[Konrad C]

Hi Mate,

I had the same problem a few months ago - apparently it is when the tyres get to around half worn they start to make the noise.

Out of interest what brand of tyre did you have on?

Mines were some cheapo brand - Westlake or something similar.

Mean Green,

I had Corsa tyres, but only the one rear made the noise. The puncture did me a favour. The new tyre is another brand.

My car is green and is mean with petrol - very frugal. Is that what your name means?

[Druid Boy]

Wow! That takes me back. I had the same problem with a tyre on a Montego (remember them?). New wheel bearing, mechanics hanging out of the open rear door at speed, all sorts of issues. Turns out one edge of the tread blocks had lifted slightly making the tyre noisy like a grumbling bearing. the mechanics were right p****d off but I thought it was quite funny at the time. Mind you I was young & dumb. Ah, happy days....