Tire Drone? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

SSchifko · 08-19-2013, 10:46 PM

For some time now, I have noticed a bit of a drone while driving. I still have the stock Michelin tires. It is either related to the tires or a wheel bearing, and has gotten loud enough that I want to fix it.

From what I can tell, the stock tires are not directional. But when you look at them there is actually a difference in tread by direction. One of the tires is completely backwards to the others.

Anyone else have a similar experience or can shed some light?
I will head to the dealer when I get some time.

kodyo · 08-19-2013, 11:26 PM

I wouldn't be surprised if it was just the low roll resistant tire. As someone who has had a wheel bearing go out in a car before (Honda accord), it is quite obvious (very strong vibrations, and in my case, I could tell what side of the car had the bad bearing).

Does it make the noise on all pavement types? Can you pinpoint the vibration?

To check the bearing, I jacked up the car and spun the wheel. It spun for days like there was no resistance and could hear the bearings whir. I'm sure you can only do this to the non-drive wheels.

Good luck.

ZZT86 · 08-20-2013, 12:30 AM

How many k's or miles have the tyres done ? Tread wear & shape usually make them noisier, depending on tread pattern & driving style. The stock tyres are not an aggressive pattern.

mav1178 · 08-20-2013, 02:37 AM

A telltale sign of bad bearings is if the noise is louder as you put more load on it, especially during cornering. Plus, bad wheel bearings are more of a grinding sound than a drone.

Drone sounds are usually just the tires. Only way to isolate it is to drive on completely different road surfaces at the same speeds to replicate.

-alex

SSchifko · 08-20-2013, 02:21 PM

Great points!
I will probably jack up the car and spin to see what the bearings sound like. But I agree that this is probably not the issue.

I have 18,000 miles on the tires. Plenty of tread, and the car is a daily driver, and I am a relaxed driver, I don't take every corner as fast as possible.

The drone is on all pavement types. I just went on a long stretch where it is freshly paved and perfectly smooth, and coasting down the hill in neutral is disappointing. Kind of a warble, instead of constant drone. Like when your buddy does eBrake slides and has a flat spot on his tires that thunks as he drives.

King Tut · 08-20-2013, 02:33 PM

When is the last time you had an alignment?

Dezoris · 08-20-2013, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Tut

When is the last time you had an alignment?

Alignment or just heavy wear on some tires causes loud noise.

I just swapped in a new set of RS3s when they hit 4/32nds and it sounded like all my wheel bearings were bad. The tire noise was so loud you could barely talk.

Mikem53 · 08-20-2013, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSchifko

Great points!
I will probably jack up the car and spin to see what the bearings sound like. But I agree that this is probably not the issue.

I have 18,000 miles on the tires. Plenty of tread, and the car is a daily driver, and I am a relaxed driver, I don't take every corner as fast as possible.

The drone is on all pavement types. I just went on a long stretch where it is freshly paved and perfectly smooth, and coasting down the hill in neutral is disappointing. Kind of a warble, instead of constant drone. Like when your buddy does eBrake slides and has a flat spot on his tires that thunks as he drives.

Sounds like it might be the tires getting hard from the wear and heat cycles..
They transmit more noise as they age..

mav1178 · 08-20-2013, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSchifko

The drone is on all pavement types. I just went on a long stretch where it is freshly paved and perfectly smooth, and coasting down the hill in neutral is disappointing. Kind of a warble, instead of constant drone. Like when your buddy does eBrake slides and has a flat spot on his tires that thunks as he drives.

That sounds like slightly uneven tire wear, possibly from bad alignment as others have stated.

Even if it's slightly off, when the tires are worn the sounds get progressively worse.

-alex

mike the snake · 08-20-2013, 09:18 PM

Coming from my dead-silent BMW 135i, to my BRZ, the stock tires definitely have a slight drone to them.

The BRZ/FRS are not very quiet inside and definitely transmit road noises into the cabin.

My car quieted up when I went to the Michelin PSS tires, but I can still hear the tires rolling.

08-19-2013, 10:46 PM	#1
SSchifko Owner and Operator Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: FR-S, Yamaha R6, 1972 Camaro Location: North Chicago Posts: 41 Thanks: 9 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Tire Drone? For some time now, I have noticed a bit of a drone while driving. I still have the stock Michelin tires. It is either related to the tires or a wheel bearing, and has gotten loud enough that I want to fix it. From what I can tell, the stock tires are not directional. But when you look at them there is actually a difference in tread by direction. One of the tires is completely backwards to the others. Anyone else have a similar experience or can shed some light? I will head to the dealer when I get some time. __________________ -Schifko

08-20-2013, 02:21 PM	#5
SSchifko Owner and Operator Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: FR-S, Yamaha R6, 1972 Camaro Location: North Chicago Posts: 41 Thanks: 9 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Great points! I will probably jack up the car and spin to see what the bearings sound like. But I agree that this is probably not the issue. I have 18,000 miles on the tires. Plenty of tread, and the car is a daily driver, and I am a relaxed driver, I don't take every corner as fast as possible. The drone is on all pavement types. I just went on a long stretch where it is freshly paved and perfectly smooth, and coasting down the hill in neutral is disappointing. Kind of a warble, instead of constant drone. Like when your buddy does eBrake slides and has a flat spot on his tires that thunks as he drives. __________________ -Schifko

08-20-2013, 02:33 PM	#6
King Tut NASA SpecE30 Racer Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 2006 Honda S2000 Location: Gulf Breeze, FL Posts: 7,279 Thanks: 607 Thanked 5,759 Times in 3,055 Posts Mentioned: 274 Post(s) Tagged: 10 Thread(s)	When is the last time you had an alignment? __________________ - King Tut Street/Track Car: 2006 Honda S2000 TT3 \|\| Race Car: 1987 BMW 325is SpecE30 \|\| Tow Vehicle: 2014 RAM 1500 EcoDiesel Sold Cars: 2012 BMW M3 \|\| 2013 Subaru BRZ \|\| 2012 Porsche Cayman R \|\| 2009 Chevrolet Z06 \|\| 2009 BMW M3 \|\| 2004 BMW M3 \|\| 2004 Nissan 350Z

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08-19-2013, 11:26 PM	#2
kodyo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Drives: Scion FR-S Location: Los Angeles Posts: 686 Thanks: 597 Thanked 256 Times in 173 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I wouldn't be surprised if it was just the low roll resistant tire. As someone who has had a wheel bearing go out in a car before (Honda accord), it is quite obvious (very strong vibrations, and in my case, I could tell what side of the car had the bad bearing). Does it make the noise on all pavement types? Can you pinpoint the vibration? To check the bearing, I jacked up the car and spun the wheel. It spun for days like there was no resistance and could hear the bearings whir. I'm sure you can only do this to the non-drive wheels. Good luck.

08-20-2013, 12:30 AM	#3
ZZT86 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: BR86 Location: Location Posts: 841 Thanks: 310 Thanked 146 Times in 114 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	How many k's or miles have the tyres done ? Tread wear & shape usually make them noisier, depending on tread pattern & driving style. The stock tyres are not an aggressive pattern.

08-20-2013, 02:37 AM	#4
mav1178 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: 2005 Toyota Camry Location: 91745 Posts: 6,562 Thanks: 493 Thanked 6,093 Times in 3,029 Posts Mentioned: 95 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	A telltale sign of bad bearings is if the noise is louder as you put more load on it, especially during cornering. Plus, bad wheel bearings are more of a grinding sound than a drone. Drone sounds are usually just the tires. Only way to isolate it is to drive on completely different road surfaces at the same speeds to replicate. -alex

08-20-2013, 09:18 PM	#10
mike the snake Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: 2013 BRZ Location: Norcal Posts: 1,592 Thanks: 1 Thanked 623 Times in 378 Posts Mentioned: 15 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Coming from my dead-silent BMW 135i, to my BRZ, the stock tires definitely have a slight drone to them. The BRZ/FRS are not very quiet inside and definitely transmit road noises into the cabin. My car quieted up when I went to the Michelin PSS tires, but I can still hear the tires rolling.

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