When driving, you might notice that your tires are making a strange noise, which is highly abnormal and irritating.
While tire noise occurs due to different reasons, it can become a problem after your tires have been rotated. But, why exactly do tires become noisy after a rotation? Keep reading to see what I discovered about this subject!
Why Are My Tires Noisy After Rotation?
Tire noise after rotation happens due to different reasons, such as being old and worn out, imbalanced, having an alignment issue, being tightened too much, or the rotation method used. However, once you hear the noise from your tires after a rotation, you need to address it immediately to avoid any problems.
For more information about why tires become noisy after rotation, the type of noises, and how to fix the issue, keep on reading for more facts and tips!
Why Is Your Car Making Noise After Rotation?
After rotation, some drivers have experienced different types of tire noises, which can be quite annoying, and while it might look like a minor problem, it’s advisable not to ignore it, as it might become a bigger problem that can cost you more money.
If you have noticed noise after rotating your tires, listed below are some of the reasons why your car is making this noise:
1. Alignment Problem
If you have a humming noise from your tires, this could be due to an alignment issue, as having tires in the same position for extended periods could become a problem.
Once you start driving, the air chamber starts producing a drumming or low purring sound, and the ride becomes bumpier due to the wheel alignment, which causes uneven tire movement and more noise from the air chamber.
2. Worn Out And Old Tires
Drivers that haven’t replaced their tires in a long time are more likely to experience abnormal noise after a rotation, because tires that are worn out have a specific tread pattern.
Overall, whether your tires are directional or non-directional, they need to be rotated in the correct direction to avoid problems like this on the road.
3. Wrong Rotation Process
On some occasions, it might not be your fault that your tires are noisy, but is rather on the mechanic who recently rotated them. If your shop staff rotates the tires in the wrong way, they’ll become noisy when driving.
Therefore, to avoid such problems, it’s better to go to a professional tire shop and ensure that they use the correct method, otherwise, you’ll suffer additional issues.
4. Tightened Wheel
Your tires will become noisy if your wheel is tightened too much during rotation, as the mechanic does the final lug.
During rotation, it’s advisable not to over-tighten your car tires, and would instead be best if you used a torque wrench to ensure that all the parts are well secured.
5. Bad Wheel Bearing
Bad wheel bearings cause tire noise when they’re damaged or deteriorating, which produces a grinding or purring noise when driving.
Therefore, if you’ve rotated your tires, but you still hear a noise, have the bearings checked and replaced as soon as possible to avoid damage and collisions.
Additionally, it’s recommended to have a professional inspect your vehicle to confirm the exact problem.
6. Damaged Suspensions
Once your car suspensions are damaged, your tires will become extra noisy. Therefore, if you’ve rotated the tires and the noise persists, have the suspension checked by a mechanic.
7. Braking Problems
Your car braking system is connected to your wheels, meaning when it becomes damaged or worn out, you’ll start experiencing tire noise.
Therefore, if the tires are still noisy after being rotated, have the braking discs checked and replaced.
8. Imbalanced Tires
For your tires to function correctly, they need to be appropriately positioned and balanced towards each other, and if they’re wrongly positioned, they could make noise even after rotation.
What Can You Do To Fix Tire Noise After Rotation?
If your tires have a noise after a rotation, listed below are some ideas on how you can fix the problem:
1. Buy New Tires
One of the solutions for noisy tires is to replace them, especially if the problem goes on for extended periods.
This should be a solution if you’ve checked all other issues to confirm that the car is in order.
Once you buy new tires, ensure that you check whether they are directional or non-directional, which will help you to avoid additional problems.
To prevent the recurring noise, it’s essential to set a rotation schedule for your tires and ensure that you stick to it at all times.
Because tire noise is irritating for most drivers, automakers and tire manufacturers have invested in developing noise reduction technologies to eliminate this issue. Therefore, you can go for brands with these technologies.
2. Wheel Balancing and Alignment
Some manufacturers recommend that you should balance your tires every 5,000 to 6,000 miles. Additionally, to ensure your tires function correctly, have them aligned.
When the above is done on schedule, your tires will become less noisy even after being rotated. However, if the issue persists, have them checked for other problems.
3. Check Your Tires Regularly
For issues such as old and worn-out tires, you need to keep tabs on how your tires are fairing.
For instance, tires have a legal tread limit of 1.6mm. Therefore, you should regularly check that your tires don’t age past their limit.
Additionally, tires need to be replaced after ten years from the manufacturing date, which you can confirm by checking the sidewalls. This way, you can rotate tires that are still in good condition.
To learn more about tires, you can also see our posts on when should you rotate your tires, how much does it cost to rotate tires, what causes tire noise and low speed, and what are staggered wheels.
Conclusion
Tire noise after rotation is a common problem caused by the tires being old and worn out, an alignment issue, the wheels being tightened too much, tires being imbalanced, or the wrong rotation process was used.
Noise after a rotation is not a minor problem, and should thus be addressed as soon as possible to avoid more problems in the future. To fix this problem, have your mechanic check the car and eliminate all issues that might be a possible cause.