Do you find it annoying when there’s a constant squeaky noise when tire rotates?
Then let us remind you it’s not just a harmless sound stemming from the rim’s material; your vehicle might actually be suffering from technical issues!
Now is the time to be critical and have a closer, more investigative glance into how it performs.
Our article will lend some needed support in this regard, delving into all possible reasons behind the noise and several quick tips for an immediate fix.
Why There Is A Squeaky Noise When Tire Rotates & How To Fix
Why is my tire making a squeaking noise? Terrible road conditions, problematic tire treads, and bad bearings and brakes are possible reasons behind your car’s irritating sounds.
1. Street Conditions
The most notorious culprit in annoying rim noises is the highway or street conditions where your vehicle drives. Some materials used to build road surfaces make your rim hiss or roar.
Fresh blacktop, for instance, often sticks close to the tires, resulting in hollow, slick noises during the rim’s rotation.
Meanwhile, brick roads, cobblestone, and gravel lead to tires bumping and crunching due to their uneven textures.
Sure, you might argue that road crews are always ready to fix these sections.
However, remember that they cannot cater to all surfaces and streets, meaning crumbling roads are inevitable no matter where you go.
What’s to do now? Pull over to a slow lane – preferably along with the current traffic flow to avoid unwanted chaos.
Once done, quickly inspect the road surfaces and check whether your tires have cut ridges.
For those with newly-installed tires, you actually don’t have to worry; new tires in great condition will not be affected by bad roads. Otherwise, it’s time to have them fixed!
2. Tire Treads
Tread patterns on the tires also have a say in how they will make noise.
And that’s still an understatement; some experts even claim that tire treads take MAJOR responsibility for most rim noises you hear!
More specifically, the space between segments/tread lines traps the air over time before releasing it in cyclical patterns.
The treads themselves also generate sounds as the tires hit the ground, making percussive-type, steady noise that might differ across varied tread patterns.
It’s safe to say that tires with ribbed patterns (of different shapes and sizes) make much fewer sounds than those with similarly-sized segments.
Yes, these varied components from the ribbed patterns still produce noise; however, the noises they make do not share the same volume level, making your tires seem much quieter.
In the same vein, snow tires (or any seasonal ones) can also be much louder than their warm-weather counterparts.
Noises are also a natural sign of tread wearing down over time aside from the differences in patterns.
They often sound repeatedly sticky, comparable to paint rollers’ noise when rolling over tacky paints.
These sounds only get louder when you roll down the windows – or drive near walls and buildings, causing the sounds to reflect and echo.
For these tire squeaks, fresh tires are the best solution.
3. Tire Problems
The tire squealing while driving might also result from misaligned wheels. (In these cases, your cars tend to vibrate or shake at high speeds).
Misalignments that do not receive instant reparation also cause noiseless and excessive wear on the tires, so getting it fixed early is important!
Tires not properly rotating are another common cause – since the tread patterns wear down at different rates around your vehicle.
Fortunately, finding solutions is not difficult; simply rotate your cars a few rounds to even out those wear patterns!
On another note, can low tire pressure cause squeaking? Yes, which is why you should check whether your car suffers from under- or overinflated tires.
Keep inspecting its rim pressure and consult manufacturers about the right inflation for your particular model.
Frozen snow and mud might also pack within the rims and wells, causing weird rubbing noises.
This possibility is all the more likely if you often drive in rainy, muddy, or cold conditions. Let’s get rid of them as soon as you can!
Lastly, current tires too big for the vehicle will rub against your wheel wells whenever sharp turns are made, which can be pretty noisy.
Go to a rim shop to purchase alternatives more fitted with your car.
4. Faulty Bearing/ Brakes/ Others
Why is my tires squeaking?
It seems crazy, we know, but sounds from tire areas might not necessarily come from the vehicle tires!
Helicopter, annoying roaring sounds from your wheels sometimes are just signals that the wheel bearings should get replaced.
They will get louder and more constant at high speeds or when the bearing is under pressure (ex: navigating around curves).
Worse, CV joints and bearings going bad can cause a wobble in your steering wheel, wearing down the tires much faster in severe driving conditions.
Hence, should you believe they are the sources of your headache, have them checked thoroughly by professional service centers!
Failing automotive brakes should not be crossed out of your consideration list, either.
They make scraping, squeaking, or thumping sounds when brake pedals are hit, warning you about their alarming deterioration.
And for some models, anti lock brakes generate robotic sounds when kicking in or during the ABS’s routine checks.
Similarly, the drum brakes may thump after becoming rusted (a consequence of staying idle for too long).
But what if none of these are reasons for your tires squealing while driving – and the brakes and wheel bearings still work well?
Then overtightened or loose lug nuts and rusted wheel coverings might be at play, though these reasons are far less common. Turn to trusted mechanics to check them for physical damage.
Conclusion
This post has discussed in detail the root causes of constant squeaky noise when tire rotates.
For inexperienced people or novices, it’s best to take your precious vehicle to the auto repair shop for a further and more precise inspection!
Also, keeping a monthly maintenance routine is a great idea, which keeps the vehicle in good shape and helps you detect common issues right from the get-go.
Do you still have any lingering confusion regarding the tire making squeaking noise? Feel free to write to us for more guidance.