What Causes the Abnormal Noise After Installing Snow Tires?
2 Answers
The reasons for abnormal noise after installing snow tires include severely worn brake pads, damaged shock absorbers, deformed wheel hubs, tire wear, or damaged drive shafts. Causes: The vehicle's braking force will decrease when encountering objects like nails or stones. Solutions: Promptly replace the brake pads. If the wear on the left and right drive wheels is uneven, it is generally recommended to first install new tires on the non-driven wheels for some mileage. After the four tires have worn in, perform a cross rotation. For regular use, it is best to perform a cross rotation every 20,000 kilometers, as the driven wheels are dragged along and tend to wear unevenly compared to the drive wheels. Have a repair shop inspect further. Replace the wheel hub if necessary.
I just changed to winter tires and started hearing rattling noises, which really gave me, a driver with 20 years of experience, a hard time. The most common causes are loose bolts or misalignment during tire installation, as winter tires don't fit as snugly as all-season tires, and the metal can deform in cold weather, causing noise. Another possibility is small stones or ice stuck in the tread, which can create a humming sound when driving. My advice? Check the tire balance first—it might be off. Also, the brake rotor could have been knocked out of alignment during the tire change, leading to strange noises. Don't cut corners when it comes to safety. Next time, go to a reputable shop and supervise the process. Have them tighten the bolts with a torque wrench and test-drive to eliminate noise, so you don't end up with sudden issues or worse, a rollover.
