Symptom Chart - Tire Noise/Vibration

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer and 2005 Ford Explorer. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

SYMPTOM CHART - TIRE NOISE/VIBRATION

Condition	Possible Sources	Action
Tire noise - hum/moan at constant speeds	Abnormal wear patterns	SPIN the tire and CHECK for tire wear. INSTALL a new tire as necessary. INSPECT for damaged/worn suspension components. CARRY OUT wheel alignment.
Tire noise - noise tone lowers as the vehicle speed is lowered	Out-of-balance tire	BALANCE the tire and road test. INSTALL a new tire as necessary. REFER to WHEELS AND TIRES .
Tire noise - ticking noise, changes with speed	Nail puncture or stone in tire tread	INSPECT the tire. REPAIR as necessary.
Wheel and tire - vibration and noise concern is directly related to vehicle speed and is not affected by acceleration, coasting or decelerating	Damaged or worn tire	GO to PINPOINT TEST J .
Tire wobble or shudder - occurs at lower speeds	Damaged wheel bearings	SPIN the tire and CHECK for abnormal wheel bearing play or roughness. ADJUST or INSTALL new wheel bearings as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION - 4X2 or FRONT SUSPENSION - 4X4 .
	Damaged wheel	INSPECT the wheel for damage. INSTALL a new wheel as necessary. REFER to WHEELS AND TIRES .
	Damaged or worn suspension components	INSPECT the suspension components for wear or damage. REPAIR as necessary.
	Loose wheel nuts	CHECK the wheel nuts. TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to WHEELS AND TIRES .
	Damaged or uneven tire wear	SPIN the tire and CHECK for abnormal tire wear or damage. INSTALL a new tire as necessary. REFER to WHEELS AND TIRES .
Tire shimmy or shake - occurs at lower speeds	Wheel/tire out of balance	BALANCE the wheel/tire assembly.
	Uneven tire wear	CHECK for abnormal tire wear. INSTALL a new tire as necessary. REFER to WHEELS AND TIRES .
	Excessive radial runout of wheel or tire	CARRY OUT a radial runout test of the wheel and tire. INSTALL a new tire as necessary. REFER to WHEELS AND TIRES .
	Worn or damaged wheel studs or elongated stud holes	INSPECT the wheel studs and wheels. INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to WHEELS AND TIRES .
	Excessive lateral runout of the wheel or tire	CARRY OUT a lateral runout test of the wheel and tire. CHECK the wheel, tire and hub. REPAIR or INSTALL new components as necessary.
	Foreign material between the brake disc and hub or in the brake disc fins	CLEAN the mounting surfaces of the brake disc and hub. CHECK the brake disc fins for material.
High speed shake or shimmy - occurs at high speeds	Excessive wheel hub runout Damaged or worn tires Damaged or worn wheel bearings Worn or damaged suspension or steering linkage components Brake disc or drum imbalance	GO to PINPOINT TEST K .