Put summers back on, drone noise now

asus389 · 03-22-2010, 05:10 PM

Hey all,

I just swapped my LM25s for my Summer RE050a II tires this past weekend. I am now noticing a slight "drone" noise at high speeds that wasn't there with the winters and also wasn't there with the summers in the prior season. It increases with speed/decreases if I decelerate. Its pretty much not there below 45mph and is pretty pronounced at 80mph. The Summer tires were new this past season and have maybe 4000 miles on them, so I don't think its tire wear thats causing the noise. Is there something they could have done/not done when they mounted them that could account for this? Anything I could have them check?

A

UncleWede · 03-22-2010, 05:27 PM

Road force balanced when put back on?

asus389 · 03-23-2010, 04:40 PM

So my car was at the dealer for another issue today and they said the tires are cupping on the outside for the front two. They are going to check the alignment and suspension. Hopefully an alignment can even out the wear...? Anything else that might cause this issue?

Bartman619 · 03-23-2010, 07:44 PM

make sure you have the tires mounted correctly, if it's a unidirectioinal tire, make sure it's rotating the way it's supposed to.

asus389 · 03-25-2010, 12:40 PM

They are not directional, but they are asymmetric. They are mounted with the "outside" on the outside. The tire shop said that they rotate them side to side when they take off the winters + put on the summers each season. They can't be rotated front to back or cross because they are staggered tires.

BMW say not to rotate them if you have staggered, tire shop say rotate them side to side...

The car has been run with the recommended PSI which is 29F/32R - but I see some people here running higher. Is 29/32 too low for this car? Would that have anything to do with this?

UncleWede · 03-25-2010, 03:22 PM

That cupping/noise is what drove me to get Continentals. For my stock 16" tires, I got 50% of the cost to buy and install the Contis back from BMWNA. Maybe ask if you need a new set with this issue? Yours will be more difficult, since you've got different tires you use in different seasons, but it could be worth some money. I can't remember the TSB for the tires, nor if they apply to yours.

F1 fan · 03-25-2010, 04:38 PM

I have had this same thing happen before and the tires were cupped.

asus389 · 03-25-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleWede

That cupping/noise is what drove me to get Continentals. For my stock 16" tires, I got 50% of the cost to buy and install the Contis back from BMWNA. Maybe ask if you need a new set with this issue? Yours will be more difficult, since you've got different tires you use in different seasons, but it could be worth some money. I can't remember the TSB for the tires, nor if they apply to yours.

Yeah I looked at the TSB and the buyback only covers the Turanza tires, not the Potenza ones I have. I just want to make sure my bases are covered with things that could be wrong with the car/suspension/alignment/etc.. before I start trying to get the tires replaced. The last thing I want is to put a new set on and have the same thing happen because I didn't catch an issue with the car.

cfabluenose · 03-26-2010, 04:57 PM

If there is evidence of cupping, then it's likely the cause is a problem with the alignment or suspension (including shocks and struts). The other cause might be if you drove for a prolonged period with the tires out of balance. Cheaper tires are more prone to cupping but that doesn't sound like your problem. The cupping could definitely cause the droning sound.

asus389 · 03-27-2010, 12:40 AM

Thanks for all the responses. I get the car back on Monday so I will talk to the SA about what they found when I pick it up. He said they checked the suspension and that it would be "easy to see if there was an issue once they got it on a lift". I don't think these are "cheap" tires - they are the OEM 17" tires that came with the 06 325i ZSP. They were new last June (09) when I bought this car CPO. Is it typical for these cars to have suspension issues at 50k?

asus389 · 03-29-2010, 07:58 PM

OK I got it back from the dealer and they did an alignment because they said the steering was off. The suspension checked out fine. The tire wear is the outside tread blocks on the front tires are higher on one edge than the other (the leading edge was lower, trailing higher). When the summers were put back on at discount tire last week they apparently swapped sides with the tires so now the higher edge is leading (rotation for a staggered setup). They also said that the left front wheel was "sightly" bent.

If anyone has had prior experience with this issue - the questions are: A) Now that the alignment was adjusted, if put them back to the original sides (pre rotation), could that help - even though the abnormal wear is already there? B) If I leave them as is (rotated), will they eventually wear the other way and even out, getting rid of the noise? C) How bent does a wheel have to be to cause noise? They didn't suggest replacing the wheel, but should I do it anyways?

ellipsis212 · 03-30-2010, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asus389

The car has been run with the recommended PSI which is 29F/32R - but I see some people here running higher. Is 29/32 too low for this car? Would that have anything to do with this?

My door frame says 32F/36R but I have a different car. I don't see what effect that would have on it though...I'm willing to bet your alignment will solve this issue

UncleWede · 03-30-2010, 04:54 PM

That is the infamous cupping of the tire. Search that one and you should find the TSB as well as all the other complaints. I swear, a wheel bearing was out, and it was like a Chinese water-tirture to drive long distances at speed, the droning was horrible. Then I got Contis and the torture stopped.

asus389 · 03-30-2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleWede

That is the infamous cupping of the tire. Search that one and you should find the TSB as well as all the other complaints. I swear, a wheel bearing was out, and it was like a Chinese water-tirture to drive long distances at speed, the droning was horrible. Then I got Contis and the torture stopped.

The cupping is actually also on the inside of the tire (I guess they didn't notice/write that one down) because I ran my hand over it and its there as well. :-(

How long have you had your Contis? Have you ridden them long enough to know that they too won't cup?

cfabluenose · 03-30-2010, 07:14 PM

The bent wheel probably means that your wheel is out of balance. That can contribute to cupping. Probably a good idea to repair or replace the wheel.

lonestar22 · 03-31-2010, 01:15 PM

cupping is something e90's love to do

UncleWede · 04-01-2010, 10:40 AM

I'm on my second set of Contis. I got about 35K out of the first set on 16" stock rims.

asus389 · 04-06-2010, 09:45 AM

Took it to an independent guy to have him look at the car.

The Verdict:

3 bent wheels - "slightly bent" - aka you can't see it, but if you run your finger along it you can feel it. FR/FL/RR

Front tires were likely out of balance last summer when I was driving on them, but they were balanced properly when put back on a couple weeks ago.

Recommendations:

When you get new tires, have the wheels corrected or replaced and have the new tires road force balanced. Nothing can be done about the current wear pattern... :-(

So I guess I just live with it until then.

Anyone have opinions about wheel "correction" vs. replacing? The shop says 130$ and they can get the wheels back to "perfect" vs. $400 for a new OEM rim.

03-22-2010, 05:10 PM	#1
asus389 Captain 72 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 11 E90 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00]	Put summers back on, drone noise now Hey all, I just swapped my LM25s for my Summer RE050a II tires this past weekend. I am now noticing a slight "drone" noise at high speeds that wasn't there with the winters and also wasn't there with the summers in the prior season. It increases with speed/decreases if I decelerate. Its pretty much not there below 45mph and is pretty pronounced at 80mph. The Summer tires were new this past season and have maybe 4000 miles on them, so I don't think its tire wear thats causing the noise. Is there something they could have done/not done when they mounted them that could account for this? Anything I could have them check? A
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03-22-2010, 05:27 PM	#2
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18176 Rep 9,389 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	Road force balanced when put back on?
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03-23-2010, 04:40 PM	#3
asus389 Captain 72 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 11 E90 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00]	So my car was at the dealer for another issue today and they said the tires are cupping on the outside for the front two. They are going to check the alignment and suspension. Hopefully an alignment can even out the wear...? Anything else that might cause this issue?
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03-23-2010, 07:44 PM	#4
Bartman619 Captain 25 Rep 701 Posts Drives: Bimmer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: SDCA iTrader: (2)	make sure you have the tires mounted correctly, if it's a unidirectioinal tire, make sure it's rotating the way it's supposed to.
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03-25-2010, 12:40 PM	#5
asus389 Captain 72 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 11 E90 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00]	They are not directional, but they are asymmetric. They are mounted with the "outside" on the outside. The tire shop said that they rotate them side to side when they take off the winters + put on the summers each season. They can't be rotated front to back or cross because they are staggered tires. BMW say not to rotate them if you have staggered, tire shop say rotate them side to side... The car has been run with the recommended PSI which is 29F/32R - but I see some people here running higher. Is 29/32 too low for this car? Would that have anything to do with this?
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03-25-2010, 03:22 PM	#6
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18176 Rep 9,389 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	That cupping/noise is what drove me to get Continentals. For my stock 16" tires, I got 50% of the cost to buy and install the Contis back from BMWNA. Maybe ask if you need a new set with this issue? Yours will be more difficult, since you've got different tires you use in different seasons, but it could be worth some money. I can't remember the TSB for the tires, nor if they apply to yours.
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03-25-2010, 04:38 PM	#7
F1 fan Private First Class 66 Rep 177 Posts Drives: 2008 e92 m3 all options. Sold Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dayton Ohio iTrader: (0)	I have had this same thing happen before and the tires were cupped.
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03-26-2010, 04:57 PM	#9
cfabluenose Lieutenant 38 Rep 430 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 328i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wolfville iTrader: (0)	If there is evidence of cupping, then it's likely the cause is a problem with the alignment or suspension (including shocks and struts). The other cause might be if you drove for a prolonged period with the tires out of balance. Cheaper tires are more prone to cupping but that doesn't sound like your problem. The cupping could definitely cause the droning sound. __________________ 2009 328i
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03-27-2010, 12:40 AM	#10
asus389 Captain 72 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 11 E90 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00]	Thanks for all the responses. I get the car back on Monday so I will talk to the SA about what they found when I pick it up. He said they checked the suspension and that it would be "easy to see if there was an issue once they got it on a lift". I don't think these are "cheap" tires - they are the OEM 17" tires that came with the 06 325i ZSP. They were new last June (09) when I bought this car CPO. Is it typical for these cars to have suspension issues at 50k? Last edited by asus389; 03-27-2010 at 12:48 AM..
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03-29-2010, 07:58 PM	#11
asus389 Captain 72 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 11 E90 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00]	OK I got it back from the dealer and they did an alignment because they said the steering was off. The suspension checked out fine. The tire wear is the outside tread blocks on the front tires are higher on one edge than the other (the leading edge was lower, trailing higher). When the summers were put back on at discount tire last week they apparently swapped sides with the tires so now the higher edge is leading (rotation for a staggered setup). They also said that the left front wheel was "sightly" bent. If anyone has had prior experience with this issue - the questions are: A) Now that the alignment was adjusted, if put them back to the original sides (pre rotation), could that help - even though the abnormal wear is already there? B) If I leave them as is (rotated), will they eventually wear the other way and even out, getting rid of the noise? C) How bent does a wheel have to be to cause noise? They didn't suggest replacing the wheel, but should I do it anyways? Last edited by asus389; 03-29-2010 at 08:14 PM..
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03-30-2010, 04:54 PM	#13
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18176 Rep 9,389 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	That is the infamous cupping of the tire. Search that one and you should find the TSB as well as all the other complaints. I swear, a wheel bearing was out, and it was like a Chinese water-tirture to drive long distances at speed, the droning was horrible. Then I got Contis and the torture stopped.
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03-30-2010, 07:14 PM	#15
cfabluenose Lieutenant 38 Rep 430 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 328i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wolfville iTrader: (0)	The bent wheel probably means that your wheel is out of balance. That can contribute to cupping. Probably a good idea to repair or replace the wheel. __________________ 2009 328i
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03-31-2010, 01:15 PM	#16
lonestar22 Ground Clearance? 237 Rep 1,656 Posts Drives: 540i & X5 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: DFW iTrader: (-1)	cupping is something e90's love to do __________________ E90 330i - E90 335i - E92 335i
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04-01-2010, 10:40 AM	#17
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18176 Rep 9,389 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	I'm on my second set of Contis. I got about 35K out of the first set on 16" stock rims.
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04-06-2010, 09:45 AM	#18
asus389 Captain 72 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 11 E90 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00]	Took it to an independent guy to have him look at the car. The Verdict: 3 bent wheels - "slightly bent" - aka you can't see it, but if you run your finger along it you can feel it. FR/FL/RR Front tires were likely out of balance last summer when I was driving on them, but they were balanced properly when put back on a couple weeks ago. Recommendations: When you get new tires, have the wheels corrected or replaced and have the new tires road force balanced. Nothing can be done about the current wear pattern... :-( So I guess I just live with it until then. Anyone have opinions about wheel "correction" vs. replacing? The shop says 130$ and they can get the wheels back to "perfect" vs. $400 for a new OEM rim.
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