This all started 2 weeks ago after driving 3 hours to our local Discount Tire. We were there because the two rear tires had a warranty claim, One had 2 nails while the other was nearly ripped to shreds but a construction zone in WV. Discount tire replaced the 2 rear tires and rotated the new tires to the front of the van. This cost us 120.00 USD.
Now for the issues, while driving back home, we’re now getting a wom wom sound. So process of elimination, we had the new tires checked for balance and for round. The balancing was off on all 4 tires, but no indication as to how bad tire were out of round. This new tire shop tested my torque wrench too cause I told them that Discount Tire was over tightening our lugs and I could not remove them without the wife standing on the end of the 4 point lug wrench. Some have said get a breaker bar etc… The issue with doing that is that we have tuner spline lugs and because of the on off on off of these lugs with a impact wrench the tuner lugs are showing signs of wear and must be replaced. The new tire shop installed the lugs by hand and torqued to a 150lbs spec.
The tires rebalanced, checked for round… we’re still getting that wom wom sound. So off to another shop to have them check the alignment… and yes that was off too… this shop corrected the alignment and checked the CV as well as the bearings without removing too much hardware.
However the new shop seem to think that because the tires have bene balanced and check for round and the alignment corrected, CV and bearing checked this leaves only to possibility. The tire themselves are making this noise or the rotors/pads are making this noise.
So if someone over torques a lug nut or several just on one side of a floating rotor, can this cause the rotors to dislodge on that side and cause a wom wom sound when rubbing against the calipers or pads. I’m under the impression that our old rotors which have bene over tightened by Discount tire have not lined back up correctly. Thus I’m feeling that I’ll need to remove the rotors and reinstall them just to see if they are floating correctly on the hubs or is this wom wom actually the tires? Now these Nokain G4’s do make a bit of noise which we are aware of and never had an issue with them before till now. Do I have another warranty claim on these tires just because of this wom wom sound.
I’m guessing that Discount Tire has a lot more locations near you than they do in some other areas. Just for the heck of it, I checked to find the closest DT store, and it is 87 miles from my home in Central NJ.
If the old tires were hardly worn, I can understand wanting to put the new tires on the front, since front tires on FWD tend to wear more quickly. The shop can then replace all 4 tires at once and make more money instead of moving heavily worn but usable tires to the front.
Driving 150 plus miles with bad alignment can result in bad tire wear, depending on how bad the alignment was. Or just cheap tires or sure maybe a wheel bearing.
We have argued about the new tires on front or back before, and my experience in wet, snow, and ice, for me made little difference. Good tires on the front with fwd will pull the car out of a skid. Your results may vary as they say, with awd, rwd, posi traction etc. but I just get four at a time now.
Now that you mention it, That idea came to mind and I’ve never heard of this. So when I get a chance, I’ll rotate the new tires to the rear of the van and hope that corrects the wom wom sound.
The sound is consistent with some sort of tire problem. So I’m with the recent shop who told you the same. You might try moving the tires around to different positions as an experiment, see if the noise follows one of them.
You are correct sir, new to the rear… Michelin lost a big ($10M IIRC) lawsuit over installing new tires on the front even though the rears where worn out… Doesn’t matter if FWD, RWD AWD or whatever wheel drive…
Funny thing is, there is nothing to say, that I have found, that says not to rotate them the next day or anytime after that unless down to the wear bars or lower (2/32)…
That was discussed in wayyy to much detail in another thread awhile back as one of our members that is taken a break for now kept on making unnecessary comments about…
I really hope we don’t go back down that road again… It was a custom wheel thing and yes there are closer shops but they would not help the OP out in his adventure, so you are now caught up, enough anyway… lol
When you are driving on a snow covered road though, you would be happy to have the better traction on the front instead of slipping and sliding. I can’t argue with engineers, just know my experience. But like I said I have just been buying four and avoid the whole controversy. I have never found it dangerous though. In bad weather it’s important to keep moving. Bad tires on the front can reduce your ability to keep moving. And I’m talking about roads so bad the only way to tell where yo are is to look at the weeds on the side of the road. No place to stop or pull over without spending the night so continuing on is the only option.
Putting new tires on the front may make a better driving experience, especially with FWD. But it’s quite dangerous when driving at highways speeds, fast in snow or water, or a situation where there is a skid at anything above something like 30MPH.
Back to the original question. If the noise wasn’t there before the new tires and then it appeared, the work done is the most likely culprit. I would not chase the alignment or the axles, etc. It is either a “new” tire issue or they over torquing caused some serous damage.
The discussion on where the new tires go can wait, but at least by rotating the tires you can see if the noise moves or stays on the same wheel. Then you can look at that wheel parts like the bearing, etc.
Yeah I’m still learning with a million and a half miles under my belt. Working on two million. I’ve had two rear blowouts though. Neither one a problem. Just pulled onto the shoulder and changed tires.
To all those whom have responded with “the new tire should be installed on the rear of the car”, I’ll get my chance to rotate them this weekend as a new set of lugs will be arriving this Fri.
Thx for your support.
Update:
This morning took a drive down the street and for the first time in 2-3 weeks I did not hear the wom wom sound… Mind you we checked the CV, Bearings, rebalanced all the tires, added new wheel rings and had the alignment checked… So doing one or all of the above must have done something to correct the sound or if it was the tires, then it must have worn down to a point or the tire settled, if that can actually happen.
