PolkaDotPanda
Jun 29, 2012, 09:30 AM
I have a 2006 Ford Escape XLT FWD. Less than a week ago, I had four brand-new Michelin LTX M/S2 tires mounted, balanced and installed on it. The place that did the installation inflated them with nitrogen (their standard practice), but I don't know if this is even relevant to my question. This is the first completely new set of tires I've ever put on an SUV. Are new SUV tires supposed to be noisy? It's not a grinding, popping noise, and the noise is steady even through turns, so I don't believe it's the wheel bearings. The noise is more like a deep hum that gets steadily louder with speed. It's not deafening, but it is annoying. I also notice a very slight vibration.
The tires that were on it were Continental ContiTrac that were OEM, and they had gotten noisy, too, but I thought that was because they were getting worn out. It's also why I didn't want that same brand when I replaced them. When I replaced them last week, they had over 50K on them. These new tires are rated for 70K and I read in other forums that "harder", longer-wearing rubber is naturally noisy and that as the tread wears down, it'll get "better".
I've had this vehicle for 6 years and it's never been involved in any collisions, front-end or otherwise, or any hard bumps against curbs. I want to get some advice before taking it to a mechanic, who might come up with something expensive to fix. Should I give the tires time to break in? Or could be something else?
The tires that were on it were Continental ContiTrac that were OEM, and they had gotten noisy, too, but I thought that was because they were getting worn out. It's also why I didn't want that same brand when I replaced them. When I replaced them last week, they had over 50K on them. These new tires are rated for 70K and I read in other forums that "harder", longer-wearing rubber is naturally noisy and that as the tread wears down, it'll get "better".
I've had this vehicle for 6 years and it's never been involved in any collisions, front-end or otherwise, or any hard bumps against curbs. I want to get some advice before taking it to a mechanic, who might come up with something expensive to fix. Should I give the tires time to break in? Or could be something else?