Tire road noise, louder then it should be

sburns

sburns

Well-known member
Hey riders.

Been noticing my tires are make much more noise then they use to. Like a wobbly howling noise, not sure exactly how to describe it. It changes a little depending on the curve etc. Most of the noise is coming from the front, but some from the back. Tire pressure is good no noticeable leaks etc.

I've read up into cupping of tires, which seems a bit common with heavy cruisers, I haven't looked at mine yet to see if they are. I'm also running stock HD Dunlop tires (D408F & D407) which also seem to get a bit of a bad rap and other riders complain of poor ride quality after some usage. There was a recall on them a few years ago for this reason. But not much since.

Since this is new to me I am also not sure if this is a wheel bearing issue. I have checked the rear bearings and as far as I can tell they seem good. Front not yet.

The front tire is pretty close to being ready to replace, the back isn't but I might just change both to another make and model.

Ideas, thoughts?
Bike mileage is around 106,000 K (66,000 miles)
 
Wheel bearings are almost too cheap not to replace while you are in there replacing tires imho.
Could very likely be the source of the issues.
 
Trials said:
Wheel bearings are almost too cheap not to replace while you are in there replacing tires imho.
Could very likely be the source of the issues.
Click to expand...
True, I've a set ready to be put into the rear end. But holding off a bit as the sprocket is a bit tricky and I believe have to be pressed out. Also need a proper tool to pull them out. Not sure your washer/socket trick will work.
 
run your hand over the tread on the tire, should be able to feel if there's cupping
 
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probably tire wear
cupping is a funny term - doesn't really suit the unusual wear
feathering or scalloping seems to be more accurate

my front is feathered pretty bad now at 15,000 km
front end shakes a bit at low speed when I roll off and it's noisy
rear is squared off as well so these are just about finished

try to put up a pic of the tire, sure to get some opinions
 
sburns said:
True, I've a set ready to be put into the rear end. But holding off a bit as the sprocket is a bit tricky and I believe have to be pressed out. Also need a proper tool to pull them out. Not sure your washer/socket trick will work.
Click to expand...
Take a look at the special tool, it's almost identical to my rigged up one except it has a collet that spreads out to catch the bearing from the inside.
Here's a video that is way too long and he does a couple of strange things like lubricate the bearing seat but at least you can see what's involved.
 
Post a picture of your front tire from the front of the bike.

Left side wears typically faster than the right side. Once it reaches a certain point it's been my experience the tire gets noisier and fits your explanation of how the noise changes depending on bike angle.
 
sburns said:
Hey riders.

Been noticing my tires are make much more noise then they use to. Like a wobbly howling noise, not sure exactly how to describe it. It changes a little depending on the curve etc. Most of the noise is coming from the front, but some from the back. Tire pressure is good no noticeable leaks etc.

I've read up into cupping of tires, which seems a bit common with heavy cruisers, I haven't looked at mine yet to see if they are. I'm also running stock HD Dunlop tires (D408F & D407) which also seem to get a bit of a bad rap and other riders complain of poor ride quality after some usage. There was a recall on them a few years ago for this reason. But not much since.

Since this is new to me I am also not sure if this is a wheel bearing issue. I have checked the rear bearings and as far as I can tell they seem good. Front not yet.

The front tire is pretty close to being ready to replace, the back isn't but I might just change both to another make and model.

Ideas, thoughts?
Bike mileage is around 106,000 K (66,000 miles)
Click to expand...

I use the stock Dunlop tires without any issues. Don't be fooled, Dunlop makes a good tire. I would just throw a new tire on, it might make a difference since you're getting close needing new anyway . You should check your bearings for dirt and wear. I clean my bearings and repack them every two years. I wouldn't change them unless you have a high mileage bike, or you discover some premature wear or damage.
 
Thanks @lucky2 and @J_
Roadghost said:
I use the stock Dunlop tires without any issues. Don't be fooled, Dunlop makes a good tire. I would just throw a new tire on, it might make a difference since you're getting close needing new anyway . You should check your bearings for dirt and wear. I clean my bearings and repack them every two years. I wouldn't change them unless you have a high mileage bike, or you discover some premature wear or damage.
Click to expand...
So far I haven't had any trouble with the Dunlops until well...maybe now. I don't think I can re-pack my bearings they are sealed. Unless I misunderstand.
 
sburns said:
Thanks @lucky2 and @J_

So far I haven't had any trouble with the Dunlops until well...maybe now. I don't think I can re-pack my bearings they are sealed. Unless I misunderstand.
Click to expand...

Come to think of it you don't have the tapered bearings like I have. Yours are the sealed Timken rollers that don't need packing. Those should last for a long time unless something has got into them (happened to my Yamaha years ago, factory flaw let the seal leak, bearing disintegrated, there was a loud squeal as I rode down the highway etc.). I would just check the rolling resistance of the wheel. Also take a look at your brake calipers to be sure there isn't something seized there.
 
Hey all I meant to do an update, then forgot, anyhow. Here are a couple of picture of the front and back tires. The day before I was doing some gravel, so it looks messy.

On recent rides, I believe most of the noise is coming from the front, which is due for a change. The rear I think has some noise not as much and mostly on curves. ?‍♂️

IMG_4247.jpg
IMG_4248.jpg
 
The front tire on my Wing (GL1200) would "sing" when steering in one direction at speed (but not the other). Somebody told me this was due to the uneven tire wear provided by riding on roads that have a slight gradient toward the shoulder for water runoff.
 
Elevate the rear wheel, grasp it firmly from the top and the bottom and wiggle it as hard as you can like you are trying to rip the tire off, roll it and do it again, if there is any side play at all detectable in the wheel bearing, that is too much.
same with front (y)
 
Trials said:
Take a look at the special tool, it's almost identical to my rigged up one except it has a collet that spreads out to catch the bearing from the inside.
Here's a video that is way too long and he does a couple of strange things like lubricate the bearing seat but at least you can see what's involved.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this, finally had a chance to watch it, it's kinda rough but practical to watch (at one point he loses control of the tightening)
He uses the bearing removal and install tool. I don't see how I could do this without it. I actually have a collet for when I removed the bearing from the cam chest, but no way I can makeshift it into something for the wheel, or some other tool like you have done.
I think I might just buy the tool from amazon.
 
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it's advisable to look at the most common root cause of this noise
to buying special tools based on a guess
most of us here are indicating a tire issue- as you had thought too @sburns

cupping- and I still prefer the term feathering, is something you should look at
can't see from the picture angle of your front if that's what's happening

what you need to look for is an unusual wear pattern
low spots on the tread next to high spots

my front is feathered and noisy - it's also pretty near miled out
carrying weight and sporty riding can cause this
besides the noise, it can be a bit of a hazard if you're pushing the front tire at speed

not sure if you can see this on the pic - my tires don't have much tread at all from new
but there are visible low areas adjacent to higher area, unusual wear - feathering

St5cuuC.png
 
J_F said:
it's advisable to look at the most common root cause of this noise
to buying special tools based on a guess
most of us here are indicating a tire issue- as you had thought too @sburns

cupping- and I still prefer the term feathering, is something you should look at
can't see from the picture angle of your front if that's what's happening

what you need to look for is an unusual wear pattern
low spots on the tread next to high spots

my front is feathered and noisy - it's also pretty near miled out
carrying weight and sporty riding can cause this
besides the noise, it can be a bit of a hazard if you're pushing the front tire at speed

not sure if you can see this on the pic - my tires don't have much tread at all from new
but there are visible low areas adjacent to higher area, unusual wear - feathering

St5cuuC.png
Click to expand...
Muchas gracias, muy informativo!
 
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You might try Canadian tire or partsource. They have bearing pullers they loan for free. You need a blind type collet puller. They are slide hammer so you won’t hurt the hub face.
 
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