Why Your Tires Are Making Noises When Turning

‍Why Are Your Tires Making Noises When Turning?

When turning a car, the sound of the tires can be heard. But if the sound seems excessive or unnatural, it could be a tire rubbing against something or another issue that needs to be addressed.

The causes of this noise are varied, but it can also be a sign that you have low tire pressure or a faulty bearing. Knowing what the noise means and how to fix it is important to avoid accidents or damage is important.

We have identified the five most common reasons tires make noise when turning below. This should help to determine what is wrong with your car.

5 Reasons Why Tires Make Noises When Turning

Don’t be alarmed if you hear a tire noise when turning. It is not always a severe issue; often, it can be solved with a few simple steps.

The two most common reasons are low PSI levels or faulty wheel bearings, and it is often difficult to determine the cause of your tire noise. We will help you figure that part out as well.

1. Low PSI Levels

There are many reasons why your tires make noise when turning. One common reason is low tire pressure. To avoid this, you should always check your tire pressure regularly.

Low PSI levels cause tires to ride poorly and can lead to premature wear and tear on the tires and a reduction in fuel efficiency.

This can be an even bigger issue if the low pressure or underinflation occurs due to a tire puncture or leak. Poor tire pressure can also lead to a squeaking sound from the tires or less overall road traction.

2. Faulty Wheel Bearings

If your car's wheel bearings are faulty, you will hear a noise when turning. The noise is caused by the vibration of the bearing, which can cause your tires to make a screeching sound.

The sound will fluctuate at different speeds too. It is a good idea to check your wheel bearings if you are getting these sounds. You should also be aware of the signs that your wheel bearings need to be replaced.

When the bearings are bad, you will hear a growling sound, which becomes high-pitched when braking to make a turn. The one positive is how easy this sound is to identify, so the fix is relatively simple.

3. Worn Out Tread Wear

When tires are worn out, they will make noise when turning. This is because the rubber in the tire is no longer capable of gripping the road with precision.

There is insufficient tread depth to grip the road and prevent it from slipping. It also means your tires are uneven, so there is less balance, and this causes turning to be noisy.

All these factors will cause your tires to make noises when turning in your car. You need to replace your tires as soon as possible to avoid this.

4. Loose Wheel Lugs

If you hear a loud humming noise while driving or turning, this can be caused by multiple loose tire lug nuts. This is a common problem, and it can be fixed by tightening the lug nuts.

This can also cause a lot of damage to your car, and it is recommended that you tighten them to stop the wheel and brakes from rubbing together.

Loose lug nuts can cause vibrations that are transferred to the car's body and cause noise. After extended use of your tires or long rides on bumpy terrain, this can happen.

5. Misaligned or Unbalanced Tires

When you have a car with alignment issues or unbalanced tires, the car will make loud noises while turning. This requires a trip to the local repair shop, but it is a cheap fix.

It is important to know how to fix these problems before they become too severe. Having your alignment checked regularly can prevent this from happening.

The noise is caused as the tire rubs against the rim, causing vibrations transmitted to your car's chassis and then to the passenger cabin. Either a tire alignment or a tire rebalancing will solve this issue, so you no longer hear noises while turning.

How Do You Stop Your Tires From Making Noises When Turning?

When you turn your car’s tires, they make a noise. There are many different reasons why your tires might be making this noise, but now that we have identified some causes for that annoying noise, we can fix it.

Below you will find some easy-to-implement solutions that are both entry-level and low-cost. You don’t need a ton of automotive experience to solve the problem.

Perform Regular Tire And Vehicle Maintenance

Regular maintenance is the best way to stop your tires from making general noises and turning. This can be overall service checks or specific tire-related maintenance like rotations, rebalances, and alignments.

As a safety precaution, you should get a tire balance every 4,000 to 6,000 miles. Tire rotations should be done a little less frequently between 5,000 to 8,000 miles.

Alignments are less obvious and frequent, so you can have them check the alignment anytime you take your vehicle for service.

Improve Your Driving Habits

The way you drive has a major impact on how your tires perform. This can result in poor tire performance and tire noises. Try to avoid doing the following on the road:

• Violent Braking
• High-Speed Cornering
• Stop And Go Accelerating

All of these driving habits can put extra stress on your power steering, suspension, and wheels. This leads to faster wear and creates unexpected tire noises when taking turns.

Difference Between Tire Noise And Wheel Bearing Noise

The wheel bearing is often considered a part of the tire, but it makes a uniquely different sound than the actual tire does when turning. This allows you to identify which is causing the problem to address it.

Tire Noise

Tire noise is less distinct and more of a consistent feeling while driving. It is caused by bald spots in the tread wear or overall tire depth being too low.

When this happens, it is time to replace the tire. You can check your tread depth to determine when it is time to get new tires.

Wheel Bearing Noise

Wheel bearing noises are distinct, and it is easier to spot this than traditional tire noise. You will either hear a growling noise or a loud clicking noise.

Because bad treads or bad bearings are the two most common tire noise causes, you need to understand the difference between each to spot the problem correctly.

However, it is worth mentioning that a bad wheel bearing comes in many forms. But it needs to be replaced if you hear a loud, distinct squealing, howling, clicking, or thumping noise.

Other Reasons Why Your Car Is Making Noises When Turning

Not all car noises are bad. You might have heard your car making a strange noise when you turn, and discovering why is not always easy.

There are also other reasons why your car makes noise when turning that go beyond just fixing something with the tire. We have listed a few common ones to consider below.

Power Steering System Problems

If you have issues with your power steering or need new power steering fluid, this can cause noise when turning. And it is easy to confuse this problem with noise coming from the tires.

Worn Suspension Joints

Worn suspension joints can also cause noise when driving or turning. Whining noise can be heard most on turns or when driving at slower speeds when this exists.

Spotting this early is important because it can lead to a complete failure of the suspension, which is a costly problem to repair.

Strut And Shock Issues

Lastly, keep an eye on the strut and shocks because when they begin to fail, noises occur when turning. It will also create less driving comfort, and going over bumps is much bouncier.