A spare tire is one of the factors that ensure your safety when driving in dangerous situations such as a blown tire on the road. Suddenly, you hear strange sounds from the spare tire on your car. Spare tire making a grinding noise makes you feel very confused and worried about the condition of your tires.
Will the spare tire explode? Why does the spare tire continuously make a knocking sound? What should I do to make the spare tire stop making sounds? To answer a series of questions related to the spare tire making strange sounds, you can learn 5 basic reasons in the article below.
Spare Tire Making Grinding Noise: Causes And Solutions
There are many causes for a spare tire to make noise. We will list the 5 most common reasons below such as tire pressure, tire service life, tire construction, wheel customization, or tire damage.
Tire Pressure
One of the most common causes of tire noise is tire pressure. If the tire pressure is too high, the tire will begin to make a “tick” or “crack” sound as the vehicle moves. The cause of this noise is caused by the amount of air inside colliding with the wall of the tire.
Conversely, if the tire pressure is too low, it can sound like you’re stepping on an exploding balloon. The reason is that there is not enough air in the tire, so the weight of the car on the tire causes the tire to rub against the road surface.
Therefore, it is extremely important to determine the right tire pressure for each type of tire and car manufacturer. Because it not only helps reduce noise but also improves the fuel efficiency of cars. At the same time, proper tire pressure will also help you reduce the risk of serious accidents caused by sudden tire explosions on the road.
To determine the right tire pressure, you need to check your tires more often. You can use a tire pressure gauge or a digital tire pressure gauge to check the tire pressure. In addition, you should pay attention to this issue if you live in an area with low temperatures or an extremely cold season because tires often lose significant pressure.
After regular and periodic inspections, you can replace worn-out or damaged tires in different locations. The reason is that if your tires are worn they will also make a lot of strange sounds. Also, when driving long distances, you should also check the tire pressure. Because the friction of the road surface can cause the air inside your tires to expand. From there, the over-stressed force will also produce noise after being over-stressed.
Tire Service Life
Tire life or tire age is the leading factor in determining the overall performance of a tire. When you use the tire for too long, it will lose its elasticity and flexibility when moving. The spikes on the tire surface are also corroded, thereby reducing the tire’s grip on the road surface. From there, the sound of the spare tire can be emitted because the rubber layer and tread have less grip.
If you discover that your spare tire is making noise and its service life is long, you should have them checked and replaced. You can determine the age of your tires by looking at the tread wear bars. Its location is in the tread groove, it will tell you the condition of the tire.
If you can’t find the tread wear bars, look for the DOT code. It is a four-digit code and is printed on the sidewall of the tire. The first two digits will indicate the week in the year the tire was manufactured and the last two digits the year.
In general, the average time to replace a new tire is usually after 6 years. However, it also depends on the frequency of use and the wear and tear on the tires. After this time, your spare tire has also worn out and lost its flexibility. So they will often make different sounds.
Tire Tread Pattern
The tread pattern of the spare tire will also affect the sound it produces. In addition, the depth and condition of the spare tire are also factors that create strange sounds.
If the tread pattern is too shallow, it can cause the tire to make a louder noise when you’re driving. This is because there is not enough contact between the spare tire and the road surface due to the tread pattern being too shallow. On the other hand, if the tread pattern is too deep, it will have too much contact between the road surface and your tires. So the sound will also continuously output with different frequencies.
Therefore, you need to make sure to check the treads regularly because they will wear out over the life of the tires. Please replace a new tire and do not insert it too deeply during assembly to avoid noise.
The Wheel Is Misaligned
When your spare tire is misaligned, it can cause the tire to vibrate and make noise when you drive. This is because the tires rub against the ground with uneven frequency and make a sound when in contact with the ground.
You need to check if your wheel is misaligned. One of the most obvious signs of this is the varying degrees of wear and tear on the tires. It is a sign that the wheel is not in alignment and is often misaligned to one side.
If you have discovered signs of a misaligned wheel, you should take your car to a repair center for time alignment. Because if you move with misaligned wheels, the spare tire will make a sound and the whole chassis system will be affected.
Damaged Tire
When a tire is damaged, it will often make a loud and annoying noise. Air pressure usually causes this noise in the tires due to lack of air. Tire damage can occur in part or all of the tire. Therefore, you need to determine the exact extent of the damage to the spare tire to find a remedy.
The most common type of tire damage is a puncture or slit. A puncture or incision will allow air to escape from the tire and reduce tire pressure. A sudden loss of pressure can cause the tire to bend and lead to a sound. To avoid punctures or cuts in your tires, you should avoid sharp objects or regularly check around the parking space.
Another form of tire damage is a bulge or bubble. This condition occurs because the tire is damaged and the internal structure of the tire is weak. It will cause the tire to inflate or flatten, so it can make a loud sound when it hits the curb, pothole, or object on the road.
Conclusion
Spare tires make different sounds that can be caused by many different things. Some basic causes such as tire pressure, tire usage time of more than 6 years, worn treads, and misaligned wheels leading to different wear or damaged tires.
Tire punctures, cuts, or bulges are all signs of a problem with the pressure inside the tire. Therefore, you need to regularly check the condition of the tires to determine the wear of the tread, the wear on each side, and the condition of the rims. If you spot any abnormalities, get a new replacement to ensure that you’re always ready for any unexpected road trips or emergencies.