tire noise on a 2002 S

[wallyip]

The Goodyear F1 All Season tires on my 02 S have recently developed pretty nasty road noise. They have about 8000 miles on them and are not showing excessive wear, but the noise is so loud it's almost a roar. The tires are standard sizes for the S. Has anyone had any experience similar to this? Anything I can do?

[RFM]

Besides tyres, wheel bearings may also produce a roar noise.

[wallyip]

Besides tyres, wheel bearings may also produce a roar noise.

Thanks, I will definitely look into that.

[juniinc]

where is it coming from?

front, back, all the way around?

[wallyip]

where is it coming from?

front, back, all the way around?

Pretty much all the way around, and much more pronounced with the windows down. My local Porsche dealer tells me it's the all-season tires. His explanation is that the tire compound on the vertical walls is designed to start sounding loud in 8000-10000 miles. I don't know if it applies to high perf summer tires as well. What's your take?

Edited March 13, 2009 by wallyip

[70Sixter]

As mentioned it could also be bearings.

BUT. I've had the same symptom with most cars and tires I've owned. High performance or year round. Cured with fresh rubber.

Just replaced the summer hi perf rears on my Box a year ago at 20k miles and that helped cut the noise a lot.

[Alan 01 Boxster S]

As mentioned it could also be bearings.

BUT. I've had the same symptom with most cars and tires I've owned. High performance or year round. Cured with fresh rubber.

Just replaced the summer hi perf rears on my Box a year ago at 20k miles and that helped cut the noise a lot.

I agree. Had noised EXACTLY like wheel bearings on my '01 S, replaced the tires, and no noise. If your tires are worn, I would change the tires first.

[Jay H]

I'm really late to the party here, but I have Goodyear F1 All Seasons too (Boxster S sizes) with about 6/32nd of tread left in the rear and 7/32nds of tread depth in the front (new tread depth is 10/32nds). They are insanely loud on most surfaces at this point. I'm trying my best to leave them on until they really wear out, but the noise is quite annoying...

[986fan]

I swore it was tire noise...but after trying 2 sets of wheels and tires I was convinced.

It was the rear wheel bearings. Had them replaced......noise gone.

[GranburyChuck]

I've got the Goodyear F1 All Season on my 996. Happy with them at first but after minimal tire wear they roar like hell. I even put Dynamat in the back to help minimize it. I've been to the dealer and mine isn't bearings. It's your tires. Your stuck like me, wait until they wear out.

[gerrygug]

The only way to minimize tire noise is to go with the N rated OEM tire for your car. Expensive, but quiet. Porsche works with the tire manufacturer to insure ride and noise characteristics match the car. Nothing wrong with non N tires, some are just noisier than others.