I can't find any places locally anymore that shave tires, so I want to do it myself.

Basically, I have tire noise on all three of my vehicles even though 2 of them have new tires. Bridgestones and Coopers, from two different stores. They insist the tires are balanced. The tires aren't completely round, and I can tell when i have the tire up the air and spin it. A real tire shaving machine is very expensive.

I was thinking of a metal wedge (think basically a doorstop) with either a metal hand file, or sandpaper, affixed to it. Have the engine spin the tires at idle in gear with the car up in the air. Push the wedge under the spinning tire until it makes contact with the high spots only. Let the abrasive slowly remove the high spots on the tire.

Think it will work? I might try making it this evening.

quote Originally posted by masospaghetti: I can't find any places locally anymore that shave tires, so I want to do it myself. Basically, I have tire noise on all three of my vehicles even though 2 of them have new tires. Bridgestones and Coopers, from two different stores. They insist the tires are balanced. The tires aren't completely round, and I can tell when i have the tire up the air and spin it. A real tire shaving machine is very expensive. I was thinking of a metal wedge (think basically a doorstop) with either a metal hand file, or sandpaper, affixed to it. Have the engine spin the tires at idle in gear with the car up in the air. Push the wedge under the spinning tire until it makes contact with the high spots only. Let the abrasive slowly remove the high spots on the tire. Think it will work? I might try making it this evening.

If it's out of round it could be from sitting in one place for to long or a defect in the tire itself. or it could just be over inflated, not sure I would try to save it myself. I did have that problem with a set on the front of the Fiero a few years back and they replaced the tires as they were less than 6 months old and under a 1,000 miles on them so I had no problem.


Edit to add, is Rogers near you?

http://www.rogerstiretruing.com/

Steve

------------------
Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't



Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 11-08-2013).]

Sounds kind of like a dangerous idea be careful.
Internal belts can shift too, if that has happened the tire is junk. Usually the sidewalls will spin true but the tread wont. Have you moved the tires to different location on the vehicle and seen if the problem moves with it?

When I went back to Tire Kingdom, first they said was that the wheel bearings were bad. I told the service manager that I just put new bearings in and the noise is still there. He said the new bearings were probably defective. At this point I got angry and insisted a mechanic go for a drive in it - sure enough, he agreed the tires were noisy.

Of course, they said the tires were fine and that

"New tires need to "break in". Drive it for another 500 miles and it should be fine"

I'm confident that the tires will not heal themselves and by that point they won't be willing to exchange them.

EDIT: I called that Rogers place but he charges $40 per tire, seems expensive! There was a place back home in Georgia that shaved a set of bad tires for me for $15 a tire and the result was fantastic.

[This message has been edited by masospaghetti (edited 11-08-2013).]

Do a 3 minute burnout, rotate tires and repeat.

quote Originally posted by masospaghetti: When I went back to Tire Kingdom, first they said was that the wheel bearings were bad. I told the service manager that I just put new bearings in and the noise is still there. He said the new bearings were probably defective. At this point I got angry and insisted a mechanic go for a drive in it - sure enough, he agreed the tires were noisy. Of course, they said the tires were fine and that "New tires need to "break in". Drive it for another 500 miles and it should be fine" I'm confident that the tires will not heal themselves and by that point they won't be willing to exchange them.

Have them put it on a spin balancer, while you are there. if it is out of round it will be clearly visible under spin, grab a white paint marker or large grease pen and hold in around the outside edge of the tire. if it is out of round it will show up when they stop the tire as some parts will have paint, grease on it, others won't.

or you could try this.

http://youtu.be/FaFZEK5i7_s

I wouldn't, but that's up to you.

Steve

If its just noise it cant be out of round, youd feel it too.

quote Originally posted by 2.5: If its just noise it cant be out of round, youd feel it too.

So true, noise can be from just the tread pattern, I have bought really good snow tires with huge tread pattern that were great in the snow, but take them out on a bare road surface and they sound like I'm driving a Sherman tank. out of round you would feel it a thumping during driving, not just noise.

Steve

What would cause noise besides the tread pattern?

The noisy tires are Bridgestone Dueler Alenzas and Cooper Discoverer LSX's, both are highway tires. I don't think either should be noisy at all.

these or a lesser pattern,



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Steve

quote Originally posted by tesmith66: Do a 3 minute burnout, rotate tires and repeat.

. Really great idea. Fix tires. Cure boredom.

quote Originally posted by masospaghetti: What would cause noise besides the tread pattern? The noisy tires are Bridgestone Dueler Alenzas and Cooper Discoverer LSX's, both are highway tires. I don't think either should be noisy at all.

A few thoughts, is your alignment good?
Also wheel bearing is logical, but if they are all replaced that should rule that out. A shaft rubbing on something?

I relooked at your OP, you have three vehicles making excessive tire noise?

Non lug tires shouldn't make enough noise to hear. Lug tires certainly will. If your tires are that out of round they are faulty. I can't remember when truing and balancing stopped being a standard part of buying tires, but I haven't heard the phrase " tires trued " in at least thirty years. Never had that happen, no matter what brand I bought.

quote Originally posted by 2.5: If its just noise it cant be out of round, youd feel it too.

this

quote Originally posted by 2.5: A few thoughts, is your alignment good?

Yes, I just had the alignment done on it.

quote I relooked at your OP, you have three vehicles making excessive tire noise?

Sorry, I should have clarified.

First off, I am very particular about my vehicles. The noise is probably not significant at all to most people but its enough to bother me.

I have two vehicles - a 96 Explorer with Cooper tires and a 2000 Explorer with Bridgestones - that both ride smooth, but have tire noise.

My girlfriend's vehicle, a 04 Grand am, has a single cupped tire that is obviously noisy. If this DIY tire shaving seems to work at all, the cupped tire would be my next patient.

If youdo it yourself, your going to also have to make the suspension solid. Any movement will just add to the problem. I had a pro shop shave a set that was nearly new (less than 2000) that were obviously out of round on a Mustang. I waited in the waiting room till they were almost done. They shaved them dismounted from the rims....wtf ? They took of between 1/3 and 1/2 the tread. I told them theyre supposed to be shaved ON THE WHEEL. They told me they were fine now. Test drive with the tech and it shook 3 times worse than when I took it in. I had to take them to court to buy me a new set of tires.

Which tires exactly, are we talking about? Have you read reviews about these tires to see if people are complaining? Have you changed air pressure in them to see if that has an impact on the noise?

DIY tire shaving - think it will work

Don't bother. Female tires seem to go for scruffy male tires these days. Just keep them on opposite sides of the car.

quote Originally posted by heybjorn: DIY tire shaving - think it will work Don't bother. Female tires seem to go for scruffy male tires these days. Just keep them on opposite sides of the car.

just

Steve

Sounds like something that could possibly work, but would likely have a high chance of possible catastrophic failure

One word. No.

Burt Munro seemed to do it just fine with a carving knife...
edit to correct spell check grr!

[This message has been edited by jaredmurray88 (edited 11-10-2013).]