Hello
I have just gotten a 2002 cavalier LS. It is a great little car but when I bought it the dealer said he had just put new tires all the way around. They look new to me, but I hear this tire noise, it reminds me of a big 4x4 mud tire but not as loud by no means. Its kind of a low turning sound. It is most obvious on new pavement making a wide right or left turn, like around a long curve. You can hear it with either a left or right turn. Could someone give me advice on the source of this problem?
thanks
Chris
What brand/name is on the tires? How 'bout the size, to? I'm willing to bet the guy put on cheep-oes that weren't intended for econocar use.
most cavs z-24's from factory came with 205 55 16 /215 55 16 there a soft tire why cause theres no road noise good handling etc .. they don't want you coming back to return it the next day the down fall they wear out quickly but some new tires new have road noise when there brand new they need to ware in are there cheapies made to last a while but they suck in the rain and snow so your hearing a vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv humming noise? get the brand name and ask around about it tire come in a rating a,b,c, A is best B is good C is shhhhh he'll never ask!!!!! it's on you tire under handling wear and tread
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/4235/jim25ek.jpg
If the dealer put them on, more than likely they are cheapie tires. The old ones probably were close to or failed inspection and they had to put them on to sell the car. And dealerships are not going to put alot of money into a used car to try and sell it.
See if any of the places around you will do a free alignment check and road test. I think firestone does that for free or it's a small fee to do it. If your alignment checks out ok, more than likely you've got junk tires.
Also makes sure your powersteering fluid is full. I know that's kind of a long shot but ya never know. If the pump is bad or low on fluid it could make some noise that you might mistake for a tire noise. And it would be louder when turning.
Also rememeber, that the cavalier has hardly any sound deadening material. You can hear almost everything going on outside of your car. When I went from my stock 14" steelies with the goodyears on them to the SRT-4 Wheels with 215-45-17 Dunlops, I could hear a tiny bit of tire noise. Nothing major, but the size and type of tire you use will make a slightly different sound. Now if its hidiously loud, thats a totally diff story.
