I've been noticing a thumping noise from the tires as they rotate during low to moderate speed (20 -30 mph). It gets more pronounced during braking. The service technician said it caused by the wear of the tires and there is nothing that can be done about it. It is just because of the soft compound of the tires. It is actually quite annoying.

Anyone else had the similar problem?

 

I havent noticed anything in mine. Have you let the car sit for extended periods of time? How long did the car sit on the dealers lot? When I first started racing, I let one of my cars sit for a couple months causing flat spots on the tires. As pressure builds at higher speeds, they will begin to round again. However, at low speeds there was definitely a thumping noise. After a couple thousand dollars in new tires, I drove around the culdesac every few days. Take a tire off, take a chalk rope, and put it all the way around the tire. if you cant see a flat spot before, this will point it out. I've never heard of "wear" off tires causing a thumping noise, unless the tires are defective. I call bs on the tech. Try going to an independent tire shop you trust, they may be more forthcoming.

John

 

Thanks Pennys58. It has not been left parked for any extended period of time and when I bought the car, it had literally just came off the delivery truck. I have seen (heard) the thumping issue from tires that are off alignment; but the abnormal wear was very evident. I only have 8500 miles on the car and there is no visible abnormal wear on the tires. I suspect one of the tires may be out of shape because the streets of LA are full of large potholes. I am going to a regular tire shop to have them checked out.

 

Just got back from the tire store. They did find a visible bulge in the right front tire as I had suppected.

 

I agree with John, + badly out of round would also shake your teeth out.

You say it increases with braking, then I would also be looking at the braking system for something amiss.

Could just be crud/rust on discs. With only 8500 miles it may be that your pads were not correctly bedded in from the start.

With new pads and disks there is a procedure to follow. It is on here somewhere but I can't remember exactly where.

EDIT, cross posted. Glad they found a bulge. Caused by what though?

 

There are a lot of potholes on the streets of LA and new ones appear on a daily basis. Our road condition is just crapy. I've hit a few of those potholes, I think that might have caused the steel belts in the tire to break. I've had that on my previous car a few years back. Thankfully, I bought the tire and rim protection plan and it has basically paid for itself.

 

I feel sorry for you. We banned potholes over here, it must be that they somehow got shipped over there.

I'd never even heard of tyre protection insurance until I joined this forum.

Maybe something to be said for taller tyres and slightly smaller rims.