Nissan Micra 04 1.4 - 'Drumming noise' - Paul Robinson

Car went for annual service at the independent garage that we've used for many years. It needed a new n/s/r tyre and they could not source a matching Conti one, so fitted a Firestone instead. Straight away it was making a 'drumming noise' mainly in the 30 - 55 mph range. We assumed it was a problem with the tyre and it has now been swapped for a matching Conti tyre, but we still have the noise.

Suggestions please!

I'm think about wheel bearing - could running a new tyre suddenly start it to get noisy?

Nissan Micra 04 1.4 - 'Drumming noise' - davmal

Speed related drumming/drone/hum can be due to tyre wear from previous misalignment and readily confused with a bearing problem. Has the garage rotated the tyres or swapped side to side?

On each tyre, run the flat of your hand over the tread, in the direction of rotation ie along the line of the tread, not across it, and see if you feel a saw tooth line of wear usually on the inner or outer shoulded, a couple of inches from the edge.

To check the bearing you will need to lift the wheels clear of the ground, then try to rock them in a north/south, and east/west direction, there should be no play or knocking as you do it . Bearing noise would generally be more evident on cornering.

Nissan Micra 04 1.4 - 'Drumming noise' - Paul Robinson

Thanks davmal - the garage hasn't rotated the tyres or swapped side to side. The noise seems to be coming from the wheel with the new tyre!

Nissan Micra 04 1.4 - 'Drumming noise' - Collos25

It sounds to me that you need the car tracked up.