idfk

There is rubbing noise coming from the front left wheel and I just can't figure out what it is. I can hear the noise with my window down driving at 40 km/h or so. The noise will drown out at higher speeds due to external noises (ie engine noise). The noise does not sound like metal grinding on metal...

I recently changed the front left wheel bearing. So i dont think it's that. I know the noise is coming the front left tires/rim because, when the front left wheel was swapped to the right side, the noise went to the right as well. When the wheel was swapped back to the left, so did the noise. I just dont know what within the tire or rim could cause this noise. Wheel has been balanced and tire pressure checked.

My mechanic suggested the steel belt in the tire might have shifted. But i am skeptical with that answer. Can anyone help?? Thanks in advance!

Stock car. 2008 c class (not 4matic)
Tires and rim - OEM

Doanster

Might sound overly simplistic, but have you checked the tire for a nail, rocks, etc. that could be wedged in the tread? I've had those things be the source of an annoying noise before...

idfk

The tire looks clean; no nails or rocks stuck in tread

Cleanbenz

You may have a broken belt in one of the tire or uneven wear causing cupping of the tire. Happened to me because of a slightly unbalanced wheel. Go get it rebalanced and see if that helps but also make sure the treads aren't worn unevenly

Glyn M Ruck

Run your hand counter rotation over the tread. If you can feel feathering & cupping it is tyre noise. If they are Conti tyres it will sound like a bad bearing.

idfk

Glyn M Ruck and Cleanbenz

The tread and tire physically looks okay; no feathering or cupping, and the tread looks evenly worn out. However, prior to rebalancing my left wheel, the mechanic told me it was slightly off balance. After rebalancing, the noise went away, only to return the very next day. Now the noise comes and goes, it's not as consistent as before....

Glyn M Ruck

Still run your hand over the tread ~ one can frquently feel feathering that is not obvious to the eye. It will react differently to different road surfaces.

idfk

okay, I will give that a try. What am I looking for? bubbles and bulges?

Thanks!

idfk

Here is a video with the noise....it sounds like a creaking/rubbing noise

http://youtu.be/mRn10Fc5qNU

ps. you can also hear my footsteps lol

Glyn M Ruck

You would feel sharp edges on the tread moving your hand one way & not the other.

This noise is weird! Some thoughts. Tread delamination on the tyre. I would say try another wheel in that location & see what happens but you have done that so we know it is this tyre/rim combo.

I think it is a delaminated tyre or something inside the tyre like a piece of TPMS sensor etc.

The fact that the noise moved with wheel location removes possibility of suspension drop links & castor bushes or wheel bearing. I would have been suspicious that the new wheel bearing had been overtightened or damaged at fitting.

Take a very good look at the rim for peripheral cracks & around the lug bolts. Ensure lug bolts are tight.

I think we have a tyre delamination/separation here. Time for a new tyre. If you jack up the car & unload the wheel & then spin it does the noise disappear?

idfk

Glyn M Ruck

When the car is on a jack and the wheel unloaded, the mechanic and I didn't notice any noise when spinning the brake disc....

You are probably right. It seems like another member in another benz forum experienced the same noise and it was fixed by replacing the tire.

Glyn M Ruck

Then it's almost certainly a tyre delamination. Happens more often than it should.

idfk

Thanks for all of your help.

If anyone thinks it's because of some other issue. Please let me know.

RLE

I think you need to get that tire off the car before it comes apart at speed and ruins your day.

idfk

is it still safe driving with a tyre delamination? would the tire burst while driving?

Carsy

If you value your safety & your passengers + other road users then you should renew the tyre asap.

If the tread separates it can also cause damage to your wheel well



Delamination is the process where the tyre through various possible reasons separates into its component parts. Running for a considerable time in an underinflated or overloaded condition is the single largest cause of tyre delamination. The most common example is seen on the side of the motorways in the UK where you can see the tread sections of both truck and car tyres on the hard shoulder.

This is usually due the tyre suffering a slow deflation and the losing pressure until the volume of air inside the tyre is insufficient to carry the loads and stresses placed upon it. As the tyre pressure drops the build up of heat within the casing leads to delamination and the component parts separate.
Source :-http://www.etyres.co.uk/glossary-tyre-terms?term=delamination

RLE

Are you going to keep asking the same question until you get an answer you like?

The consensus is that the tire is coming apart. Your next post

should report that the tire has been replaced.

Glyn M Ruck

This is a safety issue. Replace the tyre.

Carsy

With the tyre removed from the rim you may see some indication of damage on the interior.

idfk

Great...thanks everyone!

Benz45

i have encountered the same noise and its a bit louder when am in a closed area and driving really slowly....when i read this thread i have been experiencing that left side Driver side{USA) tire was losing air from time to time. i thought it was the cold NYC weather or a nail, but it wasnt cause for now when i inflate the tire it has held its tire pressure. the Tire threads are about 55-60%. and i didnt ride with them deflated under 25PSI, as my TMPS goes off i will put air into them. i work at a Diesel Engine Shop so air is as my leisure.
Please can anyone confirm that i would need a new tire. I will take it off and do a wheel turn without rim/tire on tomorrow. And yes it does sound when i move even just a little bit. THank you all

idfk

The issue was a noisy tire. Got a new tire and the noise is gone.

Benz45

Yes i have the same issue. it sounds like a rubbing noise and it only sounds at low speeds and its coming from a tire that was losing tire pressure before but now it holds.

tannyorama

i had the same issue-rubbing creaking noise from the front end of the car around the front tires.
got new front tires and the noise is gone.
thanks guys for all the help here.
now i have conti tires in the rear and the new bridgestones in the front.should i change the rear ones too or just leave them the way they are?

sg300

I have the same noise . Dealership told me upon inspection that 3 tires were bad and 2 left side rims were slightly bent . New rims and tire will be here next week. U guys are rignt though, does sound like a bearing problem at higher speeds .hope it goes away after the new rims