1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

2010 Prius, 180k - Help! Increasing loud road noise since putting 2 new tires

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Shamrock2012, Jan 19, 2019.

  1. Shamrock2012

    Shamrock2012 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    14
    5
    0
    Location:
    Massachussetts
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Recently I had a credit for Sears so I took a chance on installing 2 new 3 season continental tires.

    Ever since, I’ve had noticeably louder road noise from the back end where the tires are. At first I just thought it was the new tires but it’s getting louder to the point where people are commenting it sounds like being on a roller coaster or as if something is rubbing on the plastic frame of the car.

    I checked it out and didn’t see anything obvious. Does anyone have any ideas of ways I could check it out before going into the shop?

    I noticed another post with the same issue, interestingly he also went to Sears auto.

    Many advised it may be a wheel bearing. Is it possible/likely they messed something up during the tire change? I didn’t there was much in the way they could mess up mounting 2 new tires.. It does have 180k on it so it certainly could be a normal wear.

    Is there any way to test or see if it’s a wheel bearing or something else? Is it unsafe to drive if it is one that is going? Any advice on how to replace the broken parts in a less expensive way while maintaining quality?

    Thanks for any advice!
     
  2. Shamrock2012

    Shamrock2012 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    14
    5
    0
    Location:
    Massachussetts
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I put down the windows and drove in a parking lot on a smooth surface and didn’t hear anything. It gets worse at highway speeds above 25mph. I did not notice it getting worse changing lanes or cornering.

    It starts as a faint ‘wub wub wub then develops into an RRrRrRRR that comes from the rear cabin. My Dad thought it sounded like I had snow tires with cleats or something similar. Thanks again for any help
     
  3. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,102
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    If the new tires are in the rear, move both to the front. Drive it and if the sound is up front then it's the tires.
     
    Pluggo likes this.
  4. Ballbearing

    Ballbearing Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2015
    38
    16
    0
    Location:
    Huntington Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Ditto... this is what I did with my old Honda Element and the noise was still present. I thought it was my 40% tires, so I got a whole new set of General Grabbers, and the roller coaster sound didn't vanish. Turned out to be two bad wheel bearings in the rear.
     
  5. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2008
    1,259
    853
    0
    Location:
    Monument, CO
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    We really need to know the model of the Continental tire. They make very good LRR tires called TrueContact, but others may not be so. It could also be that the tread is directional and they were mounted in the wrong direction. That's why we need the model. Does the sidewall have any markings as to the direction they should be mounted. Maybe an arrow indicating direction of rotation.
     
    Shamrock2012 and Grit like this.
  6. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2012
    1,555
    659
    0
    Location:
    Central MO
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    II
    Raise your car and spin the wheel
     
  7. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,102
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    (y)(y)(y)(y)
     
  8. jack black

    jack black Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    225
    142
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    I
    i don't think popular tires made by continental are directional .
     
  9. Shamrock2012

    Shamrock2012 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    14
    5
    0
    Location:
    Massachussetts
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I was mistaken, the tires are CooperTires CS3 Touring
     
  10. Shamrock2012

    Shamrock2012 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    14
    5
    0
    Location:
    Massachussetts
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Apologies, the tires are not Continental as I wrote, they are Cooper CS3
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Shamrock2012

    Shamrock2012 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    14
    5
    0
    Location:
    Massachussetts
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thanks guys, the rear passenger wheel bearing was completely shot.
     
    Mendel Leisk, kc5dlo and Raytheeagle like this.
  12. 04priusnow

    04priusnow Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2013
    345
    200
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    just replaced my rear bearings.. same as your right rear was toasted. I replaced both though just in case. my car started sounding like I was in a prop plane and trying to take off on the highway. lol

    PH-1 ?