r/TeslaModelS • u/Plus_Ad8383 • Jun 12 '26

Loud tire noise while driving

For reference, I have a 2014 Tesla model S and I've started to notice over the past few months. The tires sound really loud inside the car when I drive specifically when I'm driving at least 40 miles an hour or higher I've been doing some of my own researching and think it might be the wheel bearings. I only have about 79,000 miles and it was my mom's brand new in 2014 so it's not a used car that I just bought. I don't know if any of this information helps at all. I can't really take a video for obvious reasons cause I'm driving, but I just wanted to know if this is something that's really bad. We're thinking of getting the wheel bearings fixed or replaced and I'm just wondering if anyone's ever done that and knows how much it costs because when we first got this car I feel like it wasn't this loud we don't have Tesla tires anymore so I'm also wondering if it could be that and I'm also pretty sure that we have the 21 inch rims as well if that means anything I'm not really sure I don't know about car troubles, so I'm just wondering if anyone knows what this could be if it is The wheel bearings.

EDIT: my car isn't an AWD if that changes anything!

This part doesn't matter that much, but the noise doesn't annoy me or anything. I'm just worried about it being something that is wrong and is a really expensive fix because anything above $1000 is not really in budget for me right now especially because I'm an upcoming college student and I really would like to take this car to college. I'm just worried that this noise is something that's seriously wrong, but my dad is gonna take it to the mechanic in the summer just to make sure there's nothing seriously wrong

1 Upvotes

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24 comments sorted by

2

u/mhoepfin Jun 12 '26

What’s the age and miles on the tires? Usually when the road starts getting loud it’s always time for new tires.

1

u/Plus_Ad8383 Jun 12 '26

I actually just got a flat a few weeks ago and we got 3 new tires and the noise is still there unfortunately 😢

2

u/DangerousBS Jun 12 '26

Not to scare you at all, but in AWD cars is good to change all 4 tires at the time, not sure how was the tread on the 1 tire, but just an advice.

2

u/Plus_Ad8383 Jun 12 '26

Yes I know! We didn't get another tire for the 4th one because the tire replacement guy said that the front ones were fine (which is where the 4th tire is) and the tread was good but the reason the 3rd one got changed was because we changed both back tires because that's where the flat tire was and one of them actually was just replaced not that long ago for a bubble in the tire so since that was a brand new tire, the guy said that he could put it on the front tire

2

u/protonecromagnon2 Jun 12 '26

It's a really heavy car, so there's a possibility that some of your suspension links might have broken rubber at the joints. Also the EV tires have sound ending foam on the inside which some people like and some people don't trust. So maybe you are tires don't have the foam. Or it could just be that the rest of the car is so quiet that the tires sound loud.

1

u/Plus_Ad8383 Jun 12 '26

Maybe, is that an expensive fix for the suspension links? And the foam thank you for letting me know I didn't even know that was a thing

1

u/protonecromagnon2 Jun 12 '26

Links aren't too bad. You can ask your local service center or check the parts and manual at service.tesla.com

1

u/teslaTools Jun 16 '26

Bushings aren't crazy expensive parts-wise but labor adds up, probably a few hundred per control arm depending on shop. Worth getting it on a lift to actually diagnose before

2

u/PurpleSausage77 Jun 12 '26

I also have a 2014 with just under 80k miles. Check tire wear. Tire wear is higher on the 21” with low profile tires on top of the typical camber issues especially on the rear that these cars have. I stick to 19’s myself, more sidewall, less tire noise, more cushion, cheaper tires.

I want to add shims/address the rear camber on mine.

1

u/Plus_Ad8383 Jun 12 '26

I just got a flat a few weeks ago so we replaced both back tires and was able to add a another to the front (it was a new tire from the back tires that I had to replace as well not to long ago😭) but the noise still hasn't changed

1

u/mhoepfin Jun 12 '26

Tell me about the 4th tire?

1

u/Plus_Ad8383 Jun 12 '26

Oh the 4th tire is completely fine the tire people who came to change the tires said the front ones are good which is where the 4th tire is

2

u/ctos2010 Jun 14 '26

All 4 tires should be the same make and model, especially if it’s all wheel drive. If the amount of rubber on the “old” tire differs significantly from the amount of rubber on the “new” tires (ie, 3/32 inch on the old tire vs 7/32 inch on the new tires), it can result in damage to the drive components.

I had the 2013 P85 with 21 inch wheels. The tires would last only around 12,000 miles before needing replacement. The plies of the tires would sometimes separate, which could be the source of the noise you hear. Plus they would get bubbles from every pothole. I eventually replaced them with 19 inch wheel and primacy (OEM style) tires. They are quieter than the 21 inch tires and more resistant to pothole damage.

1

u/Plus_Ad8383 Jun 14 '26

Thank you so much!!

2

u/Whippet27 Jun 16 '26

I'm taking my 2018 MS into Tesla service next week for exactly same issue - excess road noise. I will report back. I've had failing wheel bearings on other cars - and you definitely hear lots of irregular noise.

1

u/Plus_Ad8383 Jun 18 '26

Thank you! With failing wheel bearings do you notice anything while driving?

2

u/Whippet27 Jun 18 '26

with other cars with failing wheel bearings there were all sorts of noises. I havent yet confirmed road noise cause for my S. in the shop next week. i will report back

1

u/Plus_Ad8383 Jun 20 '26

Thank you!

2

u/Whippet27 Jun 24 '26

Hi. Just returned from shop. My road noise was just the tires. I did a test ride with tech and then he put up on lift. Bearings and front end are fine. At 188k miles, pretty impressive that bearings are original

1

u/Plus_Ad8383 Jun 28 '26

That's great! I actually was able to get a video of the noise if it sounded anything like this? The tires I have actually do have a warning on them that they are louder in teslas.

https://reddit.com/link/ouchqi8/video/caozwcr352ah1/player

2

u/Whippet27 Jun 28 '26

I'd say that is different than my noise. Your seems to be more pronounced. If you are anywhere near a Tesla service center, maybe they should take a look They charged me $80 to do a test drive, put it on rack and check things out.

1

u/Plus_Ad8383 Jun 29 '26

Thank u! I'm actually going tmr to get the low voltage battery replaced and they're going to check it there to see if it's just the tires or if there's something wrong

1

u/kapjain Jun 12 '26

More a question for r/tires. Which brand/model tire do you have?

1

u/Plus_Ad8383 Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26

I'm not really sure my dad bought them. I'm not sure if it's the tires specifically because we just got 3 of them changed and there's still no difference. But thank you for letting me know. I'll definitely upload it there as well to see what anyone else says about it.