Flat tire noise when accelerating! If this is the issue you are going through, our first suspect goes to the tires. If the tires get bad or worn out, it will produce noise. Besides, loose lug nuts on a tire, broken engine mounts or bad CV inner joints are other culprits behind this car issue.
If you don’t address and solve those problems, you can’t stop the noise. And this guide will provide the solution to each issue. So, continue to read.
Table of Contents
Flat Tire Noise When Accelerating [5 Easy Solutions]
In this chapter, we will reveal the reasons behind the flat tire noise.
1. Bad Tires
Getting a bubble! You may hear these phrases. Most folks use these words to indicate the tires that inner walls start separating from the outside. In this case, the tires will produce a rhythmic whump-whump noise as you drive your car down the road.
You can feel the air bubble if you run your hands along the exterior of the tires, especially on the sidewalls near the treads. Be careful while rubbing your hands on tires. Otherwise, it may end up cutting your hands if the tires get worn out to the point where the steel is protruding.
In rare cases, a section of the outer tread may come loose (if you install inexpensive tires) and the outer tread will strike the road and produce a noise that seems like flat tire noise.
Solution:
You have no option except to replace the worn-out tires. If you feel the air bubble or the outer tread of the tire come loose, you must replace the tires. Get the right size tire that is the same as the original one. It would be best to install the tires professionally.
2. Lug Nuts Or Studs On A Tire Come Loose
Your vehicle tires will sound flat when the lug nuts or studs on a tire are loose. If the nuts or studs come loose, the rim will wobble around and chew up the threads. As a result, it won’t be dependable anymore and you can hear the flat tire noise.
Solution:
Inspect the lug nuts or studs on a tire immediately. You must replace the studs if they are loose. Also, don’t forget to change the lug bolts as well.
3. Broken Engine Mounts
The car can make a clicking or flat tire noise if the engine mounts get broken. When you turn the engine on and put it in driver reverse, the mount will twist a lot more and cause the clicking sound.
Even a dry, rotted motor mount that doesn’t actually completely get broken yet will give texture like this.
Solution:
You can check the motor mounts in a couple of ways. Just call your friend and put him in the car. Then, open the hood.
What you need to do next is- just tell your buddy to keep his foot on the brake. Put it in reverse and give a gas with the foot on the brake at the same time.
Make sure he puts his foot on the brake. Now, take a look at the engine mount to see if it’s moving normally.
If you feel it’s making an unusual movement, there is a problem with the engine mounts. You can hear the clicking noise if the rubber bushing of the mounts gets cracked.
The following video will help you a lot in inspecting the engine mounts:
You can fix this issue by replacing the engine mounts. We recommend you bring your car to a certified mechanic to make a change for you.
4. Bad CV Inner Joints
The car feels like it has a flat tire but doesn’t! If you are going through this problem, we recommend you take a look at the CV inner joints.
The CV inner joints get faulty due to cracked or damaged CV boots, faulty boot clamps, and loss of lubrication.
When you drive your car with these problems at high speed or make sharp turns, it will make a noise.
Solution:
Faulty CV inner joints mean you need to inspect a lot of parts including CV boots, boot clamps, and lots. If you are not mechanically inclined, you can’t do this inspection by yourself. So, it’s better to hand over this task to a professional mechanic.
5. Faulty Shock Absorber
The shock absorber is a part of the suspension component. It absorbs the bumps or spring motions coming out of the road.
If it gets faulty, it can’t absorb the shocks when driving on various bumps. Consequently, the meal coil springs may hit the chassis and cause a noise.
Solution:
You should jack up your car to replace a faulty shock absorber. Once you raise your car by placing the jack stands firmly, remove both upper and lower shock bolts and pull out the shock absorber.
Now, install the new shock absorber and replace the upper and lower shock bolts back into their places. Finally, tighten up the bolts. You can also check out the video to learn how to replace the shock absorber correctly.
FAQs:
Why does my tire make noise when I accelerate?
Uneven wear tread is the main culprit that causes the tire to make noise when you accelerate your car. The worn-out tread will create friction against the road and produce noise in the process.
What does a flat spot on a tire sound like?
A flat spot on a tire will produce a thumping noise. You can’t stop this sound until you replace the damaged tire.
What does a bent rim sound like?
A bent rim can also produce a thumping noise. If the rim gets bad, you can also feel a vibration in the steering wheel at high speed.
Conclusion
Bad tires are the main culprit behind this problem: flat tire noise when accelerating. So, inspect your tires for wear out and replace them if needed. Loose lug nuts on a tire or other reasons like bad CV joints are other culprits that can cause a sound that seems like flat tire noise.
Above, we broke down each of them and mentioned the troubleshooting steps to fix. If you fail to stop the noise after trying out the recommended procedure, don’t hesitate to call a professional.
About John M
John contributed as a technical head at an automobile company just 2 years after his post-graduation in Automobile Engineering. He loves to lead a free life, so he left his job & started blogging. Now, he does research on every automotive problem, part & product and seeks a better solution & best products & shares his findings with his readers to help them as well as to minimize their struggle.