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Not the old (first generation run-flat) complaint about a bad ride quality - they actually ride fine but I've got something called blocking going on apparently.
Noticed a while ago a wheel vibration, more audible than actual feel. Especially pronounced on smooth roads as you can hear it more. It's now really really annoying me now I've noticed it.
So I had kwik fit check out the wheel balance first (it's a lease car so I have to use those muppits) and all ok apparently. The problem was still though, so it's been into the dealer today for what I assumed would be a buckled wheel or bearing problem.
Picked it up this evening and had a long discussion from the service guy about blocking - where some blocks of the centre tread have worn more than others leading to a step as the wheel rotates hence the noise. apparently they're seeing this quite a lot on runflats, especially the oem pirelli's.
So tomorrow I've got a conversation to have with the lease company to get them to swap still legal tyres over to conti or bridgstone run flats that the dealer said were less problematic. Could be an interesting discussion as they won't want to incurr that extra cost I'm sure.
To my mind either the pirelli's are not fit for purpose (so why are the car manufacturer fitting them) or this blocking is a whole heap of B.S. as the dealer couldn't fix the noise. Anyone else heard of this?
Never heard of blocking. Your description sounds more like a worn bearing but since it's a lease car I assume it's still fairly new. Have they checked the geometry?
had this similar symptoms on non-runflat conti SportContact 2s. Sounded exactly like a worn bearing, down to the noise stopping when cornering t'other way.
Garage just said it was uneven wear due to not being made perfectly round.
I had a tyre problem a couple of years ago, not run flats.
I took the car to my mechanic due to the bearing noise, and to have them changed. He called to tell me that the problem was the tyres and that on poorly finished road surfaces tyre damage occurs. The damage basically left the tyre surface feel like a ratchet, drag your fingers one way and everything smooth, the other way and it was rough as you like.
All fine on the tyre and I'm still running them, the mechanic did no work and got no money, so I believed him.
had this on rear wheels of FWD car. had the geometry corrected and the right tyres fitted and it went away forever
No I asked if they had checked the tracking and they said no as it was definitely this tyre issue. I'll be really cheesed off if new tyres don't fix it and it has to go back to the dealer.
rotating the tyres helps in the short term too
Not tracking on mine, it was the vertical geometry
I swore that there was a wheel bearing out when I bought my car. Sounded EXACTLY like it. Took it in to the garage, they reckoned it was the rear tyres. They were almost out anyway so they changed them for free and the noise went, still fine now 50k miles later.
I heard of the problem with Conti Sport Contacts on Mondeo ST's but not the blocking thing.
For what it costs if your doing the tyres I'd get the geometry/ 4 wheel alignment done. I'd also take it to another tyre fitters for a 2nd opinion.
If the tyres are under the legal limit (in places), then you'll want them changed. And if they are not, you could pay for a new set?
ok it does sound like it could be the tyres then. I'm already paying significantly for having a fully working/serviced/tyred car so I certainly won't be buying them. They're 4mm across most of the width so legal but I'll push for getting them swapped tomorrow. Thanks!