Can someone help please, I have a Mini Cooper S and have recently been hearing a loud noise coming from the wheels, it sounds like its a flat tyre, but they're not flat, the pressures are all ok and the tracking has just recently been done, which they said was way out.
They told me that I needed a wheel bearing on Near Side Rear, so that must have been making the loud grinding/knocking noise. I had that done today but it's still doing it, I'm taking it back tomorrow.
Has anyone else had that kind of noise and what could it be? So, it's not tracking, flat tyre and wheel bearing...hope someone can give me some ideas please?
I would it comes mainly from the back, I can't tell what side it is coming from but the wheel bearing was on NSR. And another thing it does, which I forgot to mention, is that when I drive over any bumps or uneven road, the steering pulls me to the side or you could say the steering goes loose for a second.
Also, another thing, I have run flat tyres as well, so wonder if its something to do with them? I've only had my Mini for 3 weeks
What size wheels do you have? Are they 17"? Mine has 17's and when I had run flats the car used to tram line like nothing I've ever seen. I've got rid of the run flats now and it does do it slightly, but not as severe as with the run flats. I believe this to be a trait of the car (mine will pull left or right depending on the direction of the surface or bump)
Luckily my car had to go back to where I bought it for some work to be done and they put 4 new tires on free of charge. Although normal tires will help tram lining, 17" wheels wont. I've heard smaller wheels eliminate tram lining but in my opinion I'd rather have the 17" for the handling and looks!
I do have a droning noise at the moment but am pretty sure this is a binding brake caliper and nothing to do with the wheels/tires
Wow that's lucky, I've heard run flats are very expensive to buy, something like £120 each. Yes I know what you mean 17" looks good, but I would like a nicer drive though.
Good point about the possible brake problem, I didn't think of brakes. That's the same noise I have, sounds a bit like a grinding noise.
Yeah runflats are quite expensive, I found the ride to be a lot harder with run flats so much prefer the normal tires. You say you've only just had the car, I like you was concerned at first but I got used to the handling, but dropping down to say 15" wheels would eliminate the tram lining.
I also have a grinding noise, when I press the brake pedal - is this similar to what you have?
The grinding noise is constant on mine. My dad contacted a garage about wheel bearings and they said to have the brakes checked because brakes binding/seizing is a common fault with mini's.
Yeah I have a constant noise too, but louder grinding when I press the brake pedal - sounds like we may have to same problem. I'm presuming mine is binding brakes, haven't checked yet. I have heard its common on MINI's and have eliminated the possibility of wheel bearings because the noise doesn't change when turning a corner.
you do get a droning noise from the tyres mine do it on standard 16" rims with run flats and its mainly road noise from tyres. iv got to replace the 2 front tyre's on mine and been quoted that run flats are £110 each, they do tram line really bad. iv been told it would have less road noise and less tram lining and more of a comfortable ride from NON run flat tyre's because the side walls are less harder.
Hope thats of any help
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Noise from Wheels/Tyres 
