humming noise sounds like tire tread sound but louder

Go to a parking lot or curvy road. Drive along and listen to the noise, does it change as you turn right/left? Louder, harsher? Wheel bearings can make loud sounds, but the common one for a sealed unit is a loud hum. It will change as you load/unload the bearing as you turn the wheel.

Is it correct that when you turn right, it will load the left and when you turn left it will load the right?

I tried in a parking lot but, I heard nothing turning left or right. I only start hearing the "loud hum" when I reach twenty five mph and faster. The faster the louder the hum.

Could very well be tire noise as it only starts at speed. Could also be a rear bearing, See if a local parts store has a chassis ear for rent or get a cheap digital recorder and microphone and record the sounds at each tire well. If they all sound the same, it is the tires.

Thank you, I will do that.

I have seen those front bearings on those car be bad and not change louder or softer turning left or right.Sounds to me like a bad wheel bearing.If your going to fix it yourself? With a Jack and jack stand I can tell you a trick to find which one it is with out chassis ear or even driving the car.

What is your trick?

Put the front wheels up off the ground on Jack stands on a level surface.make sue you pull the brake.Put the car in neutral then put one hand on the coil spring and spin the wheel as fast you can with the other hand.If the bearing is bad you will be able to feel the roughness in the coil spring.Compare the both sides to each other so you can feel the difference.

Similar to mine, but I use a stethoscope to listen to the bearing through the hub.

The coil spring works great it acts as a tuning fork it carries the vibration great.

Thanks so much, both of you, for taking the time to reply.

Your welcome what did you find?

Nothing yet, all tests have passed. I did find a (not sure what to call it) rock guard? Behind the bumper that had two pop rivets that had broken and it allow this piece to vibrate with the road wind. I also read some reviews about the tires I have purchased and the biggest, repeated complaint is that road noise from the tires increases after about 5000 miles.

You might have something there with what you read about your tires

Yes, but I can definitely feel that rock guard (?) Vibrating through the floor board. That's what made me discount "tire noise" being the sole issue.

I could give you the advice a shop around me seems to use "Noise complaint - told customer to turn radio volume up."

I actually get a lot of tire noise complaints in the winter, cold rubber and studded tires really sing on concrete and the owners have forgotten from last year.

Well, the only problem is that the stereo stopped working after I replaced the battery. Still haven't solved that issue.

So you trued my trick with all four tires?take the mud guard off and see where your out noise wise?

I'm not sure I understand the meaning of your last response. I only did the front two tires. What do you mean with the mud guard. And, if you don't mind, what do you think about the stereo issue. I check the fuse inside and under the hood and neither running to the radio is blown. It is the factory stereo. I've read many forums that report the problem but other then the fuses, there are no other suggestions. Everything was fine until I installed the new battery.

I think he means to remove the loose guard to rule that out, but I'm thinking you probably secured it in place already.

On the stereo issue. You might want to post that as a separate question to get more exposure. With it tied to this question it will get lost in the mix.

Looks like 3 fuses total
Radio (ACC) fuse 10A
Radio (Batt) fuse 15A Both on the BCM at the center of the dash
Radio fuse 21 20A in the under hood box.

My thinking is that you need to enter a code into it because the anti-theft feature has activated.

Yes that's what I ment also I would check the rear bearings also to rule that out as well.

He needs to remove the guard? Lol, I'm a she and didn't secure or remove the guard yet. It has rivets and I don't have a tool to remove them. A few of the rivets pulled through but I believe the part is still salvageable. I just need to come up with some creative engineering.

Thanks for the tip on the third fuse for the stereo. As far as the code for the anti-theft, is there any place that an owner can get the info on that? Or does one have to take the car into the dealer to have that done. My gut tells me that you are exactly right and this is the problem. Thanks so much!
Vanessa

What does it say on the radio screen ?Or what doesn't or does the radio do?

The radio says nothing,
It's like there is no power getting to it which is why I was looking for a blown fuse.
I has read many comments, on different forums, where the chief complaint was that after a person changed the battery, the stereo no longer worked. There was at least 50 different complaints and no consistent solution; or any solution at all. Totally frustrating!
Vanessa

I have changed batteries on those cars and never had a issue with the radios.Try pulling all the radio fuses for ten minutes at the same time see if the radio resets.Also make sure all the radio fuses has power to each side of them.Also check those back wheel bearings.

I will, thank you. I need to pull the three fuses? Disengaging the battery for 10 mins won't allow it to reset?

No pull the fuses the battery got you in the mess to begin with.

Good point! Again, thank you so much for your time and advice.

Your welcome were here to help.