On 8 Aug 2003 01:58:11 -0700, robertchinneck@hotmail.com (Robert) wrote:

>Hello all
>
>I have just bought a V reg (1999) Honda Prelude 2.2 VTi Motegi in the
>UK. This only my 2nd car (first was a Vauxhall/Opel/GM Cavalier) and
>the first sports car I've owned. I am a bit concerned with the tyre /
>road noise. I have 17" alloys and directional tread tyres to fit them,
>all correctly fitted according to the arrows on each tyre to indicate
>rotation direction.
>
>I know it is difficult to express how loud the noise is in words!
>
>Is there anything I can check or any other people who think / have had
>excessive tyre /road noise?
>
>Is it just to be expected that with such tyres/cars you do get
>considerably more noise than with a car like the cavalier?

Are those new tyres? What brand and type? Some of the modern all-season
tyres get very noisy on the last 50% of their wear - I had Pirelli P4000STs
which about drove me crazy. Even at low speeds, under braking they sounded
like an old tram-car electric motor - at speed the whine was very
"wearing".

>The wheel balancing, tracking, and tyre pressures seem OK by the way.
>
>The only wheel steering problem I've had is when I stop normally at
>lights, sometimes the steering wheel pulls gently but firmly to off
>centre in either direction. Now this may just be the camber of the
>roads in Liverpool (!) but my friend says it could bt tyre pressure,
>or brake caliper settings being different on each side of the car?

How are the tyres wearing?... evenly across the tread with no cupping?...
best indication of alignment or tyre construction problem. Most of us here
pressure the tires 2-3lbs higher than Honda recommends: e.g. 32psi instead
of 29psi and of course use a good gauge - not the gas station one. If it's
pulling in either direction, are you sure it isn't just road surface
irregularities? You tend to get ripples in the asphalt at traffic lights
from the load of heavy trucks braking.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??