Tire noise

[Clement]

Found the problem!

It was a wheel bearing. I had put over 1000 miles on the car since I started to hear the noise.

Oh well, $14 bearing and $130 to have it installed. Now the car is as quiet as it's ever been.

Oh yeah, the car really did need an alignment.

 

[slugsgomoo]

i would stay away from putting new tires on one at a time as well- as you found out, torque steer is very pronounced when one tire has WAY more traction than the other on the drive axle.

I always suggest upgrading to new tires in pairs on 2WD vehicles, and sets of 4 on AWD. You could always get a tire shaved to the height of the other tires, but that's a waste of a tire (unless you're racing) IMO, combined with the fact that new tires are stickier due to the way that the rubber ages.