Front End Howl. Tires?
 

I just bought an 05 Mazda3 S 5spd. It's not yet in my hands, but I am just waiting for some payments to go through. However, I have a question about the howl/humming that comes from the front end of the car. I have read that the Mazda3's can have quite a bit of road noise, but that really isn't the issue. I couldn't pass the car up for a little noise, I can just turn the radio up. But I would like to eliminate the noise if at all possible.

The tires appear to howl when reaching crusing speed ~50mph. Below that, the car is pretty quiet. The previous owner said that sound has always been there. It has yet to get worse, or get better in the 2-3 years that they owned it. They recently replaced the tires, and the noise didn't subside. The noise also appears to stay there on turns as well, which I would think would rule out wheel bearings. Any ideas?

Specs on the car
New tires are Falkens, not sure which ones, two replaced late last fall, the other two late winter of this year.
Mileage 123000+

I recall someone else on a forum mentioning that one of the driveshaft bearings can make this sort of noise. There is a seperate bearing outside the transmission for the passenger side, I think this is what they were talking about.
I think it could be something in the trans as well, as far as a bad bearing or something.

Can you feel the vibration? like in the steering or something?
Its possible that there's some plastic that was installed incorrectly causing a howl - like whistling with a bottle ya know?

I to have an 05 3. 5 speed. if its a grinding its a bearing. Which I had replaced the passenger. My mechanic told me there is a bit of road noise that comes from the back tires. Because the rear tires are cambered a little it causes the tires to wear on the inside leaving bald spots. That is the noise your hearing. No big deal. Just need to rotate tires more than usual or replace them more frequently.

Similar noise
 

I have a 2008 Mazda 3 and notice a similar noise. It's most noticeable at low speeds, say 35-45 mph. To me, it sounds like very large gears that are flat ground, not spiral ground gears. It's this sound like you are driving over very rough asphalt that is flat, but course. Not pot holes, just a rough surface road. At 70, I can't hear it. The wind noise takes over and I don't notice it.

I thought about wheel bearings but can't find a manual for 2008, I dread going to a Mazda dealer for fear of getting screwed and molested. Someone out there in Mazda land must have had a similar situation. The tires are wearing just fine, it shifts fine (automatic) and the steering is perfect. It doesn't pull to the left or right and if I take the tranny out of neutral and let it coast, I still hear the same growling sound.

Any suggestions? Oh, I have 76K on the clock.
Thanks
Japcarted

steer left and right while driving, if it's a wheel bearing it will make more noise when there's more weight on it - I.E louder when you turn right, the left bearing is worn.
Since it goes away when you're going faster, i'm thinking it may be a transmission bearing. I think that's the problem with another car i'm taking care of - 02 monte carlo, one wheel bearing was bad, I ended up replacing them both and there's still a grumbling sound and i'm suspecting it's the transmission output bearing... possibly one of the housing bearings that hold the output shafts.

Tire noise & Sailun Atrezzo Z4+AS
 

Sounds like typical tire howl that gradually gets worse with tire wear. I believe it's relatively common in the M3s hatch (self contained "echo chamber" inherent to and more pronounced in all hatchbacks/wagons...someone once told me). I don't know if there is a way to get rid of it totally, only partially - by selecting certain tire mfrs and models...that's the predicament I am in right now.

Sailun Atrezzo Z4+AS....Does anyone out there use these on your car? I need to replace the Dunlop Sport Signature tires on my '05 M3s hatch, 5sp manual; great, very responsive tire, but they've gone from just a tiny bit noisy to unbearably loud 30k miles and 3 years later; they've worn quite evenly w/ regular rotation and alignment. Research seems to point towards Continental Extreme Contact DWS & Sumitomo HTR A/S P01 as some of the more quiet tires out there (my driving style: average). I'm on a serious budget and these Sailun Atrezzo Z4+AS came on the radar via Merchant's Tire/NTB at only $100 a tire, substantially less costly. Not much info out there but a few interesting posts pop up here & there: http://forums.evolutionm.net/toronto...ck-review.html

Any user experience w/ this tire would be appreciated! Good luck to anyone out there with similar tire noise and howling!. (Maybe more sound insulation from Mazda?)

I tried the Continental Extreme Contact DWS, and it is a very quiet tire - though my car immediately started pulling to the right when I had them on. And then drove straight when I put my winters back on. I replaced them with the Goodyear Eagle GT, which is also quiet & a softer ride (though not as soft as the DWS) but it feels very squishy & unstable like the DWS does.