Question for KDW tire owners (mainly KDW "original" not KDW2)

[MikeZ28]

I've got 17", KDW original tread (not KDW2 or KDW-NT) and they seem pretty sticky, but I'm getting a lot of noise from them (I think) at strangely low speeds. The tires kind of start growling a little around 15 MPH. Then from 23-26 MPH they actually are howling and humming, it's pretty loud right at this speed range. Then the noise diminishes as you go faster, at highway speed it's basically fine.

Does anyone else with KDW tires notice a lot of noise, especially around 23-26 MPH? I'm not 100% sure it's the tires, it could be diff noise or a hub going bad.

[Corndog]

I think that you should do a big smokey burn out - just to true up the tires. Once they are trued, go drive it and see if the noise is still there. If it is, rotate the tires, true up the other two, and go drive again. If the noise is still there, it's got to be something else.

Seriously though, how much tread do you have left on those tires? Is there any dry-rotting or cupping? The condition of the tires can usually be determined visually, but sometimes there can be unseen problems ie, broken or slipped belts, etc...

[SSGoat]

Noisiest tires I've ever heard to date (dependent on wear, of course). My father had a set and I had a set....never again.

[b4z]

Noisy. Sound like monster mudders at speed.
You won't believe how loud they are until you put on something quieter and they you will say to yourself, "Hey, I can hear my exhaust now."

[MikeZ28]

I think that you should do a big smokey burn out - just to true up the tires. Once they are trued, go drive it and see if the noise is still there. If it is, rotate the tires, true up the other two, and go drive again. If the noise is still there, it's got to be something else.

Seriously though, how much tread do you have left on those tires? Is there any dry-rotting or cupping? The condition of the tires can usually be determined visually, but sometimes there can be unseen problems ie, broken or slipped belts, etc...


The tires are in nearly new condition, I only have about 2500 miles on them. I don't see any real wear or defects visually.

I don't know what "truing up" the tires means...these were road force balanced when they were installed, and they ride pretty smooth, they certainly don't seem out of round.

[BigRedGoat]

Same thing here. Seems to be normal for the tire. I never found it to be overly loud or annoying though.

What worked for me was pulling out the back seat and running dump pipes, you'll never hear the tires again, lol.