Problem 1 - Loud and annoying sound when driving that gets louder/faster as speed increases. Almost sounds like a helicopter.

Problem 2 - Inner tire wear. Front only. This was extreme on my summer tires. 245/35-20 on a 8.5 inch wheel.

History - Car lowered with Tein H-Tech spings only. Everything else is stock. After the car was lowered (let set 2 weeks) and with the 20 inch wheels on, was when the alignment was done. The car has 70,000 kilometers on it. I only noticed this problem after I was exchanging my summer wheels for winter wheels couple months ago.

Any thoughts...?

Debate - Fix the problem and buy 2 new tires for the front VS flip the tires from L to R and wear down the other side.

 

Sounds like you got bad tires IMO.

 

what brand tires were these?

 

Summer Tires [lots of front inner wear] = Falken FK452 (only the front had inner wear the rear were fine)

Winter Tires [really loud helicopter noise] = Pirelli Winterforce (or something like that)


I have not noticed this wear issue on my winter tires....yet. But my summer front tires are destroyed.

 

the helicopter noise sounds like it could be a bubble in the tire.

Front inner wear, get an alignment and check your camber. It's either inner wear due to negative camber or maybe improper inflation? (too much pressure leads to middle wearing prematurely, not enough pressure will wear the inside/outside quicker). Or a combination of the two.

 

summer tires i run 50 psi
winter tires i run 40 psi

im leaning towards a camber and/or alignment issue, i think i gotta get it fixed cuz i do alot of highway driving and the noise is driving me insane.

 

always a good idea. Like i said though, check those winter tires for a bubble. That'll give you a really loud helicopter like noise in the cabin when driving, happened on my father's old clk55 amg.

 

Check those tires ASAP! If it started when you switched wheels the tires are the likely culprit and you don't want one blowing out on the highway and potentially causing an accident. Do you feel any vibration associated with the noise?

If you don't see anything wrong with them, try rotating them and see if the sound moves or take them into a tire shop and have them balanced and inspected by a professional.

 

The noise you speak of sounds like bad tires, or a bearing issue... a roar if you will.

I have the same issue myself in the front.

 

Have your suspension checked out. Get in tires for sure and get alignment