Not sure if this should be here or in the hybrid tech section.

I'm the proud new owner of a 2008 GS 450h absolutely love the car, the performance and the mileage. While the car is a low mile example (30,000miles/ 50,000 km), the first owner was not all that gentle with the car and there is evidence that the car did not have that easy of a life so far... Both front wheels have a fair bit of curb rash. The car rides on 4 Micheline Primacy HP tires... 3 are nearly shot, 5/32nds left; one is considerably newer 9/32nds (and its on the passenger front). While they have curb rash, the wheels are straight and true.

My question. The car makes a "roaring" sound from the front tires at slow speeds. Up to about 30 MPH and its gone (or drowned out by wind noise) faster than that. It does this with both the gas motor, the electric motor and coasting in neutral. The car is tomb like quite other than this noise. It is no noisier then my parents IS 250 AWD. But the noise is different... With their car you can hear the little V6... My car the engines are both nearly imperceptible. Also on my car there is a slight slow speed rapid vibration, again almost imperceptible, and by 40mph its smooth as glass. A performance driver would call it "road feel"

What you you all think...

Tires?
Bearing(s)?
Overly Sensitive new owner?
Hybrid system doing something?
Completely Normal?
Something Else?

I will be installing new P Zero Nero All Seasons when I get back from a road trip to Washington State next month.... and will post back.

Thanks in advance

 

Probably the tires

 

Ok, the problem could be tires or something else highly doubt wheel bearing, I need a little more info. The small rapid vibration is most likely the hybrid battery turning on and off. The Pirelli's are great I have them and they are smooth as butter, better than the run flats I had.

 

Sure, what extra info do you need? The bbrrrr brrr brrr noise and sensation is very mild but is constant at slow speeds. I would best describe it as a gravelly vibration, like driving on a roughly paved road.

 

That sounds like could be tires. I'd get it inspected.