Freelander tyre issue

Can anyone help 05 plate freelander had front tyres close to illegal, so replaced it seems however that since replacing front two tyres the car has developed a droning noice, no vibration and no wobble just a noise that seems to come in at around 45mph that makes you want to pop your ears. I have heard that due to perminant 4 wheel drive you should replace all 4 tyres at the same time is this correct??? i put a tread depth gauge on all 4 and the rear two have approx 3mm less tread depth giving a diameter difference of about 6mm, does anyone know if the rolling radious offset is likely to be the cause as it is too easy to convinse myself rather than being objective and at the cost of the tyres it would be good to have some degree of certainty. Many thanks in antisipation.
Steve.

Yes it will be the cause!
You must change the other 2 tyres asap. Had the same problem myself.
There are others on this site who can explain why but the difference in circumference can lead to IRD &/or VCU failure

Can't you read your handbook?

There is a high likelyhood that you have buggered your drive train. Dig deep in your pockets, a new IRD isn't cheap.


Oh - don't drive it till you have put the new ones on the back, done a VCU check and looked at your bank balance.

The tyres with deepest tread go on the rear - that's all you have to do.

That, and keep your fingers crossed that you haven't f***ed up the VCU / IRD already.

It has nothing to do with tread depth. It is to do with rolling diameter. Are the tyres the same manufacturer and tyre type and size?
Measure the circumference and see if they are exactly the same?
Could still be tread blocking if tyres have been swapped around.

Try swapping fronts to rears but it could be more serious. How many miles have you done on your present set up?
Tolerance between front & rear is max 5mm iirc, but as already said the "slightly" larger ones must ALWAYS be on the back.

The Mad Hat Man said:

It has nothing to do with tread depth. It is to do with rolling diameter. Are the tyres the same manufacturer and tyre type and size?
Measure the circumference and see if they are exactly the same?
Could still be tread blocking if tyres have been swapped around.

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:doh: Good point MHM - you are of course correct - I was making the perhaps foolish assumption that the new tyres were the same nominal dimensions and type as the others.

Sometimes even a change of brand is enough to upset things.

RED 109 CSW said:

Try swapping fronts to rears but it could be more serious. How many miles have you done on your present set up?
Tolerance between front & rear is max 5mm iirc, but as already said the "slightly" larger ones must ALWAYS be on the back.

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Only put on last week may have done 100 miles (ish) all local and low speed but am putting fronts on rear this afternoon and ordered 2 more tyres of same make, the two new ones already fit are the same make size etc as the ones already on, thanks for your assistance.

has the swap made any difference?

Sorry for the delay in posting internet been down, since last post i have had a further two new tryes (same make, model, size etc as other two and just in case fitted them to the rear and the ones done the other week moved to the front, i have done some further investigation and the recommended life span of the VCU is approx 70,000 miles so considering i have done 65,000 miles i decided it would be prudent to change it now. I have ordered one complete with two new bearings damper ETC £295 exchange inc delivery and guarantee. I don't want to tempt fate but all does seem OK, thanks for the advice given.

Good move, I had the same issue in terms of the droning noise - simply measured the height of the fronts and rears and there was an inch difference in height (= diameter) - changed all 4 tyres and everything was fine.
I changed the VCU at exactly the same time (using a similiar thought process to yours), but I suspect it was the tyres that resolved the issue.
Fingers crossed the rest of your drivetrain is still ok.

I have to admit (not wanting to tempt fate) the droning has gone, but you do find yourself listerning to a fly fart half a mile away and wondering if problem is still there, i think the potential cost has me worried that every noise i hear is the dreaded drone on it's way back!! So just in case there is damage to VCU and it putting strain on drive train i am minimising travel to essential only and keeping speed down as well, until the replacement VCU arrives (end of the week),touch wood though the car does seem it's old self again.

slovin said:

I have to admit (not wanting to tempt fate) the droning has gone, but you do find yourself listerning to a fly fart half a mile away and wondering if problem is still there, i think the potential cost has me worried that every noise i hear is the dreaded drone on it's way back!! So just in case there is damage to VCU and it putting strain on drive train i am minimising travel to essential only and keeping speed down as well, until the replacement VCU arrives (end of the week),touch wood though the car does seem it's old self again.

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Hi slovin , if your vcu gets very hot after a run there is still a problem ,however with 4 new tyres and no drone (touch wood) you have caught it just in time ! SAME AS ME LAST YEAR

Ian jones said:

Hi slovin , if your vcu gets very hot after a run there is still a problem ,however with 4 new tyres and no drone (touch wood) you have caught it just in time ! SAME AS ME LAST YEAR

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Thanks for that, i had read about the VCU heating up and that when it does it thickens the flued and buggers it up again, i intend to trial run and then check the unit to confirm.

I've had my feelander for 8 years and have never bought 4 tyres at the same time.

I always get 2 and put the newest / deepest tread on the back.

Its had the VCU done once in that time, but with 210,000 on the clock, thats to be expected.

The VCU is not difficult to change if you can get under the car.

Vertuas said:

I've had my feelander for 8 years and have never bought 4 tyres at the same time.

I always get 2 and put the newest / deepest tread on the back.

Its had the VCU done once in that time, but with 210,000 on the clock, thats to be expected.

The VCU is not difficult to change if you can get under the car.

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Hi ,good to know a FL motor is capable of high mileage ,have you used the same make/model of tyre , over the 8 years ?

doubt it was vcu droning, more likely the rear diff, has any of the oil boiled out from the breather?

he said tyres.

will be blocking of tread pattern or just diff sizes.

i think he's very lucky then