Hey! Just got my new RRS, Will create a thread on the car itself soon but was just after some advice first.

When cruising there is a humming noise, its more noticeable the faster you go and starts to be heard around 50mph mark.

I thought at first it was just road noise, but you can hear it is a separate noise.

Sounds as though it comes from the front of the car.

I have the 22" evoque style wheels.

It's really frustrating, as apart from this i am over the moon with the car.

Any help here would be great, before i take it to the dealer and get fed with their usual service dept excuses and hassle.

Thanks, Dan

"Droning" related to road speed is usually related to wheel bearing problems or differential issues but this is unlikely with a new vehicle. Certainly, the low profile tyres make more road noise than standard profiles but I would not expect this to be a problem on a RRS and wasn't on the ATB I have driven with the 22" wheels.

Some motorway surfaces cause quite loud humming at speed with low profile tyres. If this sound is quite loud on normal surfaces then I think you may need to demonstrate it to the supplying dealer. Regards

Malcolm

Thanks for the reply, I originally thought maybe wheel bearing (as its new it could be stiff) but after 300miles its almost getting worse. Then i thought maybe wheel balance is out? Possibility on a brand new vehicle..?

Its certainly not road noise, and if it is they can have the car back as it would make a long drive unbearable..

It is also happening on all road surfaces, smooth and rougher roads.

Humming and droning? Leaving her-in-doors home works for me

More relevant;

Does it change when cornering - a wheel bearing noise usually changes with load (i.e. left or right cornering).

Does it change with drive on or drive off - can be diff, pinion bearings if noisy under 'drive' i.e. power.

If its more or less constant or slightly influenced by speed it could be the transfer box output shaft.

You need to get each from wheel in the air and see if you can turn it (not easy) and feel any harshness. Similarly try rotating the prop shafts and feel for roughness. Check all UJs

^^^ I should also have mentioned tyres and road surface - do you have tyres with an open tread pattern ?

You can check the noise rating of tyres by looking at your tyre maker's website.

I have just taken delivery of a RRS Autobiography Supercharged with the 22" wheels and I have the same problem. There is a droning noise when going above 70 mph (it disappear again over 90 mph - on German Autobahns !). It is quite noticeable but I am putting it down to the 22" tyres. I am having some Pirelli Snow/Winter tyres fitted next week for a trip to The Alps so i will report back asap. The noise also changes with the change in road surface - so again everything is pointing to the 22" tires.

The noise doesn't sound like wheel bearing, it is continuous wether cornering slightly and all road surfaces.

Also you can hear it is a separate noise from the tyre noise, it hums higher over the usual tyre/road noise. And is only heard to be coming from the front of the car, not the rear.

It's almost a higher pitched hum noise. Very very frustrating, if the dealer put's it down to road noise then i am not sure what i'll do!

Hornbaek - I would be very interested to know the outcome here, thanks!

I have 22" wheels with Cross Continentals fitted as standard on my 2014 RRS. On coarse surfaced tarmac there is a bit of a thrum/drone from the tyres, but nothing outlandish. On smooth tarmac, hardly anything.

Thanks, You have the same tyres as me then, glad that rules the tyre noise out for me. Waiting for the dealers response today hopefully..

Just has a call, they're sending a specialist technician from RR Assist today..

Just had a set of Pirelli Scorpion Winter Tyres fitted and on my journey home from Micheldever to London the droning noise had gone!
The Pirelli tyre feels a bit less stable at speed and also the steering feels less direct - all features which can be associated with the softer and higher thread of the winter tyres. The general road noise is there but the droning sound at 50-70 mph and beyond has definitely gone so I would put it down to the Continental tyre.

Thanks for the update on yours.

RR Assist Tech guy came out today and agreed with me, that it isn't road noise from the tyres and sounds more like a wheel bearing drone, although doesn't it think it is the wheel bearing either as doesn't stop and go when cornering / leaning the car.


I will suggest that the dealer changes my tyres if they can't see anything else though...

I think it must definitely be down to the 22" tyre as I had exactly the same experience when I first got my car and took it beyond 50-70 mph. Over the last 1000 miles I have kind of gotten used to it so I guess it is just an unusual sound. I also think that the lighter aluminium chassis adds to this noise being noticeable as before you would probably not pay attention as it would have been drowned by other noise. It is only the front tyres and the sound changes (a bit ) with the surface you drive on. On smooth asphalt it is definitely less pronounced. As I said, with winter tyres it has gone but please report back if the dealer finds anything. Mine did not have a clue!

Dealer has had my car the past 2 says and they have just called me to tell me that it is normal and all their other new sports are doing it too. Can't really see this being the case as surely everyone would be complaining?

They do agree with me though that it is very prominent sound.

Not really sure where that leaves me.

Why not ask them to take you out in one of these other new Sports and let you listen to what it sounds like? Especially one without the 22" wheels. Then if needs be go out with them in yours over the same ground and you'll both hear what you hear in yours as well.

If the noise isn't the same you can throw the problem back at the dealer as it is something about your RRS. If it is the same then guess it comes down to can you live with it, as it may be a "feature".

Although I find that hard to believe as not something I've noticed in my new HSE, and after 1,200 mostly motorway miles I think I would have if it's as loud as you say.... Maybe I need to turn the stereo down