Tom

Tom,

Q The Yokahama tires I put on my ‘97 Jaguar XJ6 have begun to whine

after about 5,000 miles of driving. What causes tires to whine?

Gary—Hinckley,  Tennessee

Gary,

A Providing the wheel bearings are okay and not worn, negative wear

pattern on the tires due to misalignment or worn steering or suspension parts
or improper wheel balance can cause the tires to whine. Check the tread for a
negative wear pattern, which includes high-low choppy wear or a wipe
pattern. This is characterized by tread that feels smooth one way and rough
the other when you run your hand across the face or the tread. If you find the
tires to have a negative wear pattern, determine the cause, correct it, and
rotate the tires. With any luck, they will correct themselves after a few
thousand miles of running.