I recently upgraded to 235/60/15 tires. Since then, I have noticed a
grinding sound, sporadically coming from what sounds like the front end.
I've had the installers remove the tires and re-install and they've said
there is no rubbing of the tires themselves. It sounds like an internal
noise, almost like something scrubbing against something else internally.
Any ideas? Can this be caused by a e-brake needing re-adjustment? I don't
hear the noise all the time, it seems worst during the first few miles after
a cold start up. Any ideas? I have an appointment to take the car in to the
honda dealer next week, but of course they're claiming that because I put
aftermarket wheels and tires that any damage they find CAUSED by the new
tires/wheels will not be under warranty. My V has 1,800 miles and I only
started hearing this noise in the past week since I've installed the 235/60
so I'm going to be pretty ticked if I have to pay out of pocket for some
dramatic repair. Any ideas?

-michael-

take it back w/your stock tires & rims

arent those much bigger then mine?

>

If yours are the stock 205/70/15, the 235/60 is wider, but diameter is
smaller (shorter tire).

Doesn't sound related to the tires? My CR-V has 35,000 miles, installed the
235's at 8,000 miles, no noises or problems like you described.
SALTMAN

Forgot!!! I did not and do not recommend the 235's on aftermarket wheels!!!
DO the aftermarket wheels use spacers to fit your V.
My web site specifically states use the FACTORY wheels, when upgrading to
235/60r-15's.
SALTMAN
http://www.bsalt.com

Well, SALT, these wheels don't have spacers that are made especially for the
CRV. What would the spacers do in this situation though? There isn't any
rubbing coming from the wheels or brakes. Actually, I would think that wider
after-market 15" wheels would be better suited to 235/60 or 245/60/15 since
there would be less sidewall overhang than on the more narrow stock wheel.
Hell, I believe you're right in that I don't even think 245/60 could be
fitted safely to the stock wheel.

I took the V down to Dallas and back this weekend, I didn't want to drive it
that far with the "problem", but I had no choice. I noticed that this noise
was non-existent on very smooth road. I started paying more attention and I
noticed that I hear the noise on certain road surface types and not on
others. Some roads that look smooth and in pretty good shape if I look very,
very hard at the road I can see small patches of slight roughness at
irregular intervals in the surface. I think the "noise" I'm hearing is the
new tires going over these surfaces. Maybe since the old bridgestones were
just louder all the time I didn't notice, but I'm feeling alot better about
it being tire noise because there was some strips of newly completed highway
construction on I-30 where the V was quite as a mouse for 15 miles or so.

Another thing I noticed was that the V seems to be getting much better gas
mileage since the 235/60 were added. It may be just the engine breaking in,
I dunno, but I was getting a good 5mpg up on the last highway trip I took
with the V.

Spacers produce a tight fit of the wheel to the hub, they are located behind
the wheel and are not visible without removing the wheel from the vehicle.
Most of the time they are circular clips or metal rings that attach on the
inside of the wheel. If the wheels you bought have caps they could rattle
or click when you hit minor bumps or road irregularities too. A cap or ring
that feels relatively tight may still make noise. I have removed friends
vehicle wheel caps rotated them to different wheels and the rattle stopped,
rotated the wheel spacers to other wheels and the clicking stopped.

The Yoko's are much quieter than the Bridgestone's, but a clicking or rattle
type sound is not normal, loose brake shoes could be another culprit.

It took TEN years to find a rattle in a leaf spring bolt spacer on a 1985
Toyota 4-Runner. The dealer kept fiddling with the brakes etc. I just
happened to be cleaning the underside of the vehicle when a pressure washer
produced the slight but very annoying metallic rattle.

Michael, I hope you are overall pleased with your change to 235/60's I truly
enjoy the change. My experience with aftermarket wheels, even BBS, has been
sub-standard to actual factory ONE vehicle fitments.

SALTMAN
http://www.bsalt.com

Forgot, loose wheel weights will cause rattles too!!