Friend of mine just popped round in his fiesta ST. Took me for a spin as he was complaining of an odd sound.
Once the car gets to 50-60mph there is a loud deep sound. Almost like tyre noise but x10. Its almost enough to drown out conversation.

We tried knocking it out of gear when it was making the sound, also checked all the wheel bearings, and drive shafts etc back at mine and all appeared fine.

The only thing changed on the car recently was two new front tyres, but I didnt think it was possible for tyres to be as noisey as it is?!

Any idea's as to the culprit are welcome.

 

OS driveshaft there's a bearing halfway along. They can be noisy.

Has the noise only appeared since the new tyres?

Swap tyres front to rear to see if sound then comes from the rear. (If it sounds like it's coming from the front now)

 

Didn't check the halfway bearing. So that's something else cheers.

Yeah he said the noise started a few days after his new tyres. We were going to swap the wheels with the ones off my escort but it gets dark to early now
Its pretty hard to pinpoint. You think its coming from the front, but it seems just as loud with your head in the boot

Going to have another look on sunday so just looking for things to check.

 

Some tyres can be very noisy, I had some 17" Avons on a car once and even replaced both rear wheel bearings as was sure they were both noisy.. it was the tyres!

If you can get car jacked up and safe enough to run the front wheels (turn off ESP), should feel a vibration through the saddle clamp on the bearing, listen to it through a solid bar. (socket extension/whatever)

Check the other tyres for 'stepping' (uneven tread) too.