My 2012 S-40 has about 6500 miles on it already, all stock and original except the plug and oil (filter) as the day I bought it. I have noticed a whine above 30-40 MPH in turns. I can't decide if its from the belt being pulled by centrifugal force away from the turn, or if its the (front) tire. It (the whine) goes away upon straightening out...

Appreciate any advice to where/what I should look for, not sure if its a safety issue or not.

Thanks!  

Serowbot wrote on 07/19/13 at 17:47:09:


I have an old bagel with moldy cream cheese....will that work?  

Rub the belt edges with bar soap, go for a ride... still noisy in turns? Then it is the belt. No noise? You've gotten confident enough to lean over onto the tire shoulder, which has more tread depth remaining, and "sings" when it contacts the pavement.

And I f'd that up royally... No noise upon soaping = belt issue, still noisy = tire hum.

That's what I get for typing on little sleep and insufficient caffeine/nicotine levels.

I'd bet for tire noise, too. By 6500 miles you probably have worn the center of the tread a little flat. When you lean you get into less worn tread, and it might well make noise. I'd also guess by this mileage you have replaced the rear tire, too.