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[Bigron]

Strange flat-tyre sounding noise coming from the offside front wheel, almost like a clicking noise once every turn of the wheel.
No flats anywhere, no stones in treads - any ideas please, gents?
I did think wheel bearing, but not once, briefly, every wheel turn, surely? 

Ron.

[Nick W]

Is the tyre still round?

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Stone got stuck in dust shield behind the disc possibly ?
Best to jack it up, take the wheel off and see if the noise is still there. If it is, get your ear down there and try to pinpoint it.

[Bigron]

I can't jack it up, but thanks for the suggestion Albs; I'll let the garage take a look tomorrow and hope they only want beer vouchers to have a look!

Ron.

[johnnydog]

I'd agree with Nicks suggestion of a tyre issue. When tyres are out of shape, they can make a noise like a tyre that is virtually flat - a little like a helicopter!
If it was a stone between the disc and back plate , it would be a scraping or screeching noise, accentuated with a left or right turn.

[Bigron]

Your helicopter analogy is quite close to the sound that I get, johnnydog, yet the tyre looks fine - would it be obvious, or subtle?

Ron.

[Chazza12]

i found a screw in the tire tread, hard thing to find think it only stuck out when the tire was on the side of the ground. did not help that it was also black same color as the rubber, used a magnet on the tire and found it, must of drove though some work site, or something like that,   

[johnnydog]

Your helicopter analogy is quite close to the sound that I get, johnnydog, yet the tyre looks fine - would it be obvious, or subtle?

Ron.

Most tyres have a degree of up and down movement whilst rotating, but this generally varies according to the quality of the tyre ie premium brands usually have very little movement, but budjet tyres are notorious  for this, which is usually indicated too by the number of balance weights required.
To make a whooshing noise as described, any high /low spots should be visible when the wheel is spun on the car, but if this is a driven wheel it isnt as easy. In that case put it on the front or take it to a tyre place because any unevenness will be highlighted on the balancing machine.
Have you tried it on another corner to see if the noise is still there?

[Bigron]

Thanks, johnnydog - most informative.
As I said earlier, I cannot jack the ar up and did intend to take it to Kwik-Fit today, but it will have to wait until tomorrow now as SWMBO has other plans for me: you know how that works!
MOT next week, so they can check my brake pads whilst I'm there, as I have their lifetime guarantee on them.....

Ron.

[Bigron]

I bet they try to sell me some tyres

Ron.

[Bigron]

Good news and bad news:-
Good - I found the problem; it was a flat-headed machine screw that made a lot of noise, but was hard to see, so I had an intimate grope!
Bad - I levered it out and then heard PFFFFTTT! 
Green Flag are coming some time this afternoon to change the wheel and tomorrow I'll go to Kwik=Fit to have it repaired. It seems to be within the area that they are allowed to plug.
hanks once again gents for all your help. 

Ron.

[Andy B]

....
 I levered it out and then heard PFFFFTTT!  .....

School boy error  I'd have driven somewhere (other than Kwik Fit  )  to get it repaired & let them take the screw out 

P.S. why wait for Green Flag? ...... just asking

[Bigron]

Ok, to answer your questions:
I didn't know it was a screw piercing the tyre, I thought it might be a stone, because I couldn't see it, only feel it.
Green Flag because I didn't want to do the job myself and I was at home, car on front lawn - and I pay them enough every year, so why not?
Kwik-Fit because they are quite good at Witham branch and know they can't upsell me things, plus I want them to check my brake pads prior to MOT next week and I'm on a free lifetime warranty, so if they need new pads, it will be free! 

Ron.

[frostbite]

I had a philips pan head in my mercs tyre, it was in there for a while that it had worn down , I let my mrs use it just once when hers was in the garage and she did the usual female scrub the tyres to full lock before manouver and the screw can out. then called me to say the tyre was flat

[Bigron]

Women - what would we do without them!
I'm only glad that I heard that noise and found the screw at home, and not had it exit the tyre on the motorway with the loud pedal down.....

Ron.

[Keith ABS]

 I did once have a screw in a tyre on my Senator. I waited until I had worn the head off before changing the tyre
Got my monies worth out of it first

Keith ABS