Rear Wheel Bearing on Tires

[jsoto]

I'm getting a cupping/ buffering sound whenever it's 60mph and up on the rear passenger tire. Threw it up on jacks and there seems to a slight wear down the center....tires were set at 35psi, which I normally do during winter to mitigate the Pothole bumps - especially with 20"s. I've set it around 34-35 for the last 12 years with no problem. However, the centers of both rear tires do have a bit more wear so I dropped the psi down to 32.

Not sure if the noise is tires or not.
Maybe when the sides wear down the noise will go away ?
I am only hearing it on the rear passenger side though.

Just short of throwing it up on the rack and getting the wheels turning with someone prying to confirm the slop on the wheel bearing , is there another way to diagnose this noise ?

[Ricky Bobby]

My wheel bearing noise appeared at 40 mph and was constant and sounded like WWII bomber drone. So comparing my experience to yours I'm thinking its tire wear/balance.

[jsoto]

I did one of my fronts bearings but it was a much different noise. And I was able to diagnose it without having a rack - as when I moved the rack side to side to put more lateral pressure, the noise increased.

I eyeballed the beejezus out of the wheels - does not look like a weight has fallen off.

Tires asides, can't seem to reason why I don't hear the noise in the drivers rear even though both tires seem to have the centers with the slightly more wear ..... I hardly drive this car but plan to take it for a week to go through it's motions.

[Joshdub]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

My wheel bearing noise appeared at 40 mph and was constant and sounded like WWII bomber drone. So comparing my experience to yours I'm thinking its tire wear/balance.

I second this. My sound would also change when turning.