Bicycle Mechanics - Squeaking tires???

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tgrssn
02-19-12, 10:04 PM
I just fixed up an old mountain bike for my girlfriend. The tires on it were super dry rotted and when she rode around they made an awful "squeaking/crinkling" sound with every rotation. It sounded almost like sitting on a very old mattress. Anyway, I had some newer/nicer spare tires in the shed. I threw them on and she went for a test ride. The newer tires make the exact same squeaking. It's super irritating.

Any suggestions?

Bill Kapaun
02-19-12, 10:42 PM
IF they don't squeak when you don't pedal, it's NOT the tire.
tgrssn
02-19-12, 10:46 PM
IF they don't squeak when you don't pedal, it's NOT the tire.

They do squeak when you don't pedal, though.

Bill Kapaun
02-19-12, 11:04 PM
Probably a bearing, assuming you aren't riding it indoors on linoleum or similar.

Pick each end of the bike off the ground and spat the wheel.
Do they squeak then?
tgrssn
02-19-12, 11:08 PM
Riding it outdoors. The wheels spin silently when there is no weight on them. It really sounds like the tires are squeaking. Could it have something to do with the rim tape? The rim tape inside the rim is really old and thin and stretched out.
xenologer
02-19-12, 11:28 PM
Riding it outdoors. The wheels spin silently when there is no weight on them. It really sounds like the tires are squeaking. Could it have something to do with the rim tape? The rim tape inside the rim is really old and thin and stretched out.

While it is most likely bearings or some other problem
I have actually have had old tires where the rubber squeaked as they rolled, threw em out, since they also had really poor grip. probably has to do with old unridden rubber hardening... that or the knobbies slipping on smooth surfaces.

how about tire pressure? if there's no air inside I can imagine sidewalls squishing around making noise...

buy some fresh tires, make them slicks not knobbies
Mondo734
02-19-12, 11:46 PM
do both front and rear make noise?
ThermionicScott
02-20-12, 12:07 AM
The tires on it were super dry rotted.

Any suggestions?

Get some fresh tires, pronto! This is a no-brainer.
tgrssn
02-20-12, 01:48 PM
do both front and rear make noise?

Yep! It's weird! The bike made the sound during the test ride and I just figured it was the dry rot. But with the fresh tires on there it still does it.
Mudgut
02-20-12, 02:19 PM
I have a new bike that the front tire clicks once on every revolution drifting or pedaling. I traced it to where the tire bead meets rim. If I squeeze tire at that spot near rim it clicks. Changed to new grippier tires and it still does it! Still trying to figure it out.