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Why do my tires screech?

Hi! Quick question. Lately when I’ve been driving, my tires screech. The sound is high-pitched and very alarming. Do you know why my tires are making this noise? Thank you!

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Lindsey Hoover · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Sorry to hear about your tires. Essentially, tires screech due to friction—that means the rubber of your tires is most likely dragging or sliding across the road, rather than rolling smoothly across it.
But why do tires screech? Below we’ve listed some common reasons why your tires may be screeching:
  • Type of tire. Some tires are more prone to screeching than others. A tire that’s made of a softer rubber compound is less likely to screech. The tread design can also affect the sounds your tires make.
  • Type of road surface. The temperature, material, and texture of a road’s surface can cause your tires to screech.
  • Hard acceleration. Sudden, hard acceleration can spin the drive wheels of your vehicle, causing your tires to slip on the road, rather than grip the surface. This in turn causes your tires to screech.
  • Hard braking. Slamming hard on your brakes causes your tires to slide and skid across the surface of the road. Tires often screech when this occurs.
  • Turning corners. Turning a corner or a sharp curve with too much speed causes your tires to slide and lose traction. The result? Noisy tire sounds.
In short, if your tires are screeching it means they’re experiencing unnecessary wear and tear. You should visit a mechanic immediately to avoid further damage.
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