Can tires sound like a worn-out suspension?

Hello,

Since the onset of winter this weekend, I've had winter tires on my Ibiza, and I've been "experiencing" annoying creaking and clicking noises when driving over certain bumps and in tight corners at higher speeds.
Due to these noises, I would have taken the Ibiza to the workshop soon to address the causes, before anything escalated to the point where avoidable consequential damage would occur... but now, it seems that attaching the winter tires has resolved the problem .
Despite the noises, the driving experience never gave the impression of worn-out parts: there was no swaying or wobbling of the body, and no sudden veering into ruts or similar issues.

SR and WR tires have the same size (205/45 R 16) and are mounted on the same wheel sets with approximately the same tire pressure. The SR tires have a slightly more aggressive tread pattern than the WR tires (average remaining tread depth: approximately 4 to 7 mm).
I can rule out loose wheel bolts as the cause of the noise, as I would have noticed it when loosening the wheel studs.

Are noises that sound like they're coming from the suspension, but are actually related to the tires, a common phenomenon, or do I have a complete oddball in my garage?

Quote:

Are noise-related issues, such as sounds coming from the chassis, a common phenomenon, or do I have a complete oddity in my garage?

You should wait for a while to see if the noise reappears.

It's not uncommon for noises to temporarily disappear when the vehicle is jacked up, or when the suspension is unloaded - for example. Strut mount, shock absorber.

With the specified tire size of 45 and the correct air pressure, the tires' inherent suspension behavior should remain within narrow limits. Furthermore, any tilting movements of the tire sidewalls should be practically imperceptible with this size. This type of tire should largely transmit road imperfections and the like to the suspension and steering without causing any significant issues.

Essentially, any noise can originate from the suspension/dampening system, chassis stiffening, or steering. You can sometimes "feel" the steering while standing next to the vehicle with the engine off. If you hear any creaking or cracking sounds there, they won't be masked or distorted by engine or power steering pump noise. Noises coming from the suspension might be detectable by gently rocking the vehicle from side to side, while it's stationary. When performing inspections on the front axle, don't forget to also check the rear axle!

Autoservice wrote:

You should wait for a while to see if the noise reappears. It's not uncommon for noises to temporarily disappear when the vehicle is jacked up, or when the suspension is unloaded - for example. Strut mounts, shock absorbers.

Yes, I also have that approach in mind.
The first and most reliable gravel road is just a few hundred meters from our house. When I was riding there yesterday and couldn't hear anything at all, I initially thought it might be residual effects from the suspension movements when lifting the bike.
But today, about 40 km later, I still couldn't hear anything, which surprised me quite a bit.

Or, based on your experience, how long do suspension noises typically remain quiet after being temporarily silenced by jacking up the vehicle?

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Or, based on your experience, how long do suspension noises typically remain quiet after being temporarily silenced by jacking up the vehicle?

There isn't really a definitive answer to your question. Possibly, the winter tire might also be slightly softer on the shoulder compared to the summer tire.

Example suspension: A ball joint that is more or less dry will, when jacked up, reach a position where some usable grease remains – and under certain circumstances, it may remain stable for quite some time. It used to happen more frequently with the W201.

Ultimately, it probably depends on what's actually creaking in the first place. Is it certain that the noises are actually coming from the suspension?

As I mentioned before, I would first wait to see what happens and then take no action. Possibly, the vehicle will remain quiet throughout the winter, and the noise will return with the summer tires.

Autoservice wrote:

Ultimately, it probably depends on what is actually creaking. Is it certain that the noises are actually coming from the suspension?

Only through a process of elimination: I don't know what else could be producing those noises in those specific situations.