Whistling sound driving on concrete highway

[random1001]

Hello all,

I have an Insight EX with stock rims and tires. Last week I've driven on a highway and suddenly I hear a rather strong whistling sound that seemed to come from the tires. At first I thought maybe it was a blown tire, but the noise came from all sides and the TPMS didn't light on. When I reached my destination no apparent harm was seen on the tires.

What I think was the cause was concrete on the road instead of asphalt. Where I drive the roads are almost exclusively asphalt (that looks black), and the several KM stretch where I heard the noise looked gray, so I assume it was concrete. It was a very isolated patch of road, and when the road changed back (during some bridges and when the section ended) the noise went away immediately.

Anyone experienced anything like that? Maybe it was some special road type?

[Cobb]

Could be, but it is a known issue that you can hear a very high pitch whistling sound from the hybrid battery in the back, although sometimes it sounds like it is from the center of the dash. This happens typically when coasting and around 35 or 70mph.

Now on some back roads I get a growl like the alen crafts in the new war of the worlds movie with Tom Cruse. You know when they are walking the land right become they come into view a loud noise is heard. I hear it around 35mph.

[random1001]

Thanks for the reply, but that's not what I have experienced. I had absolutely no change in driving, just change in road surface. I was driving with constant throttle at around 95 KM/H (around 60 MPH), no coasting.

[KenR]

While installing some Dynamat last weekend, I had an opportunity to drive the car with the rear trunk horizontal covers, spare tire and surrounding foam block and rear seat bottom removed (seat backs were left installed). A variety of sounds...but with the road being wet and the associated water noise in the wheel wells...it was difficult to decipher. I did notice some high pitch noise that would come and go...but with everything back in place... seems back to normal.
-Ken

[Cobb]

Yeah, the noise we are talking about for the hybrid system is like a dog whistle. If the sound you heard was like a jet engine its the tires. Wait til you get up to 100. I love to coast down and petend I am coming out of warp drive.

[random1001]

Hey Cobb, thanks for the reply. The sound somewhat like a jet engine. I think the best way to describe it would be the sound of rushing air. More whooshing than whistling, and its rather loud.

I believe most roads in the US are concrete, correct? Here all roads are asphalt, and I've never heard the noise before. Do you hear it all the time?

[Cobb]

In my state many are asphalt, a few are concrete. i295 and i264 are concrete, rest are asphault.

Yeah, its just road/tire noise. The previous nose is a dog whistle like. I would not worry.