Could someone describe what the sound is actually like? I ask because I have an '03 with 12000km and for the last week I thought one of my front tires may have a flat spot making a constant thumping sound, but today I remembered the whole tire feathering issue. I did a search and couldn't find an answer to my question. Does my car have...the sickness?

 

It sounds like a loud roar, kind of like driving over a very rough surface. It usually becomes noticable at sppeds less than 25 mph and gets louder as you slow and/or brake.

The best way to tell if you have it is to run your finger tips lightly around the tire on the inner edge. Do it one direction then the reverse direction. You should feel a noticable difference if you have feathering. In one direction it will feel relatively smooth, in the other you will feel the edge of a section of tread sticking up above higher than the surface of the previous tread.

There is a whole thread on the feathering issue, look through it as I recall some pictures showing what a feathered tire looks like and of course, descriptions on how to tell.

 

Yep loud roar is the best way to discribe it when you are braking to come to a stop. Mine got to a point where it was so loud it would drown out the stereo. Best bet would be to stop by the dealer or any place that sells tires and have them check them out quick. You should be able to tell by running your hand over the inside of your front tires. They won't be smooth in one direction as Dave mentioned above.....

 

It wasn't to after they finally replaced my front tires that I actually noticed how lousy the stereo really sounded in my car.