Something loose inside the wheel

[JAL racing]

I've noticed a clinking noise, similar to hitting 2 wrenches together. Irregular. Only when driving very slow like walking pace. Took off the tires and checked everything in the suspension and it is all good.

Then someone suggested I spin the wheel by hand on the hub and bingo: there's something loose inside 2 of my wheels.

Car drives fine. I suspect it is probably some TPMS thing that broke free and tumbles against the wheel barrel until I go fast enough for the centripetal force to hold it against the tire at speed?

I have TPMS alarm, but I'm used to the TPMS icon being solid yellow in the dash since 2010 on all my cars so I did not notice when it came up.. I check my pressures manually and the tires are holding air just fine. But 2 of them have 'something' loose inside.

Is it a safety hazard? I don't think so, but I don't know for sure. Maybe someone has some insight to share?

If it is not unsafe, I will keep my money instead of getting the tires re-mounted.

Thanks!

 

[blacksheep-1]

Prolly TPMS sensor banging around., I doubt it's a hazard.

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[Dave_W]

My vote for sounds like that is normally gravel caught in the back of the brake rotor by the splash shield.

However, if there's a TPMS error, it could be the pressure sensor broke off from the valve stem and is banging around inside the tire & wheel. From Google pics, they don't seem to have sharp edges that would cause major damage to the inside of the tire, but personally I would want to get it removed sooner than later. It's also going to be a randomly-positioned wheel weight when the wheel speed is high enough to hold it in one place.