my first impression was how smooth and quiet they were (esp compared to my worn-out OEM Pilot Sports). I don't drive the car for almost a week, and then while driving it this AM, I now notice a very load noise, almost like the drone of a loud exhaust on a car in the other lane. Seems to be coming from the rear of the car, but it's difficult to tell for sure. Noise is booming and rythmic, so it sure seems like tire noise.

My pointed question is does anyone else get this noise from new PS2's, or could this be something else that is wrong with my car and coincidental to the new tires? I don't think this is a wheel bearing going bad, but it could be. Noise is loudest at about 40 mph (I'm stock size on factory wheels)and is definitely speed dependent, doesn't change in or out of gear (MT on my car). Noise comes in at like 25 mph and gets louder up to 40 or so , and then decreases (or gets drowned out) at higher speeds. No highway on my commute, so can't say what it sounds like at 65 mph+.

Thanks for any help or suggestions anyone can provide!

based upon some searching it seems this drone/booming noise is symptomatic of a bad rear wheel bearing on the B5 S4's. Can't imagine it's the tires being normal, or people would return these tires! I am just surprised at how quickly this noise came on (or could have been there and and blended in with the old tire noise).

The aerodynamic design of modern cars causes most of them to suffer from this problem. If you're not hearing/feeling anything when the windows are closed, I'd chalk it up to that.

that noise. I appreciate your efforts, though! It was kind of funny, as when I opened the rear windows to hear my noise better, I did get the booming/drumming from the wind. Funky kind of harmony going on, but my "drone" was even louder than the air pressure booming.

I had a nice drone a few months ago, turned out to be a nail, which was worn down to the rubber by the time I found it. Good luck.