My rear end had a lot of road noise too, and I was CONVINCED it was bad wheel bearings (at 50,000mi). And I'm even a mechanic! But I just milked it for a long time, waiting to see if they would get worse. I mean, it was LOUD! Just like bearings. Then later on, when my tires got old and weren't really legal (at maybe 65,000), I put new tires on. And guess what? Quiet as snowfall on a cool winter's day! And now I have 105k miles and still quiet as can be. I would try tires first
