The tires are bottom line bf goodrich
Tire noise is caused by the tread design not the price. A big knobby tread will be noisy.
BFG's are usually pretty good tires. But if you got them from Wal-Mart or something then they're gonna be the worst of the worst. So yes, it could just be that you went too cheap on your tires.
The tread pattern and the MATERIAL or stiffness of the tire is what can cause tire noise. Some are just noisier than others and in a Focus, with minimal sound insulation you're going to notice it. Usually, I have found that a cheaper no-name/knock-off tire (like a discount tire brand, or other cheap brand tire) are the LEAST noisy. They are made of softer material and, although they don't last as long, will be quieter, and, most importantly, less expensive to replace. Having been in the industry, 90% of the time when you buy a cheaper model of a name-brand tire you are getting a chinese/korean made tire that is really poorly made/designed and will howl like a mofo. If you don't have a sloppy wheel bearing, you are just a victim of cheap tires.
