I rotated my tires myself a few weeks ago and afterwards, the first time I got on the freeway, there was significant louder-than-usual tire noise. I would describe it as a loud constant vibration hum, not a squeal, and it gets worse the higher the speed (starting at about 55mph). It's not just a little, it's to the point where I feel unsafe on the freeway with it, like something is going to break at any moment at high speed.
Is one possibility because I didn't get the tires balanced? I also topped off the tire pressure, so it's also got a few more PSI in it than before. I don't think they are directional-tread tires, but I suppose another possibility is that they are and I've got them on the wrong sides now.
I'm willing to take this in to the tire shop to get the tires balanced or replaced altogether if they tell me they're too worn. But before I commit to the new tires, there's another component to this that is my main question:
When I did the tire rotation myself, I had a brain malfunction and dropped the jack way too quick (the jack was on the passenger side, but I don't recall if it was front or back). The car on one corner had a hard landing and I did hear a "crunching" noise. And I know that probably means I did some damage, potentially serious. (Amateur hour, I know.)
What is the kind of damage I might have done by dropping the jack too fast? Did I maybe bend or crack a wheel or...worse?
Who would be the best to diagnose this kind of potential damage? Is my local tire shop the best place to diagnose, or should I take it to my general mechanic?
Vehicle: mid-2000s Mazda 3 hatchback, automatic