I brought my '04 track model in today to have the tire feathering/alignment issues taken care of. When I asked about tires being replaced because of significant inner wear, he told me that they do not do this for '04 model only '03. The only time they replace the tires on '04s are when Nissan issues "goodwill" acts. I don't know if this is typical dealer bs, or legit. I'm hoping to get some reponses from other '04 owners with tire feathering issues. Have the dealers replaced your tires?

I have 13K miles on the car now. I bought the car with 8k miles and the feathering started soon after that. This is my first trip to have the problem looked at and I have requested before and after alignment specs. Hopefully, this will be my last trip to the service dept. for this, but I somehow doubt that.

 

I have an '04.5. Went to the dealer w/ loud tire roar at 14K miles. They performed a free rotation of the front tires (swapping them), and told me to be on my way. When asked if the feathering will come back, he said, "Yes". When asked if they will always perform a free front tire swap, he reluctantly said "Maybe, and once you hit 30K miles, we definitely won't". I suspect he means "you got a freebie this time, and that's all you're getting". Bastids...

 

I too got tire roar and dealer just gave me a free alignment. I asked if they will give me a new set of tires if, I would encounter tire feathering and they said only for 2003 models.

 

I do not think that they can swap the front tires. These are rotational tires. If you look at the side, the is an arrow pointing in the direction that the tire should rotate. If you simply swap one tire for the other, the arrow will be pointing the wrong way. Whether they can be dismounted from the rim, flipped and remounted, and then swapped, I don't know.

 

i just called up 1800NISSAN1 and ohmygawd what a moron on the other end... cherise at 310-771-3798... please call and give her a piece of ur mind for me too... a couple minutes after i calmly explained the tire feathering problem on my 04.5, she says to me "so you want nissan to pay for new tires?"... i was like "um i haven't even talked about that yet". then she says "this is consumer affairs, you dont need to call us for that"... ARGH!!!! whats up with nissan man ? i've really lost a lot of faith in them after this phonecall 2 minutes ago...

 

Yeah, by "swapping," I meant that they took the tires off of the front rims and switched them. Arrow still pointing in the right direction...

 

I bought my 04 with 7k miles on it and when i brought it in at 13k for tire feathering they wouldnt give me new tires because it was an 04.

 

Cherise has probably dealt with hundreds of calls about front tires - she knew what to expect! And the stock answer is: you are out of luck! I got one set free at 10,000 miles and got absolutely nothing at 20,900. They did not even offer an alignment and tire swap, even though the TSB specifically says "the alignment warranty is extended to 2 years or 24,000 mile. Of course that is only for the '03's, but if they won't carry through with their warranty for the '03, you later year owners are really **** outta luck

 

if i get 19's with new tires and get a proper alignment, will my new tires still feather ?

 

I think the concensus is that the feathering will be retarded w/ new rims/tires. Some folks say it solves the problem, while others say it comes back at larger mileage intervals. I for one side with the latter folks.

 

My dealer replaced my fronts on my '04 for me @ NO CHARGE a few weeks back. I brought it in with the roar, they drove it/inspected it, agreed that the tires were feathering, and ordered a new set. They also re-aligned the front end.

 

Do you have the new designed Pretenzas which have the different tred design. That is the outside groves do not go all the way into the first circular tred that runs around the entire tire. Sorry, but this is the best that I can explain it. I have an 04.5 and ity came with the new design.

 

could someone explain how an alignment would solve the feathering problem. It seems to me that the problem lies within the toe/camber setup. Has there been any discussion of a class action lawsuit against nissan for not honoring their warrenties?

 

>> i just called up 1800NISSAN1 and ohmygawd what a moron on the other end... cherise at 310-771-3798...

Is that the "03 Z tire roar" hotline? I had a really stupid discussion with someone on there, and that name and number looks familiar.

I called because the dealer required me to sign a service bill and said I'd have to agree to pay it if their own mechanic determines the problem is something other than alignment. She agreed with the dealer, and I told her that even the phone recording during this very same phone call called it a FREE check. I mean, probably wouldn't have gone in if I knew I were playing "new tire roulette" with $91 of chips. Lucky for me, the mechanic was honest.

 

>> could someone explain how an alignment would solve the feathering problem.

I think they change the camber/toe?

The best I can tell, it's a trade off. We get a decently-priced car that handles well because it starts out pretty low with lots of heavy strong cheap parts, and extreme alignment settings that grind tires quickly.


>> It seems to me that the problem lies within the toe/camber setup. Has there been any discussion of a class action lawsuit against nissan for not honoring their warrenties?

I just know that with the 03 they extended the warranty which means they more than honored it. For other years, don't know what the deal is. Maybe they set the camber less agressively, or maybe changing everyone's tires would just hurt the bottom line too much.

I don't think it's too bad because we can't very well demand a car company to replace tires. If they do, it's nice, and it will help in keeping Nissan customers. But at some point, like when it catches on like wildfire, they can't afford to do it.

That's all just my impression, so far, and I could be totally wrong.

 

They only do it for '03's?? Please they sure didn't want to replace my tires at 24k when I brought it in.

And when I brought it in at 30 something, they said sure but its prorated but i have to pay.

BULLLLLLl SHIIII T

 

My 04 had the issue. First noticed the noise around 12k, finally gat really bad and took it in at 18.5k. Dealer postured about no issues with o4's and I may have to pay for alignment if Nissan did not take care of it. Once the car was on the rack and they talked to NNA they performed the alignment and replaced front tires at no cost. Tha only thing they adjusted was toe, camber is not adjustable. I believe the feathering will come back but atleast I got 1 free set.

 

I got mine replaced at 14K, and was told that if it came back they would replace them again, as they aligned the front.

 

OK
So I called Cherise and told her to stop telling us that they are not changing our tires when they actually are.

How do we get linked into the class action lawsuit?

 

i'm taking my car in for the 15k mile service soon, am going to ask them to check it then... am contemplating driving an hour to performance nissan in duarte cause they're highly rated around here...