Got my letter today, Aug 12 for my 2004 Roadster. I've got 11,000 miles and horrible tire roar.

 

This is great news...but I was wondering if anyone with aftermarket wheels has gone in and gotten their free alignment? According to the letter we have to return the front wheels to stock?

 

I have a '04 Roadster that I purchased new in January '04. By the following January I had 8500 miles and very significant feathering and noise. I took my car into the dealer in early February and the dealer confirmed the feathering and ordered a new set of front tires and re-aligned the front. A month later the tires arrived (with the new tread design) and they put them on no questions asked. I talked to the service manager several months later and it became clear that they thought my car was an '03 and they had received some grief from Nissan for replacing tires on a '04. Nonetheless their only concern was that I was happy with car (I was).

I now have about 15000 miles on the car (6500 on the new tires) and no hint of noise and the tread is even and smooth edge to edge. I don't know if this is the solution but the wear pattern is much better than the first set. I love the car and I still have people walking over to the car at the gas station wanting to take a look.

 

Exactly what I want to know. I doubt they'll do it if you bring in the car with aftermarket wheels

 

Zeenut's response lends credence to the possibility that the original design of the 040's could be the major contributor to our tire feathering problems, coupled to a front-end that is difficult to keep toe-in properly in spec. If this IS the case, and I now have new tires with a more robust outer tread pattern, I don't mind spending the bucks for a lifetime alignment and having it checked periodically, rather than spending big bucks for an aftermarket fix.

 

Just to let everyone know, the front wheel alignment is extended to March 21, 2006 with UNLIMITED mileage.

Take advantage of it!

 

With all due respect to boma's post, but just to avoid confusion, the extended warranty does not expire on March 31, 2006 but goes as follows:

"To demonstrate its commitment to customer satisfaction, Nissan is extending the warranty for front-end alignment due to tire noise until 36 months from the in-service date or October 31, 2005 (whichever is later) and unlimited mileage for 2003 350Z models, and to 36 months and unlimited mileage on 2004 350Z models."

So for my 04 Z with an in-service date of 2/04, the extended warranty expires in 2007...it's all dependent on your in-service date so our expiration dates will all vary unless we purchased during the same month and year.

 

I got my letter today. I always enjoyed my Z, but hated the fact that Nissan never really address the problem whole heartedly, Now I feel even better about owning the Z now that Nissan is at least addressing the issue out in the public eye.

Now we don't have to worry about some dealers saying " What feathering problem?".

 

I just got off the phone with Nissan. Made an apt for next week to have the tires looked at and get an alignment (I really need one) So they were really good about this. But my question is, are the G's having the same problem? I'm dating this guy with an 03 G35 and he just replaced his tires and still has a horrible "roar" sound...Anyone know if Infiniti is having the same problems?

 

LMAO Haven't read anything this funny since the twins thread.

[QUOTE=Netko350Z]And next they should address the tranny...
QUOTE] You said it right brother!

 

Do you think it was Nissan's idea to step up to the plate?....I would bet it was their lawyers idea.

 

I called earlier today (my friend's father is service mgr at the local stealership...) He asked me if I had returned everything back to stock (wheels, suspension, brakes...etc). I haven't changed the suspension, but I didn't read anywhere where the brakes had to be original???

I put my stock wheels & tires back on and have an appt. on Monday.... I measured my tread and have well over 1/8" left. Hopefully they don't try to give me any $h!t, and replace them at 100% cost.

On a side note... I forgot how horrible the roar was until I put the stockers back on. I can't beleive i put up with it as long as I did. My new Michelen PS2s are sooo much better than the black pencil erasers that come stock on the Z.

 

Well I got both fronts replaced yesterday and the alignment done. They are still using the RE040s but the tread design on the outer lugs is a bit different now. I'll say this. The tire growl is gone and road noise is a lot less.

 

It seems like Nissian still hasn't address the real problem. New tire tread and an alignment? ppl been doing this but the problem is still there. instead of a band aid (warranty extension) why not just fix the dang problem. how about allow us to trade in our 03/04 for newer model but do it in a way where its fair for us and them.

 

I agree. I don't understand why people are so excited by this. What happens after 36,000 miles? What happens after you can't buy the SPECIALLY designed tires anymore?

Before at least you could hit nissan where it hurt...in the wallet. I'm going to use my settlement for a real fix.

I just wish I knew what it is .

 

I wonder if this tire will be a better replacement, to resolve the problem.

http://www.nittotire.com/tires_neogen.asp

Cesar

 

I saw those in sport compact car and was wondering the same thing. It has a better wear rating than our stock tires, but I'd be worried by what looks to be cuts all the way to the edge, which is what was redesigned on the re40s.

 

Did you guys have to pay for any percentage of the tire? Whats that tire tread depth chart about?

 

any body have pics of before and after re040 tread design?

 

There were suspension changes on the 05. I spent an hour with my friendly parts manager on the 2003-2004 vs 2005 suspension. The upper arm is a "direct exchange" with the 03-04. The lower arm (54501AM602) and the spindle (40014AL55J)are different and have different parts number. Note there is a left and a right number for each. Also different is the shock. Sorry I forgot to look at the spring.

So has anybody tried to innerchange these parts on an 03? I have not heard of an 05 with feathering and I wonder if this is the fix Nissan does not want us to know about? What do you think...save the smartass stuff and keep it technical please.