Would someone please describe what this feathering looks like and where it typically occurs on the tires, ie; front, rear, inside, outside. I just purchased a 2005 Touring model with AT and now I'm getting paranoid about this problem which everyone is describing.

 

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....threadid=68924

 

Another newbie that this board has got scared silly cause of all the stupid feathering threads. Most of the feathering threads are too long or have too much disinformation. I will give you the short of it:

1. Only front tires
2. Only inside of tires
3. Caused mostly from negative camber alignment settings from factory and poor tread design by Bridgestone
4. Often confused with excessive inner tire wear which is normal for aggressive camber settings
5. Symptoms are loud noises from tires while breaking from 40 mph to stop caused by the inner tread blocks not being worn correctly
6. If you hear this noise your tires probably needed to be replaced anyways, so replace them yourself, or go to your dealer and try to get free tires from them, but they are NOT required to give them to you
7. Please get alignments and wheel balances at least twice a year and keep the receipts as it may help you when dealing with the dealer

 

Thanks for the "feathering"info. So if I have the problem, it will show up as excessive wear on the inside of the tires and the loud tire noise. I'll keep my eyes and ears open. I only have 500 miles on the car so nothing noticed yet.

 

"it will show up as excessive wear on the inside of the tires"

I wouldn't say this is accurate. It is not excessive, more uneven. The treadblocks wear unevenly. (see picture) You can see dark and light areas all around the tire (looks alone won't tell you there's an issue, but the picture is the best thing I have to describe what you would feel if you ran your hand around that area of the tire).

King Tut summed things up pretty well, although I disagree on point #6. I would say it happens before the need to replace the tires. Nissan replaced my tires for free due to it, so I'd say they agree (or at least agreed). Their handling of it varies from dealer to dealer, and from year to year.

 

I thought feathering was caused by toe settings?

I was recently told this by the dealer.

 

the toe setting explanation is a scape-goat that nissan is using as its explanation for one reason only, its the only thing that can be adjusted on the Z unless you purchase an aftermarket suspension. (these people are the only ones who have been able to document that they fixed the feathering)

with that said there is some mild truth to that cause if you adjust the toe in you will have a minor affect on the camber settings, making it less aggressive. so while adjusting the toe will prolong the wear, it wont relieve it. if our cars were able to have camber adjusted then the problem would more easily fixed.

 

He has an 05, which is why I said what I said. I don't see any dealers replacing tires on the 05.

 

even if it is a 05 I wouldnt say they arent required to change your tires for free, if the problem begins happening just go to a dealer that is willing to do it. It happened to my 04 a dealer didnt want to cooperate, while the other did it no questions asked.

 

They aren't required to replace them. Which is what you have just proven by your statement of one dealership not doing it. You might find a dealership stupid enough to do it, but there is no TSB that tells them they are required to do it like there is for the 03s, so they definitely aren't required to replace them.

 

Does the feathering only affect the stock tires? or any tires at any size?

 

it will happen to anything

 

Is there any permanent fix? I think this is crap.... I maybe purchasing a 03 350z next week.


The best current solution is getting the car re-aligned twice every 2 year?

Someone quoted from above: Replacing a new suspension? What kind of suspension? Like aftermarket coilovers?

 

Yes,

Aftermarket coilovers and front and rear camber arms should do the trick. Cusco just came out with new camber arms.

 

Moved.

 

Shuggie, and all others,

Yes, you should be skeptical of some of the info you read on this site about the "feathering" issue. For one, that which we know as "feathering", is not.
To dislodge several other rumors:
The "feathering" can happen to the outside of fronts.
After 36k miles of dealer alignments on the same machine, I immediately followed the last dealer alignment with an alignment from a good independent shop who found the dealer settings to be out. At 15k miles later, no feathering, no noise, same OEM tire model.
My best advise:
1. get new front tires of any good brand.
2. Have a GOOD independent shop do a very precise 4-wheel alignment and target the middle of the latest spec.
3. Never again let the dealer touch your alignment.

 

Bwilliams, next week I am getting a replacement set of the same OEM tires for my 2004 350Z due to noise and some "feathering". I was wondering if you suggest I also get the second alignment done at an independant shop.

 

dannichols,
Let the dealer align, just for giggles. Then choose an independent carefully and definitely let the independent align, shooting for the center of the spec ranges.
IMHO, money well spent.

 

Just got car back and it seems ok..runs straight and no noise from tires. They gave me the alignment spec sheet too. Seems they set things to the low end of the specs, not the middle. I will have someone else run an alignment over the weekend.