What tires do you recommend Boomer?

 

I really put my foot in my mouth this time, didn't I? You are aware that there is a tire and wheel thread thats gone on far longer than this one, aren't you? What conditions do you drive in and what do you want? Call Discount Tire, a sponsor of this site, ask them, or Tire Rack. Both have on-line info that can steer you to the right tire for your needs a lot better than I can.

Personally, I like the Michelin A/Ss in the stock sizes. There are not a lot of choices for all seasons in 18s. Bridgestone 03s, Michelin Pilot Sports, Toyos; all summer tires have been favored by owners here. My only sweeping statement I can say is: Don't buy any tire for daily driving wear rated under 200 UTOG. Any tires under that rating are track tires to me, the 040s are rated 140 as you know. For that reason alone, I wouldn't use them as daily drivers.

Thats it, all the wisdom I can impart. Its not much, but its all mine. I hope its helpful.

 

The rears don't go through the same range of motion as the fronts, do they? I have owned a car with 4 wheel steering, the 350Z doesn't have it.

 

Nissan's prime directive is starting to take shape. Get the unhappy owners to argue and kill each other off. Brilliant...

 

I would like to see that too. Maybe a review of Tire Rack's customer surveys might yield some data.

 

Its worked since Fall of 2002, well maybe no killing has gone on, but lots of arguing between owners has taken place. I have become Nissan's unwilling, unknowing dupe! The Horror!

Laughing at myself seems to lessen the impact somehow. Keeps me from wanting to storm Nissan's offices and take a few heads for my trouble.

 

Boomer
We have about 5500 miles on our mich A/S tires and they are getting louder and are starting to show signs of feathering. I hate these tires `they suck monkey butt'. They are loud,the handeling is horrible and they look like snow tires.

THIS IS NOT A TIRE ONLY PROBLEM!!!! HELLO McFLY WAKE UP!!!!

Oh yes I also have full size Bronco and the tires also have a 400 Tread wear rating,but its a truck not a sports car!!!
I would much rather have a 140 rated Bridgstone than the A/S any day.
The cars were sold to us with great driving tires[when new] Why should we have to settle for anything different?????
I am not worried about only getting 15,000 miles out of a set of tires its a sports car.
It is the damn tire noise after only 2,000 miles I can stand.

The Harder tires are only a band aid . The problem is still there it just takes longer to surface.

 

Just noticed that the Yokohama AVS ES100 tires are now available for the Track model on tirerack.com. They seem to have the best wear rating of the 6 different brands/models they offer for the stock wheel sizes. They are also the least expensive. Might want to look into these as an option.

 

Boomer is right about one thing. There has been enough talk. From everyone except the people that need it the most, Nissan. They will not respond to my verbal or written requests for information so the certified notification of vehicle defects goes out in tomorrow's mail. I've included nine items. I'm tired of arguing with Nissan and their Dealers and being made to feel like I have some sort of attitude problem because I want my car fixed. And I'm tired of driving this car in it's present condition. Now they are required by law to respond.

 

My A/Ss are just fine and no wear at 6400 miles. If yours are starting to make noise already, I would flip them now and get another alignment, free or not. Unlike the 040s, I think the A/Ss will come back into a normal wear pattern. But, its only an opinion, and I am not an expert. I never claimed to be one, ever.

On second thought, I would NOT take my car back to the previous aligner. If you are correct about the wear, we do have options for camber/caster from 350 EVO, JIC(I Think), Kenetix Racing and Ka-Mac from down under is coming soon. We can adjust our suspensions to any setting that works. I have never considered Nissan for a final fix, we can do it ourselves for the price of a set of cheap tires. Do it now if you want, its not worth the heartache to be constantly upset if it were happening to me now. I just have that as a contingency plan, if or when my tires start cupping.

 

Hi...

Er what will you send, and to NNA?

After the Message is sent - can you Post who, what, when and all that?

I hope includes, the real issues of Tire Eating Monster, and the dreaded Bounce/Porposing.. Etc ad nasium..

Cheers Amy -
Let us know how to proceed, to get the attention of Nissan JP

 

Nail them, nothing else seems to bring results. We have to do mass faxes or individual legal action to get any action at all from Nissan, hang them out to dry and I will applaud you.

 

Amy, Nissan has to respond to Lemon Law filings and the BBB process has been another avenue taken to get the cars fixed. Lemon Law is more productive, I think. Do a search, there are many examples of the procedures that have been used. PM me if you want more. Boomer

 

Boomer you sure have a lot of posts here for wanting to shut this thread down..... Just kidding, but it does show the level of frustration still out there. My 04 is in storage wearing new pilot sports supplied by the dealer at 4K miles. My wear was minor and could only be felt on the tread blocks. I have talked to the local "speed shop" guy who said they align cars other people wont touch. Ill get the "latest" specs from Nissan and take it there this spring.

 

Amy,

The letter constitutes the begining of a Lemon Law filing in the State of Florida. I have satisfied the threshold on several fronts including the tire/suspension issue. It is just a standardized form that you can get from the Florida Attorney General. Nissan gets a certified copy and the Attorney General's office gets a copy. This notification gives Nissan a final opportunity to repair the vehicle before the case goes to arbitration in the Nissan State Certified Program. I hope that Nissan takes advantage of this opportunity as I am not neccessarily looking to get out of this car. I just want it fixed. It is a shame that this is what it takes for this to happen. Don't worry, I have included everything but the kitchen sink and I will share the entire process with the group. I'm not worried about divulging my strategy as Nissan has no credible defense. On the tire eating issue, their own TSB's document the problem and it is easy enough to show that the TSB's do not fix the problem. It is also easy enough to show how widespread the problem is so unless Nissan plans on doing something other than checking the toe, AGAIN, and replacing the tires, they will loose. Florida also has what is called the Sunshine Law which, in this case, prohibits the Manufacturer from attempting to enter into any sort of non-disclosure agreement with the consumer so I will share with the group. I'll post a copy of the notification when I get a chance.

Mike

 

Obviously, my frustration had reached a flash point, die Nissan, die, but it is of little consequence to me if this thread remains open. Members/and Moderators do that, not me.

Isn't it odd that the "latest" alignment settings are so elusive? An owner posts a TSB my dealer can't find on their Technical Assistance site and isn't on Nissan's website listing the TSBs? All I have is a barely legible copy of the TSB an owner posted, my dealer is at a loss, so I go to an independent shop for the TA I needed from Nissan. Do they tell some dealers and not others? Are they simply ignoring any reference to this issue at all?

Why bother asking them anything about it, when they give nothing back to our queries? Jamie at NNA Customer Service said the Japanese engineers would be issuing a report in 60 days(Nov. or Dec?) and I haven't seen it, has anyone seen a report containing the "latest" settings? If you have, please let me know.

 

Boomer
Thanks for the advice about flipping the cupping tires but no thanks. They are a major part of my Court case against NNA.

My Alignment was performed by a Nissan Field engineer at my final repair attempt under the VA Lemon Law.

If he cant get it right who can????????

THE PROBLEM IS NOT JUST TIRES!!!!!!!!!

If you are happy with the super hard all weather A/S great!
I bought a sports car and it does not drive or handle like a sports car with the all weather tires.

If you are happy and have no problems great, but stop confusing the Newbies here looking for answers.

IMO if you own a Z with tire problems file for Lemon Law protection wile you still can. If you want to spend your own hard earned money throwing parts at you car go for it. Not me I bought a car not a science project!
Mark

 

Agreed. I would only add that the problem is not tires/toe adjustment or some combination thereof. Also LOL re "science project".

 

How far along in the FLA LL process are you?

Nissan coducted my Final repair on 1/5/04. I've spoken with the BBB and advised them that I reserve my right to re-open the case at anytime for the same problem's if it should resurface (which I'm sure it will by this summer). The new tires they put on 11/29/03 have just over 2k on the rubber and I'm starting to see some problems all over again. So the "final" repair was simply a re-alignment (4th time) and a new control arm (2nd time). They stuck with the new OEM tires that were put on in Nov. Steven (NNA specialist) and Mr. Smith (District Tech) on a three way phone call assured me that the combination of the new tires and the final repair should do the trick. I reminded them if the problem should arise, that they are on record as stating the car repaired. I urged them that for their sake I hope they're right - since I will go hire an attorney for any furture issue's since the BBB throws softballs.

Just curious since I'm going to be calling the BBB if the noise get's any louder. I did file the notice with the Attorney Gen. office to which they advised me to go through the BBB 1st. So I've made sure all my I's are dotted and T's crossed. I assue you've done the same. It's like David vs. Goliath(sp?)

 

It is like David and Goliath but in this case it should not be too hard to kick Goliath's *** so to speak. Before I go on let me point out that I am not a lawyer and I am not attempting to give any legal advice and anyone who acts solely based upon what I say is a fool. Having said that, I'm just beginning my case. I've been sitting on the fence for quite some time now, waiting for Nissan to act, and I've had enough. Nissan has a State Certified Program through the BBB or whatever and one is compelled to use it before going to the State Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board. I've sent the defect notification as outlined in the Statute. I am hoping that they will fix the car and that will be the end of it. If they do not, and this is apparently the situation that you are in, then I can either go to arbitration and/or get a lawyer and file a suit under Federal Law (Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act). I'm not certain on this point but even if I do get an attorney he or she would still have to submit to arbitration in the State Certified Program and since we know more about this issue than any attorney and probably Nissan, it's probably not necessary, particularly at this point, to have an attorney. Take it to the next level, present your case before the arbitration board and, if you don't agree with their decision, take it to the State level. Nissan has to honor their decision but you don't. I frankly do not see how it could get that far though given Nissan's total lack of a case. Just prepare your case, assemble your documents, get copies of articles that support your case, get written third party opinions that support your case, use the wealth of information that has been collected in these forums and you will prevail. All you have to do is show that your tires are feathered again and you win. I doubt that anyone has lost in arbitration on the tire feathering claim. Want to **** Goliath off? Send him a settlement offer. Send him a certified letter stating that the final repair did not work and he can either settle now or go to arbitration/litigation. Offer to settle for a '05 Z or a complete buyback with no offset for use. It would actually be to Goliath's advantage. If he voluntarily buys your car from you he doesn't have to label it a "lemon" thus making it worthless.

In any case, I’ll just be waiting 10 days for a phone call from Nissan. A phone call that should have been made many months ago were it not for Nissan’s total lack of respect for their customers.