Happens on 04's as well. Issue confirmed on mine and tires are on order.

 

My 2003 350Z had this problem and I traded it in for the Infiniti SC.

I'm curious what the diff is, my 2004 Infiniti does not have this issue. Other than wheelbase (+8"), track is the same, spring rate in the rear only is lower (softer), weight distribution is almost the same, Michelin PS's are obviously not the answer for the 350Z, so what is so different about this car from the Z that I'm not seeing this problem?

I finally have passed the mileage point (+1500 more) where this showed on my 350Z. Not even a hint of uneven wear, no tire noise, no feathering or cupping.

Please note I'm throwing this out for comparison, nothing at all other than wondering why we're not seeing something on the Infiniti that Z owners are seeing big time. I'm no suspension and tire expert, so I really don't have a clue what the difference is - but I have to wonder if there isn't something there that could potentially benefit the Z owners...good luck, I hope NNA is coming around on this, me I could not wait as I had the Z back in Nov 4, 2002 - after 14 months and 11k miles, cut my losses - I just don't have the time to screw around with the TSB's, multiple alignments, NNA b*shi*t, ...who does?

 

I'm retired and all I have is time to screw with Nissan. Since they put new tires on mine at around 4500 miles, now at 6300 and wear is perfect. I now run the tires at 33 cold and as you know with these short side walls they get to 36+ lbs within a few minutes of driving. I'm hoping that the new tires, alignment and more air pressure has corrected the problem. Before the tire pressure was down to 28 lbs and with the bad alignment the tire went bad quickly. I think it is a inherent problem that these tires can not be rotated. I would be happy with a normal 20K miles of use with normal wear.

 

Does anyone have any idea what "lugs at less than .45MM" would mean on the service invoice for a front tire inspection?

 

It probably means that the tires were not cupped enough to qualify for relief under the latest TSB (>.45mm=rotation and >.6mm=replacement). If it is less than.45mm, according to Nissan, it is normal. Of course that figure is totally arbitrary.

 

Thing is, this time, because of the last adjustment I guess, both the inside and outside tread blocks are cupping and the roar started earlier and is already worse than the previous two tire replacements before.

 

Do you have that TSB? I think the only one I have is Jan. 2003.

 

That's as good as it gets Sooooie. Or at least as good as Nissan's fix gets. All that toe adjustment business does is move the shoulder cupping from side to side. If you get it just right, from a tire wear perspective, which is not the best setting from a handling perspective, you will have cupping on both sides. Then you will have noise while breaking, noise while cornering and noise in general. The root cause of the shoulder cupping, in my opinion, has absolutely nothing to do with the toe adjustment. If your toe is out, your tires will feather across the tread blocks in the classic pattern. The 350Z will develop shoulder cupping regardless of what toe setting is applied. If you've got two prior attempts and a third where they refused to do anything on the basis that the wear was normal (ie. less than .45 mm) then it's time to choose between living with it, attempting to fix it yourself, or lemon lawing it. Recent cases suggest that you can prevail in arbitration on the tire issue.

I don't have the link for the new TSB handy but it's in this thread a few pages back.

 

For what it's worth
Guys/Gals:
This issue hasn't been fixed in over two years. Don't lose sight of your rights as it relates to the Lemon Law. When you buy a car from a manufacturer, you expect it to be right. our 350's are not. You have choices:
- wait for NNA to fix the problem (they havn't in two years & they also said the '04's were fixed and they too have the problem)
- put your own money into the car to try and fix it
- keep letting NNA buy you tires
- force them to buy the car back through the LL process.

 

20k was what I would shoot for, too. I ran mine 33 cold also, checked them consistently.

 

I figure 15k back, 20-25k front.

A friend of mine gets about 10k back, and 25k front on his S2000.

 

I never got more than 7K out of the fronts before they feathered and I am on my third set. I did get over 20K on the rears and kept 35psi in all four, cold

 

The problem with trying to find a fix with the feathering is that everyone is seeing different degrees of feathering. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for another.

 

Pulpz2:
Many sports cars out there do not have the feathering problem. You pay $30-$40K and you don't expect this from Nissan. They need to find a fix. I am in the final stages of LL.

 

Just wanted to wish my Brickyard 350z happy trails. Turned her in today, signed the release statement and took my check. Hard to see her go but, after being to hell and back during the past 16 months, it was the wise thing to do.


I turned her in with 18,754 miles. My LL milage was set at 16,954 - so I drove her for a while on the "free" miles. But hey, Nissan dragged their feet till I demanded last week that they were taking too long for the buyback.

Any ways - I will contiune to hang around. I'm curious as to the outcome as the problem continues.

I've already started working on my 1983 280zx Turbo - so I'm not leaving the family. Just going to hang out with a "older" woman....

Good luck guys and be careful!!!!!!

Here's a picture on the day I brought her home - had I known......

 

Started to notice the tire roar on my 2003 350Z, took it to my dealer and he checked out the tires and noticed the feathering. now have 7,800 miles on car. One tire was not feathered enough but the other was so the dealer is ordering new tires for my Z. He said only one tire has to meet the criteria for both to be replaced. The service manager at my dealer is not happy with Nissan about the tire feathering issue. He said Nissan told him to tell the customers to buy new tires. He said he would not tell his customers to buy new tires for a new car with only a few thousand miles on them. The problem is not with the tires! He personally told me Nissan needs to acknowledge the problem and come up with a solution. It is really refreshing when a dealer stands up for its customers and acknowledges Nissan is just blowing smoke.

 

Well Its over.
Nissan has bought back our 03 Z by settling or Lemon Law case before going to court..
I got all of my money back plus Legal fees. We had 3 sets of tires in 18,000 miles. Plus many other problems.
NNA then put on Mich All season tires with 4 times the tread wear rating of the original tires. I refused to accept this band aid on a design flaw in there 350z.
For those of you who chose to keep there cars and throw $$$ at a design flaw than go for it!!!!!
With all the Magazine articles about the problems with the 03Z good luck selling your car. I suggest you file a Lemon law case before you run out of time.
For you newbies that are new to this problem,THERE IS NO FIX!!!!
Good luck to you all
Mark 804 784 8851W

 

nissan has been ordered to by back my car due to the the tire feathereing alignment issue. I will be turing in my car shortly, I just don't know what to buy next any ideas?

 

nissan has been ordered to by back my car due to the the tire feathereing alignment issue. I will be turing in my car shortly, I just don't know what to buy next any ideas?

 

We are looking at the G35 or thinking about waiting for the 05 Z. We loved our Z car but could not afford tires every other oil change.
There is not much else out there like the Z.
Mark