Yeh, I would say they are wearing better however my left front is starting to show slight wear on the inside. I had them inspected by the dealer on Monday and they offered to perform the latest TSB which includes installing the revised RE 040. I don't think so...I had a full set of Pilot Sports installed in March and I don't want to start mismatching tires on the car..

 

woah thats horrible...i dont think this may fit to well, but i got my $208.92 check yesterday for the tire my dearler blew up -this was about 1 1/2 months ago-.

 

there have been some rumors about a recall coming for 03 and 04 Zs to install a new adjustable "control arm" to eliminate feathering. anyone heard about this? 05s will supposedly have it from the factory.

 

I have heard this rumor on the zcar.com website.

I am not sure if the source is reliable.

It would be nice if it there was some truth to it.

 

Hey Steve, hope you are enjoying the Infiniti. I really like your post as they are fair and respectful. I am just about to buy new rear tires for my 2003 Z Touring Automatic. We have almst 1600 miles on the car. The rear tires are the original. They are almost at the wear bars right now. The front tires are the ones Nissan sprang for. They also are Re040's. They have about 6200 miles on them and no signs of wear. I keep 40psi in my tires and get the car aligned every 3 months as I have a life time alignment that Nissan bought for me due to an inept dealer. Do you think the Pilot Sport is a good tire for me to go with ? thanks, Alan

 

\

Should say 16000 miles not 1600 miles on car. thanks

 

i can't believe some of you guys still don't get it!

THIS IS NOT A TIRE PROBLEM!

IT IS THE SUSPENSION THAT KEEPS WEARING DOWN THE SIDES OF THE TIRE, NO MATTER WHAT TIRE BRAND YOU PURCHASE.


of course, if you get harder tires you won't get uneven wear as fast but FEATHERING WILL OCCUR GUARANTEED.

 

ironman75----> You are so correct. My newly installed Bridgestone S-O3 Pole Position tires (installed @12,000 miles) started the feathering and low speed growling noise at the same mileage as the OEM.’s @ 3000 mile run time (15,000 miles). Called Nissan and their response is that this is a 350Z characteristic and was told (in so many words) to live with it. And that they have no plans to fix the problem other than the BS extended band aid tire warranty.

 

Well, I got the decision from my BBB arbitration today and I'm both surprised and unhappy with it. The arbitrator ordered "interim repairs", stating that it "would seem that the defect can be easily remedied". So after they have been given a total of six chances to fix the problem, they get another one still. The last chance they had was when I notified NNA of my intentions, in writing, after which they have 15 days to make another repair attempt. NNA refused the opportunity, and instead claimed that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the car and it is operating as designed. Yet they still get another chance...why?

The Nissan rep in my case claimed that the problem was simply that the toe is not set properly, and that if Nissan just had a chance to do an alignment then the problem would be fixed. He acted as if they never had a chance to align the car properly, even though they've had it on the alignment rack several times. I guess the arbitrator believed him, but I'd like to know why the problem still exists if its so easy to fix. You'd think that they would already have it right with the number of chances they've had. I really can't believe the decision was not in my favor, and I think Nissan really got lucky with this decision because my car clearly meets the terms specified in the Lemon Law in my state.

Looks like I'll have to let Nissan 'try again', but I'll be talking to my attorney again about the options. An interesting thing to note is that according to the LL statutes, if Nissan fails to comply with the arbitration decision (fix it within 30 days) and I file suit in court, then the court can then award up to three times the normal amount allowed. I don't know why that much additional would be awarded, but I'd certainly like to pursue it just on principal after the treatment I've received from Nissan.

Has anybody else been in this situation? What normally happens when the BBB arbitrator orders interim repairs, and the repairs are not successful? I'd like to avoid going to court if possible, as I've already sunk enough time and money into getting something done about this. But if the BBB is going to just keep letting Nissan try to "fix" the car, then that will be my only choice.

Anyway, the problem isn't going away with a toe adjustment. All they're doing is moving the heel/toe wear around on the tire. This wear pattern is typically found to be caused by excessive caster, but as we all know the caster is not adjustable on the z. My car has 8.4 degrees positive on the left and 8.0 degrees positive on the right. This is within Nissan's specs, which call for 7.58 to 8.92 positive, but this is indeed a lot of caster compared to other cars. Most cars seem to run in the 5 to 6 degree range, including a lot of sports cars, even those that have a similar SLA front suspension design. Another problem is the lack of camber adjustability, which allows either the inner or outer shoulder to wear faster. Strangely enough, even with the negative camber of 1.0 and 0.6 degrees on my car, the outer parts of the tires are wearing much faster than the inside.

I'd have to say that I think anyone using the BBB Autoline process should not expect good results. Some people have had good results, but it seems that it depends a lot on the arbitrator. I really can't understand the reasoning in my case, but there's nothing I can do about it. I also can't beleive, after the way the hearing went, that he even considered giving Nissan another chance as its obvious that they aren't fixing the problem.

 

Hi Gary - Your sig does not give your State or location..

Check your P.M. and E-Mail me off line this site..

Gary - your arbitrator set a time limit to have Nissan Fix the problem.. This is actually a good thing... And should be a blessing for all the 350Z "Tire Eating Monsters"... As the current TSB for tow-in did not solve the problem.

Now NNA is in a position to perform... A time limit has been put in place... They will not be able to perform in thirty days...

I would not look at the arbitrators decision as a defeat, but as a victory. Tow in is NOT the soulution.
Thank You Very Much for your Time and Effort...

If NNA can fix the problem in 30 Day's - Plus tire testing time.... It will be a "Engineering Turn Around" read "Impossible"

Cheers Amy -

I am hesident to say the "real" fix as we are starting with some new virgin front tires next week, and are awaiting new components for the front geometry.

I can say the NNA front tires replaced at 12000 miles, and Nissan Aligned are Feathering. Now at 18000 miles. 6000 miles rather than 3000 miles as before.. Nissan was half right/wrong .


-

 

Had a talk with a G35 Owner.. He asked if the tires made a lot of noise.. and wear...

I E-MAiled him this thread... He is at 15,000 miles and he can not hear his radio when he put's on the brakes.. Like Totally !

Cheers Amy -

Wash Board Des with Michelin Sport Pilots.

 

NNA has 30 days to fix the problem, and then the testing period as you mentioned. Unfortunately, the time period for me to report back to BBB that the problem has not been solved is only 30 days after they make the repair attempt. As I average less than 1k miles per month on my car, and will likely be on vacation for at least a week of that time period, the tires may not begin showing the problem in time. Once the test drive period is over with no report that the problem still exists, the BBB will automatically consider the problem solved and no longer help. It seems that the terms offered are not fair at all, and pretty much hang me out to dry. I'll have to call the BBB and find out what can be done to change this, at least an extension to the test period.

 

I've spent a lot of time researching the 350Z and had made a decision to purchase one over other vehicles (Corvette, RX-8, used Porsche). Given the problems people are having with tire wear and Nissan's apparent inability to resolve the problem, I've decided not to purchase the 350Z.

This forum has been a very valuable tool in researching the 350z and the car has a lot of good qualities but I don't want to deal with the suspension/tire problems that people are experiencing.

Does anybody have an email address for Nisssan brass or regional reps. I'd at least like to get my 2 cents in and let them know this issue cost them a sale.

Good luck.

 

DSLeach:

Where in SC are you located? Don't give up on the Z before you even start. There's chat over at ZCAR.com that 2005's will have the fix. It's a fun car except for dealing with the delay and worry over the tire eating issue. I still do not believe that Nissan will let this tire issue kill the new 350Z.

Gary: I understand that the BBB decision is non-binding and I encourage you to pursue it in court unless Nissan can assure you that the new design will be retrofitted to solve the problem. The recent alignment TSB doesn't seem to be working for me. I am a little over 3,000 on the new tires and they appear to be feathering again. The noise has not started again but I've noticed the uneven wear, as before.

 

Ironmon, you could be right. All I was doing was stating the facts as they appy to my car. I have a 2003 Automatic Touring model with 16000 miles on it. The rear tires are almost worn out right now with not that much hard driving. The front tires have around 6000 miles on them after being replaced by Nissan. I keep 40 psi in my tires vice the 35 recommened by Nissan. I also get a four wheel alignment every three months. At this point in time there is no abnormal wear on the front tires. This is not speculation or rumor it is FACT as it applies to my car. Your car could be different. I am curious if anybody has done a study on the automatic versus manual transmission cars. There was a difference in wheel size but now as we speak all 350Z's come Standard with 17' wheels and tires. Something else for you to think about.

 

Don't the performance and track models come standard with 18s?

 

Yes, as well as Touring MT6 models. Lets be careful about quoting just the facts please on this board so as to not give other lurkers the wrong information about our beloved cars.

 

I had fresh front tires and alingment check from NNA in December, imediately went to winter tires. In the spring put the fresh fronts on and after 3500 miles, feathering again. Just as before, inside tread bar and outside tread bar. Went back to the original dealer, he looked at and said thats os good as it gets. Went to a second dealer and they checked acording to the latest buletin, filled out the form showing the iregular tire wear and said thats as good as it gets. Now, I have left the car at a third dealer. At this point, the third dealer is talking a good talk. They believe they can do something about this 'feathering'.

I am not a dreamer but I have been called an incoragable optomist. Any way, I will let you all know what comes of the third dealer attempt.

 

Late 2004 and all 2005 models all come with 17' tires and wheels standard. 18' wheels and tires are an option on 2005 models. If you dont believe me go to nissan usa and check it out. theres got to be a reason why they did that. I have an automatic with 17' tires and im ok for now. I am curious as it seems the feathering issue is worse on the 18' tires.

 

navybulldog68:

I own a A/T Touring 2003 350Z with stock 17" wheels and tires.

I had the alignment realigned and front tires replaced due to feathering at 6,700 miles and at 12,500 miles. At 12,500 miles the new TSB alignment (Zero Toe Out) that came out 4/04 was performed too. At 16,500 miles my tires are starting to roar again. It is not that bad yet, but it will return just as it has two other times.