More observations.
First drive- November 12th and I've got 15k miles on my SS Track. Had the alignment/ no tire swap (dealer suggestion) at 11,000. The noise is getting unbearable. I got the Track because I didn't expect to race, but I wanted the best the manufacturer had. I don't want to dump a bunch more $ into "fixing" my car.

Anyway, I noticed during a close inspection that the inside (problem child) tread blocks are baby butt smooth, while the rest of the tire seems scratched up. I don't know why. I'm not going to try to guess, but someone might have a clue.

It seems to me that I can cause my Z to bounce. It's easier at higher speeds. It won't happen while accelerating or slowing down. It's almost as if you get it to balance the weight front/back. Then, catch the smallest bump, and you're off! Bobble Heads for everyone.

Help- anyone.

 

Just a WAG, insufficient rebound on your rear shocks. I'm buying Konis when they come out.

 

After reading through this insanely long thread, I was compelled to go check my tires. Go figure. My VIN is #45** Im not sure what it is exactly, since I'm not around my car right now, but you get the idea. Besides some noticible negative camber on my rear tires, I am not experiencing any feathering or cupping as shown and described in this thread. I have over 6,200 miles without any allignment changing on the stock tires. I drive very aggressively, and I really have no Idea why my Z isnt showing any feathering, where close # VINs are....not that I'm complaining.

 

An observation......

Aggessive driving "may" balance the wear on the tires so that the feathering does not show up. More of the "outside" of the tire is being used and not just the inner edge.

Toe out and excess negative camber will definitely cause feathering of the inside edges of the front tires. Driving on the hwy only with a suspension tuned for "race track" use could cause this excessive wear.

About ten years ago in Germany, there was a problem with lowered BMWs (which increases the negitive camber) that would wear out the inside edge (or, overheat the tire and have a failure) of the rear tires when driving at speed on the autobahn. Great set-up for AGGRESSIVE DRIVING on winding roads, but bad for straight "highway" driving.

IMO, highway driving, excess toe-out, and aggressive braking add to the feathering of the front tires. And track use, (aggressive cornering) correct toe-in, and "lighter" hwy braking causes less of it.

Maybe the fix is to have a "TOURING" setting for cruisers, and a "SPORT" setting for track use.

Scott

 

I thought that was the idea of this car, daily driver for 5 days a week, change the alignment settings, and go racing on the weekend. Using your context, it seems to me that Nissan set up the car to go racing on the street as well as the track. If you cruise, you don't get even tire wear? If you drive the highway a lot, you get uneven tire wear?

So, still using your analogy, the owners who tiptoed around in Nissan's breakin period, got uneven tire wear and those who whaled the **** out of it had no problems? In a couple of cases, yes, they've posted and told us. For all the rest of us, seems a bit farfetched, but I just think most of the cars were out of alignment from the start. Those who drove the most miles got the feathering because they were out of alignment, IMO.

Oh, check out a website called, www.familycar.com, they have a very readable section on alignment that even I can fathom.

 

I can't wait for Nissan's fix anymore, so I decided to buy the Eibach Pro-Kit even though I DO NOT like to lower the car.. It's the cheapest route for now. I will update after a few thousand miles..

I currently have 14,000miles total, and 1000miles on the new S03, warranty by the dealer. No sign of feathering on the new tires so far...

 

Did you have it re-aligned after you added the Eibachs?

 

I just got word that the backorder for the tires with anyone having the feathering issue will be shipped by the end of May to early June.

Black Track

 

Could someone give me the approximate VIN range where most feathering has occurred ? Thanks . I need this info for future litigation !

 

Look for the TSB entitled, "tire noise while braking", it gives a range in it.

 

Thanks Boomer !

 

No, IT doesn't look like it needs the alignment, the front is less than 1" drop, from eye level, the tires doesn't look it has too much change (camber wise).

Lets see what happen in a few thousand miles.

 

Its your choice, but I don't thnk you can eyeball the difference. If you begin to see wear, it mat be too late. Just trying to help.

 

Unfortunately, the range does not seem to be quite large enough. I think that I am seeing signs of feathering and my number is 6723. I have the parts for the grease on the windows on order, so when I bring it in for that I will have it checked out.

What happens when the VIN is out of range? Do they still apply the TSB?

 

I would insist they apply it and call NNA to complain if they don't because many higher VIN#s have the problem.

 

No feathering on mine yet, have the car 6 weeks and 2500 miles. I am watching for the probelm like a hawk

 

I haven't visited this thread in awhile, but my tire feathering has reoccured after my alignment and tire swap. What do I need to do to get Nissan to replace my tires? My dealership won't do anything that's not mentioned in a TSB. They do EVERYTHING by the book.

 

I believe Nissan only cover alignment for up to 12,000miles.. after that, they don't align it for free. Correct me if I'm wrong..

My suggestion is to just enjoy the car and don't think about it. The only problem I have noticexd with tire feathering is the tire noise, other than that, it has not caused any safety issues. Turn up the stero to block the noise j/k!

 

Call NNA and tell them the problem is back even with the changes. Tell them you expect their help if the tires begin to make the same sound as before.

 

So you would recommend that I contact NNA rather than visiting the dealership again? I am having a serious problem with my gearbox as well, but I can't reproduce the problem unless the tranny is really hot.