Judging by what I read on this forum,,,You people are into your cars.
I see alot of upgrades of wheels and tires.
I am strongly thinking about buying a new '04 TL but I'm hesitating because of
the vibration issue. After reading several forums I did a second test drive
and experienced the dreaded vibration. My question to those owners who are
trying to get this issue resolved is:
1) Has it been determined that the tires alone are the cause?
2) Has anyone switched to a different brand tire, like Michelin or Perielli,
and successfully corrected this problem?
3) Has any of your upgrades solved this problem?

I spoke to the owner of the dealership and expressed my concern and he told
me that Acura has addressed the vibration problem and that TL's that are now
being delivered have different tires........ Sounded like a sales pitch too
me so I need some input from you TL owners.

P.S. Current best price for a 6 speed with Nav...$33,150 and I think with
one more negotiation that I might be able to trim that to $33,000
even....How am I doin'?

 

About a month or so ago, TL's began shipping with a re-compounded E42 Bridgestone tire. I think the serial numbers were about 28,xxx when the change was made <educated guess>. The old tires are marked "PVC" and the new compound tires are marked "TU2".

Reports on this forum indicate a real improvement but still some flat-spotting when the car sits- especially in the cold. It goes away after a few miles of driving.

Keep in mind, these are low aspect ratio performance and speed rated tires. To some extent, these are characteristics endemic to the breed. The same tires are found on BMW's, M-B, Infinitis, and even Ferrari. In addition, they are not cheap. They are expensive. (see www.bridgestone.com).

The price is extremely good. Beware they don't try and add "dealer fees" and mandatory "protection packages" to the quote you have. That price is about $1100 over their invoice which is not bad for a car in such demand. Many dealers will not discount at all- especially an automatic NAVI because they are scarce. 6MTs are easier to negotiate as the dealer is required to take a certain number of them and demand is less.

X P Ditor, Prez
TEAM CAMEL

 

Which vibration are you talking about?

If it is the flatspotting during the first drive of the day, which goes away or reduces in intensity after 4-5 miles, then you might get it with the EL-42's, old or new. Some people never get it, some do, take your choice. The fault is the nylon wrap used in high performance tires, and is present, to some extent, in most of the tires in this size.

If it is the vibration between 55-60mph in 5th gear at 1500rpm, then that isn't going to go away. Acura says it will not take any action to eliminate this, and many say it is probably caused by exhaust resonance. I kind of think Acura might address this either in a mid-year change or in the 2005 models by changing the computer, but might not since the EPA mileage estimates they get are predicated on the lowest possible engine revs.

 

Thanks for your response
I was more concerned about the Vib at 55-60 MPH. So what's everyone just living with the problem? And after you get beyond that speed do thinks smooth out?

 

Nukeman,
My experience with the 55-60 vibration is not to give it a second thought. I have an automatic and can honestly say that the vibration was a very slight "annoyance" only once in the 3,500 miles I have. It is smooth below and after the 55 MPH range. If it really bothers you, just use the sport shift and stay in 4th gear a little longer. You can try it on your next test drive.

 

That vibration is not noticed by me on my EL-42 TU2, so it does vary with customer.

Vibration as a result of resonance is not a made up phenomenom, some don't buy it.

IMO, the wide rev band of VTEC motors lends them to this, I could be wrong. My Integra Type R gets really loud and resonantes at about 55mph, or 5000 RPMs right before VTEC engagement...although the vibrations noted here on this forum have been at lower RPM.

I wouldn't give it much thought unless it REALLY annoyed you.

 

Today I was advised by Wayne Acura that that they ordered a new set of tires and will install them when they come in. It was an annoyance, I came from a car with summer tires that should have flat spotted more, but they were smooth up to the cars top speed.

 

I have no noticable vibrations at any speed/rpm after switching to Pilot Sport A/S

 

Is the Bridgestone the standard tire? If so, what is the "summer tire" make and model???