So my car had CRAZY Vibration one day so I decide to look at the stupid e42's and to my surprise there's a bubble on the sidewall on the front left tire. I've had the car only 90 days and the dealer (who will remain nameless for now) wont replace, ok I can live with that. I live in NYC and there are a ton of pot holes. I leased the car, 15k a year, 3/12 years so I will have the car for over 50k miles so I would have to replace these crappy tires, better to do all 4 now, enjoy them till the tread wears then put these crappy ones back on and give the car back. So the magic question, what tire should I purchase. Are the pilot A/S that great?

 

I will be purchasing soon and, anticipating crappy tires, I have done quite a bit of research into the tires. From what I've read, the Pilot A/S are a little noisier; however, they also handle very well in adverse weather. The Pirelli PZero Nero's are also supposed to be excellent. They are extremely quiet (after wearing off a film initially on the tire) and grip very well in good weather. I've heard mixed reviews about their grip in rain and snow...from mediocre to great.

I personally would replace with the Nero's.

Remember, this is only what I've heard. No personal experience here.

 

The tires are under warranty by the tire manufacturer (the warranty paperwork is in the packet with the manual and stuff). They should be replaced for no charge and the dealer willing to help you with that.

 

I have exactly same plan because I live next to NYC.
I think I will order Falken ZIEX ZE-512. Someone here has a good experince too. He order from edgeracing.com and I couldn't find better price than them so far. If you find any good one, let me know.

Thanks,

 

The factory OEM tires do not carry a "road hazard" warranty. From his description the "bubble" could have been caused by"whatever" on the road thus not covered by the tire manufacturer.

 

I switched to the Pilot A/S and they are awesome. The Nero's were cheaper but I was told that they are a lot "firmer" and "harsher" than the Pilot's and would not have as comfortable of a ride.

 

Putting the Goodyear F1's on mine when the snow goes away. Those came out on top of the lates Consumer Reports summer tire test. The Pilot's came in 4th because they were the loudest ones tested.

 

Bubbles are most often defects (as the source of the failure is internal), especially in the sidewall. Road hazards typically cause cuts or punctures (as they're external). With the amount of money involved in replacing 4 tires with another brand versus getting the money for the 1 it's worth a try contacting the tire manufacturer.

 

At discounttiresdirect.com, they're $104 with free shipping.

If you're gonna have Consumer Report's top rated upscale sedan, you might as well have their top rated tires on it.
Falken 512 - All Season
Goodyear F1 - Summer

The Falkens are about half the price of the Pilot Sport A/S's and rated quietier by CR.

falkentire.com

 

Continental Extreme Contact

 

I am thinking aobut going with Bridgestone S03.

 

The Conti's are supposed to be good tires, but they're little soft and don't have the steering response. The Nero's are great tires, but with a load rating upwards of 1,900 lbs., they are stiffies. Great steering response etc, but with a little ride penalty. Something I could live with but may not be for everyone. I have the 512's on my 2003 TLS and they are nice tires, especially for the price, a little softer, a little less steering response and they are wearing pretty well. I have 5,000 miles on mine so far and they show no sign of wear. The little mold nipples on the edge of the shoulder blocks are even still there. When I first put them on, they were unbelievably quite. Couldn't hardly hear them, but to be honest with you, at 5k, you can hear them now, not bad, but they are a bit noisier then when they were new. Hopefully, this trend doesn't continue as the miles wear on.

 

I'm switching to the Pilot Sport A/S

 

I have ContiExtremeContacts on my 01 CL-S. They grip the road like glue; however, they do have some flatspotting. Good tires after the first 3 miles each day.

 

I got the Falken ZIEX 512 after putting up with the crappy EL42'S - vibrations between 50-60 mph, for about 4 months and no help from Acura or the dealers.

I got the Falken 512's from discount tires.com and have had no problems since.

.

 

The consensus, based on various threads is:

Cost conscious--Falken ZIEX 512
Money no object--Michie Pilot Sport A/S

I was a major proponent of the Michies, but am planning on the Falkens instead. If it's good enough for Consumer Reports (and 1/2 the price of the Michies), then it's good enough for me. I still haven't done it, I'm too fn busy at work to get it done!

 

Called Bridgestone and they are willing to replace my bubbled tire IF its not obviously damaged from a pot hole.

I also called a Bridgestone dealer and they told me that the Pilot A/S doesnt make a tire for the Acura TL 6-SP?!?!?

 

Either the salesman was too stupid to know any better and/or that dealer doesn't carry or stock Pilots.

 

I plan on trying the Turanzas out when I get my car this month and then switching if they're as bad as everyone says they are. If I only put 100 - 200 miles on them, can I get a credit on them when I purchase my new tires?

 

I've been very happy with the Falken ZIEX ZE 512 since I got them about two months ago.

 

Probably not Narnia, unless perhaps you were to go tire shopping at a Bridgestone/Firestone tire center. All things considered, would you want this brand on your car? As someone I once knew in the tire biz said, "You're Riding On Your Life, Why Chance It With Sub-Par Tires?".

The Falken 512's are available for $115 each - mounted, balanced, and installed at Cosmos Tire in Long Island City, near where the GCP meets the BQE, 718-545-7484.

That price is for BOTH the 235/45/17's and the 245/45/17's which I'll probably be installing. The only differences are the 245's are 3/10" larger on the diameter and on the width. And considering the bulging sidewall protection layer built into these Falkens, that extra 3/10" can make a difference in protecting the wheels during parallel parking.

 

What is your exact dimension & speed rating? Thanks.

245/45ZR17?

 

rets,

This info is available at:
http://www.falkentire.com/tires/512_infopg.htm

 

I dont' know about the U.S. but getting credits in Canada is almost impossible. The dealers here will not give any credit. Tire stores are reluctant to give credits because the tires are 17 inches. I do know that a guy in Toronto was quoted $150.00 Canadian a tire on a trade in basis. There are no other cars that use this tire as standard tires. What I think I am going to do is run the tires for the summer and put the Pilots on in the fall. I will save the Turanzas and put them back on the car at the end of my lease (4 years).

 

I am a new 2004 navi Package TL owner, what a work of art...
I had the original tires taken off, and at the service manager's request, {he drives 2004 tl} put on high performance snows from Yokohama, Ice guard IG1O, they are fantastic, I live on lake Huron in Ontario and we have a ton of snow.
I also bought the 18in sport wheels and on those, and I can hardly wait to try them out, I put ultra high performance yoko's they are the ES 100 series. To check them out go to www.yokohamatires.com

 

I've replaced the EL42s with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 245/40 18 on the optional OEM wheels. No flat spots, and it's a super all-around tire. A bit pricey, but I won't drive on anything else. They are simply the best.

 

DMZ,

Thanks, I know that site. Just wonder what he has.

Since he's very early to have that set of tires and I apparently don't see/remember his dimention info in his old thread, that's why I got a question.

 

how do you get a copy of the latest consumers reports on tires?

 

Whatever the OEM size is in WR rating. I don't like to try non-OEM tire sizes.

 

You must subsribe online. Following are tire performance order with price. I can't post it whole chart, sorry.


Performance all-season tires

In performance order. Poor Fair Good Very good Excellent

•1 Falken Ziex ZE 512
$60
•2 Bridgestone Turanza LS-H
100
•3 Bridgestone Potenza RE950
85
4 Michelin Pilot XGT H4
85
5 Dunlop SP Sport A2
65
•6 Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus
120
7 Pirelli P6 Four Seasons
75
8 Sumitomo Srixon 4
65
9 Yokohama A550H
65
10 Continental ContiTouringContact CH95
70
11 Kelly Charger HR
75
12 Cooper Lifeliner Touring SLE
70
13 Yokohama Avid H4
70
14 Toyo Proxes TPT
90
15 Goodyear Eagle LS
70
16 Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring HR
70
17 General Exclaim
75
18 Firestone Affinity LH30
65


Ultra-high-performance tires


In performance order. Poor Fair Good Very good Excellent


•19 Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3
$135
•20 Toyo Proxes T1-S
190
•21 Continental ContiSportContact 2
170
22 Michelin Pilot Sport
180
23 Dunlop SP Sport 9000
140
24 Pirelli PZero Nero
140
25 Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position
180
26 Hankook Ventus Sport K104
115
27 Yokohama AVS ES100
120
28 BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW
145
29 Firestone Firehawk SZ50 EP
175
30 Kumho ECSTA Supra 712
125
31 Sumitomo HTRZ II
120

 

Hi DMZ,

Is that price $115 each is included tax?
are 235 and 245 prices are same at there?

Thank you.

 

Why don't you call them? Their phone# is 718-545-7484.

The Consumer Reports tire ratings chart will be viewable again when the gallery is back up.

 

Thank you for the phone number again.

 

I've got the Falken 512's as well and have been pleased so far, however, the other morning, after leaving my car sit for 3 days, I had a noticeable vibration between 50-60. I assume this is some flat spotting issue, but c'mon, no other car I've ever owned has ever done this. Makes you wonder if the crappy EL42's that everyone has had problems with are really causing all of the vibration.

 

I have ContiExtremeContacts on a cl-s and they flatspot. Not very annoying to me because they even out and hug the road like glue once warmed up.

 

Every single tire I've owned in the past would have flat spots after sitting for 3 days in the cold. Falkens are no different. I have experienced this as well and the flat spots dissipate after 5 minutes of driving.