In looking on http://www.consumerreports.org for tests of the EL42, I discovered that they are standard equipment on the following vehicles:

Infiniti G35
Jaquar S-Type
BMW 7 Series
Mitsubishi Endeavor
Nissan Altima V6
Dodge Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country

There's some pretty good company in that list. Are any of you aware of similar vibration/performance issues on these other vehicles?

Bridgestone must have made a deal too good to refuse.

 

I personally drove friend's G35 sedan, and Altima (similar to size of TL) , they seem not to have vibration issue as TL's. Friends concur this, too.

Also, remember that Acura/Bridgestone addressed that EL42s for TL is the special design for 04TL, which is different than other EL42 offering to other cars. I even don't know if other EL42 use nylon belt.


Also, 235/45R17 93W is 04TL

G35 205/65R16 94V
G35 215/55R17 93V

7 245/50R18 100V

Endeavor 235/65R17 103T

Altima 205/65R16 94T
Altima 215/55R17 93H
Altima 215/55R17 93V

Q45 225/55R17 95V


If you go to http://www.bridgestonetire.com/dpp/, you can search EL42 and discover more cars using this tire.

 

I wonder if this tire had it's list price purposely inflated by Bridgestone so they can appear to be offering a steep OEM discount, but still make a healthy profit. If you look at how other tires in it's price range rate at Tire Rack, it doesn't appear to be competitive in the retail environment. They would also make big bucks everytime a consumer replaces the tire with the stock brand.

 

It seems there are different versions of the EL42 tire. The treadwear ratings vary a lot for the different applications. For the TL, the treadwear rating is 140. That's pretty low as tires go. For the minivan and most other EL42's, the rating is 260. One of the BMW seven series EL42's (and Infinity Q45) is a run flat design, also with a 140 treadwear rating. Speed ratings start at H (or is T lower?) and vary all over the map. So there doesn't seem to be much meaning in the EL42 name. Maybe the tread all looks the same?

To see the full specs, go here: http://www.bridgestonetire.com/dpp/
Navigate to "Product", select Turanza EL42, then Sizes and Specifications for O.E.

 

The EL42 tires on the TL were supposedly specially designed in consultation with Acura.

 

You're right. It could be the special design for 04TL plus EL42's pattern.

 

Sorry, the bridgestone site lies, the treadwear on our tires is 260 (look at the side wall).

140 is for the TL potenza's, must be a cut and paste error, I have little faith in bridgestone.

Also T is lower than H.

Also, I have a friend with a 7 series, while they have EL-42's on the car (not run flat), the belt construction is NOT the same here is what the sidewall says:

7 series EL-42's

Tread - 2 RAYON, 2 Steel, 1 Nylon
Sidewall - 2 RAYON


Acura TL EL-42

Tread - 2 Polyester, 2 Steel, 1 Nylon
Sidewall - 2 polyester


So it seams that Bridgestone is playing around, changing belt constructions on different tires.

If anyone knows of other friends with EL-42's post that the tire construction on those also, it would be interesting to see what car shares our belts!

Oh - the 7 series, no vibration what so ever - you think they would learn after the Firestone crap?

Also, check your tires, my rear tires are having unusual wear on the outside tread block, it is starting to loose little pieces of rubber, I have seen anouther post about this too from anouther driver who took them off (not sure if for snows or new tires).

 

Wow. I get it and I don't like it. "EL42" is just a Bridgestones designation for OEM. No point of reference at all, really. I guess we're the guinea pigs.

 

Anyone else also notice that the TL tires are the ONLY EL-42's with a W rating (up to 168mph)?

next highest is V (up to 149mph).

there is a big difference between 149 and 168 in terms of tire thermal stability!

 

Doesn't unusual wear usually indicate some sort of alignment problem?

 

I agree, but it was re-aligned by the dealer and I have the print outs, within spec!

So, not alignment (wheel was off center, that is why it was aligned).

I think it is the flat spotting and vibration that is causing the tires to wear unevenly (as they vibrate). I drive a short distance to work, so they are always flat spotted.