jtruman

Does anyone know what is the top speed for the 2004 TL, whether its rev limited or speed limited? I can't find this information anywhere.

Also, I took the car out onto highway 280 here in the Bay Area (for those who are not in california, 280 is 3-lane highway that winds through mountains, with banked curves for people who likes to drive fast). As I took the car up to 110mph - 120mph through the curves, the steering wheel felt very light. Is this the "Torque Sensing Power Rack and Pinion Variable Assisted Steering" they advertise? It felt uncomfortably light to me. Anyone else with similar experience?

partagas

This is why you march down to the tire store and trade the POS stockers for Pilot Sports or Goodyear F1s. Run a radar detector on 280 or you'll eat it.

jtruman

So you are fairly certain it's the tires, not the steering.

Yes, that was the first thing I put in the car, my trusty Valentine 1.

greenseed

Well, in looking (or remembering) the last Car & Driver MAG, I remember them showing the car topping out @ either 153 or 155 in 5th at say 5K RPM then showing 6th at the same speed at say 2 or 3K RPM. So my guess is that its 153 (or 155 or whatever is in the MAG). I'd also speculate that this limit is controlled electronically via the computer.

greenseed

I was wrong on both accounts. Directly out of the C&D Mag:

....
5th 152 Mph (6650 RPM)
6th 152 Mph (5250 RPM)

Top Speed (governor limited) ... You guessed it.. 152 Mph.

Peters

You should not try this. The steering becomes very light at high speeds.

vtechbrain

Try inflating the tires to the recommended high speed presssure. In my expirience it solves nmany of the problems reported with these tires 39/35.

Chplummer

Or Potenza S-03s like I got. They have transformed my 6MT TL into a curve carving beast. Almost as good as my Integra Type-R. The TL has a slight disadvantage under braking when entering a corner due to an additional 750lbs over the ITR.

DMZ

What about Pirelli P Zero Neros?

nickademus

This top speed was listed for the 6MT. Anyone know about the 5AT????????

need4spd

Owners manual says not to down shift from 5th to 4th until 149MPH or less, so one would have to think it is the same 152-155mph, that is why they put the W rated (up to 168mph) tires on it.

They modeled it after the 530i sport which has a speed limiter on it at 155mph.

rets

Sorry, out of topic for a while.

Doesn't our steering wheel go heavier when the speed is increasing?

I know some other brands with speed-sensitive steering wheel will make it heavier. But how's about TL, the torque sensitive? Thanks.

Peters

In my experience the steering becomes very sensitive and feels very over-boosted at highway speeds. It's razor sharp, but this is where the TL rears its mid-priced sports sedan stature. It is not, definetly not, in the league of a BMW or other sports cars in that class.

Its a good car, great value for money, excellent features...obey the speed limit.

partagas

I only quoted the tires I know about. As mentioned previously, I seriously agonized over the Neros, but I've never personally owned them. I am familiar with PS's, F1s and S03s.

DMZ

Check out the owner reviews of all these tires at tirerack.com. You'll find the ones who have the Pirellis are the happiest by far, except for 1 2004 TL owner with 18" wheels. Above all, no one is complaining about road noise with these tires whereas there are many such complaints about the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S's, which by the way were also rated 'very noisy' by Consumer Reports.

vtechbrain

I used to buy Pirellis and I loved them! They have always provided the stickiest rubber in the market. The problem is they have always had the worse treadwear of any tire by far. I used to chew through a set every 10k or so. Paying 750 bucks for tires every 10k gets old very quickly. Yes, pirelli is the ultimate performance tire in my book but your pocket will suffer often!

Ken1997TL

I was going to get some Pirellis but wisely stuck to my Dunlops.

Glassman

NBP04TL4ME

Meanwhile 14.5 years later............

Glassman

sorry im new here and discovering stuff different post every day