I just took delivery of my 2004 TL with EL42s. After reading the negative comments about the tires (and since it doesn't snow in Austin, TX!) I decided to swap out at the local Firestone/Bridgestone dealer. Bad news? $200 credit for the EL42s with 25 miles on the tires. Good news? Got the Bridgestone Pontenzas RE750 which is a great improvement (check Tirerack.com for comments and reviews on the 750s). Also good and alarming news is that when the new tires were mounted they also checked alignment and found it way out of spec, the probable result of being cinched down tightly during truck transport. Lesson? Have dealer confirm alignment otherwise you could wind up with alot of premature wear on your tires.

Also...the Firestone dealer noted that the EL42s were a factory tire and virtually unavailable if a road-hazard type flat were to occur. Intersesting...also they were quite expensive, over $200...

Bottom line for me? Not cheap. $750 to change out the tires but...that included road hazard warranty (about $75) and lifetime alignment (discounted to $100 and I plan to not only rotate but have car aligned twice a year and usual alignment is about $50). So, for peace of mind and performance, I guess I can deal with it.

BTW, the RE750s are great feeling tires! Check them out, not too expensive buy good looking and good performing!

 

firestone was probably just trying to sell you an alignment.

 

The Service Manager asked me to come out to the shop and view the readings on their alignment device which is pretty easy to decipher. It needed adjustment and, after getting only 22,000 miles on my Passat's Continentals, I became a believer regarding alignment issues. Guess what--your car can track completely straight and still have serious alignment issues. And when you're looking at $800 plus to replace a set of tires, aligning twice a year and rotating every other oil change is a cheap investment. My 2 cents...

 

$200 for 4 EL42s from Bridgestone is GOOD...

Other unnecessary cost is BAD...