Perhaps this should be a sticky.

People looking to buy a TL look at this site as reference, and this is a potetial out of pocket expense that should be seen

 

Date code is "4903". If that means 49th week of 2003, then these replacement tires are even older than the ones originally on the car!

 

Sounds like you got someone else's takeoff's. Bummer.

 

When I decided that the EL-42's had to go, instead of going to Acura with the problem, I called Bridgestone directly and told them of my concerns. My tires were changed for new LS-Z's in a few days with no bullsh!t or additional money (except for a road hazard warranty that I elected to buy). I think that Acura is much more difficult to deal with than Bridgestone from my past experience. The new tires seem quieter and have little flat spotting.
Acura's customer service has never impressed me, the guys at the 800 number could care less about the problems with your car although one supervisor was helpful after I "went off" on the first jerk that I talked to..
Acura probably reads the posts here and learns a lot about their automobiles from the experiences of the people that take time to write in great detail about problems, likes and dislikes. Acura should realize that the people that write here are the ones that care about their cars the most and are probably the most loyal and knowledgeable customers of all.

 

They've finally agreed to repalace those bridgestones with michelins. my faith in acura has been restored.

 

Who is replacing them the dealer or ACS?

 

i think my dealer but i'm not sure. all i know is it's in writing and i away their delivery.

 

Dealer called and they will replace the EL 42's again, this time for the TU2's instead of the PVC's. Something they were supposed to do the first time! But, hey I do love going back there........not! Anyway, I have an offer from a Bridgestone store to replace the
EL 42's with Potenza RE950's. Anyone have any experience with that tire? Based on the writeups I have seen, appears to be more performance and less comfort/quiet. I am concerned about the same if not more rattles. Perhaps I should try out the TU2s and see how they ride. Whoever thought tire choices could be so perplexing! I am not really a "car" guy, just someone who was looking forward to driving and enjoying a nice car.

 

The techs at Tirerack know a lot, try giving them a call and see what they say.

 

jazzpicker

who did you call to get your EL42s replaced. i would like to do that as well, but have not had much luck contacting firestone

thanks

 

I called 1-800-367-3872 Bridgestone/Firestone customer service. Asked to get a case number and told them of the problems I experienced with the tires. From there they sent me to the local dealer with free upgrade to LS-Z's
The final determination was made by the local dealer. I kept Acura out of the loop because of past problems with poor customer service.
The new tires seem fine with a little flat spotting but not bad as before. I am happy and appreciate Bridgestone's help. Unfortunatley, I leave tomorrow for a 1-2 month trip to South America and will have to park the Acura to drive a Fiat, geez...
I guess that I will really be able to feel the flat spotting after 2 months in the garage.....

 

Can you tell me what is all the hub bub about the tires on an acura TL. I just had to order my Acura TL and was noticing these threads about the tires.. can you give me some info.. If it's not too late I can call the dealer with my concerns

 

Read this thread, then search EL-42 or EL42 put on a fresh pot of coffee and read all about it

 

jazzpicker


many thanks for taking time to provide the info! BTW were you required to pay tax, balancing, mounting?? i am in NYC and the firestone store has been mentioning "additional" costs. so i am curious if you got a clean swap -- i.e., no other fees.

thanks

 

Go re-negotiate with the dealer tell him you are not taking the car with any Bridgestone EL42s on it and make him offer you some Michelins really cheap, save yourself the headache and do it now.

 

do not take the car with bridgestones. they are a headache. make him put on michelins.

 

2004tlinNY1,
It was a clean swap, no tax, out the door without paying a cent. I did elect to take the road hazard.

 

jazzpicker

interesting. i just got off the phone with the firestone dealer/store and they said they would only swap if the tire was defective and even then only for the same tire. how did you get them to agree??? i suppose i could appeal to the sales rep. was the district bridgestone office invovlved in you case??

thanks.

 

Ok, I got the new BS EL 42 tires after riding on OEM for 2k miles and falken 512 for 2k miles. I must say, the new EL is world’s better than both. I have read consumer reports on the Falken and do not think this $89 tires is up to EL 42 in most regards. The Falken is excellent on wet and snow but the new EL properly balanced has no issues with me. Perhaps bad wheels or tire balances are the culprit. My car rides fine now and I am extremely pleased that Acura made this right for me after many months of trying. Either the new tires are much better or my original balance was way way off. Regardless, extremely pleased with all.

 

I called BS customer service and was immediately connected while on the phone to a Firestone/Bridgestone dealer about 2 miles from my house. Told him the story and asked if he'd swap out for the LSZs - he said give him a few hours. He just called back and said he'd take the EL42s (these are the TU2s I had replaced at 4500 miles, which now have about 2500 miles on them) and charge me only $15 a tire - $60 total!!! No mounting or balancing charges either, which run about $15 per tire. These are MUCH better tires and are highly rated on Tire Rack. He was very very nice. This took all of two phone calls and about 15 minutes. Wow.

Interestingly, guy from Acura Corporate just called by coincidence (after I fedexed and faxed a letter to the Pres. of Honda Motor) and left me a msg. I am going to call him back now and tell him what Bridgestone said they'd do and see what he says. I should have tried this in the first place.

 

wildcat

i am having no success with BS here in NY. what was the story you told them. maybe i am omitting some important detail... like the tires suck and are dangerous!

thanks

 

Someone said they tightened things up in the tri-state area and BS sent the word to all the dealers there to stop doing any swaps. Sounds like it might be true, because people in other areas are still getting swaps.

I just remembered that asked if the LS-Z's were made in Japan. I just looked at mine and they are marked "Made in Japan". Mine have a date code of 3303, which is OK with me. Just mentioned this here in case I don't find the other thread.

 

Just returned from Acura dealer with four new EL42s. On the 11 mile ride home there was vast improvemnet. Smooth and NO vibes at 1500 rpm or anywhere that I could tell. I have the TU 0904 tires. Look the same but oh are they better!

 

 

quick question wat is flat spotting?

 

Purchased my new LS-Z and cost me $209.00. Immediately noticed a better ride but now I have vibration at 70 to 80 mph. You can't win! Not mentioned, the installers scratched the RFwheel and got grease all over the interior. Contacted the Firestone Dlr and he was not too thrilled w/me. I plan on having the wheels/tires re-balanced and if the vibration continues, to have Acura check out the car. As for the scratched wheel, I am trusting the tire dlr will repair it.

 

Flatspotting is when the nylon belt in the tread gets a "flat" section where the tire touched the ground, usually overnight. The colder the temperature, the worse it gets and the longer it takes to clear up. This will go away in a few miles as the tires warm up, but will result in a thump-thump noise and bumpy ride until warmed up.

 

Think of Flat Spotting as built in speed bumps that will go away in a few minutes.

They allow your engine to warm up properly becuase there is no way you can feel right driving fast with this thump thump,,,LOL

To think Acura/BS have the nerve to say that this is a built in characteristic of the tire. I guess Engineering students with 2.0 GPA'a have to get a job somewhere.

 

2004mist:

keep us posted on your satisfaction with the LSZ. i am bartering with the BS rep now. AND, given your experience with an increase in vibration at 70-80mph, am having second thoughts.

thanks

 

If you get the LS-Z for free or very very cheap take them. They are not bad. I think some of the vibrations at 70-80 are normal road vibratiosn that the TL suspecnsion due to it being a tad firm transmits into the cabin. Now if you have to pay for them, skip them. I have mine 2,000 miles now. They still flat spot a bit and I find that frustrating. I am seriously considering the Falken tires before next winter (sooner maybe) as for $400 they are a great deal and get rave reviews. The LS-Z is not bad, it is very quiet, but it is not as responsive for cornering as I would like and as I said the flat spotting (while less than the EL42) is annoying. I only commute 17 miles, who wants 1/4 of that on some days to be like riding on bumps! Most days it is gone in 1-3 miles, but mornings it is almost alwasy there, once the roads heat up and temp is higher the flat spotting goes away farily quick, 1-3 miles.