A&Q about 350Z
Q:
I was ready to lay down cash on a 2005 350Z - based on all the reviews I could get my hands on, it seemed like quite a value. I wanted to research the car a bit more before I bought, and came across the edmunds.com test report on the 2003 tire feathering problem and the news about the subsequent class-action lawsuit. Can anyone confirm, through personal experience (or maybe you're a Nissan certified mechanic) that the front-end alignment (or whatever it is) problem has been engineered out in the 2005s, and that Nissan isn't just masking the problem, for a few thousand more miles, by issuing the cars with better tires? Maybe a high-performance car without eccentricities is a pipe dream, but I was hoping to score a somewhat low-maintenance, good looking, performance car. How much do tires cost for a car like this if there is a recurring problem? I dont want to go broke.
Thanks,
John
A:
nope no one is going to give you a difintive answer but it looks like the problem has been minimized since the 03's. if you have feathering you're looking at new front tires every 15k miles or so. Some have switched to a different brand tire (since the stocks have a bad tread rating) and a good alignment and have had very good results. Regardless of what some unhappy people here might say, you will not need new front tires every 5k miles. And again its only the fronts. the rears should wear perfectly fine. I only got 20k out of my stock rear tires anyways, so the stocks aren't meant to last too long. Also if people would quit whining here and spend alittle more time searching the web they could easily find near new sets of stock tires for less than half the price that you would have to buy them new. Thats what i did. Ive spent a grand total of $100 on tires and my car is now 3 years old with 30k miles.
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
Post Edited (Jul 25, 10:02pm)
A:
no feathering on my 03 ppw Z.. sorry to hear that ....
i need a z32tt convertible 5 speed
A:
For every good story you'll hear a bad one.
The best I can tell you is my opinion. I had slight feathering at 5K. slight roar from 30-20mph. For a roadster owner this might be a bigger problem as well. My dealer realigned all four wheels and gave me new front tires. Problem hasn't returned.
I love my 350Z. For a sports car it is fantastic. For a muslecar ..... well I want more.
You might have a problem and might have to buy $250-500 worth of tires each year. Then again you might not have a problem. This depends on if you keep the stock rubber, upgrade to bigger tires or, get better tire that cost less as I plan on doing if it looks like I start replacing the tires every couple of years.
The front tires have been my only issue. If the dealer hadn't brought it to my attention it wouldn't have bugged me for another 5K or so I bet.
I check the tires each week now and I see no signs of it returning.
Heck my Sable and Pathfinder have more feathering now. LOL !!!
Problem with the Z is that you can not rotate the stock tires.
If you buy same rims all around you can really increase you tire use.
Buys some adj sways and you can balance and improve the handling.
There are a lot of improvements you can make yourself.
We all just wish that Nissan had tuned the suspension a little better for the street. The car handles like it is on rails.
I will finish by saying all my Z's have had some sort of weird tire wear. I have owned 6 different Z cars three different models now.
I just thought it came with performance cars. Even my Firebird had odd wear. Then I had the suspension set up by a race shop. Even wear now.
"Racing is life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting"
Quote - Steve McQueen
'04 350Z Silverstone 6spd
Previous owner of 240, 280, and 300 Z's
Post Edited (Jul 26, 3:54pm)
A:
Okay, who says Z will be discountinued in 07???
zcrazi
A:
I think 2009 is the target date for the next 350Z
Hope this link works, it wants you to register after you go back to that page a few times!
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/57748/nissan_raises_stakes_on_zcar.html
Carlos
1995 Nissan 240sx
1972 Datsun 510 4 door W/ SR20DET
September 2005= 2005 350Z PPW
A:
I brought my 2004.5 350Z Touring to the dealer today for the 15K mile maintenance and "was told" I have feathering on my front tires. I noticed that the tires got louder when I hit 12K miles, but it wasn't really bothering me. There's plenty of thread left on the front tires, and I can't really "feel" or see the feathering.
I will now look for a good local alignment shop and a new set of tires. In my opinion, getting 15K on these tires is not that bad considering the handling and looks of the car. Frankly, I can go another 5K miles at least.
A:
You can also have the tires swapped/flipped from side to side and get another 10k miles or so out of them. The inside edge wears fast because of the camber and toe.
With a good alignment and have the tires flipped from side to side every 5k or so you should get 20-25k out of them.
--
Derek Smith
2003 350Z LS Enthusiast
1972 240Z L28 w/ Tripples
A:
Everyone,
Thanks for your comments!