Getting ready for a tire fight with the dealer and Bridgestone....

[Mike S.]

So...stock SE-R, 8,600 miles, NOT driven hard. My tires have gotten loud...too loud. I know they're summer tires and summer tires, even when new/perfect will not be as nice and quite as say a luxury car tire, but damn.

They have gotten so loud that people are like "whats wrong with your car?" The resonance is awful. At 6000 miles I had them rotated. It seems the tires are wearing on the outside edge and according to the bridgestone dealer "feathering". He thinks the car has been out of alignmnent from the factory and maybe the dealer didn't prep it right. It doesn't feel out of alignment, but each tire might be fighting each other and canceling out any kind of drift.

My progress so far:
1. At 6000 mile tire rotation I mention to the dealer that they are getting loud. He says "Go to a Bridgestone dealer".

2. Now 2,600 miles later...I'm going crazy. I finally go to Bridgestone. They look at the car...and just try to sell me tires. Replacement cost is 1000 for four tires.

3. Call the dealer when making an appointment for some unrelated warranty work and ask about the tires. He tells me to call Bridgestone tech support and start a claim.

4. I called Bridgestone, a guy took my info and we talked, really helpful and knowledgeable. He tells me to go BACK to the Bridgstone dealer and discuss it with them. I forgot to mention the tech support guy when I went back. This time I speak with the top manager/owner of the store. He looks at it and feels my pain. He gave me his business card and wrote on the back "check alignment" and told me to give it to the dealer when I see them on Saturday.

I know I'm going to get bounced back and forth...any help?
Any others with SO-3 noise?

Mike S.

[O-townSER]

I had issues with the Potenza tires a while ago. 3,000 miles ago I made a fast high turn, and the front tires went shit. My car started vibrating at 60 miles a hour and sh.. Nissan replace the factory tires, lucky me. I know it was my fault. This potenza tires are not really good in my experience, buy some goodyear eagle one tires, have been rated as the best ones on the market and are much cheaper than the potenzas.

[duodad]

I think what you have here is a two-level thing. The tires may be messed up because of poor alignment. Nissan should set the alignment for you au gratis. Nissan has absolutely nothing to do with the tire warranty. So, unfortunately, I think you will be a ping pong ball until this is worked out between the three parties.

Good luck getting this taken care of. I'm sure you have better things to fill your day with than dealing with this issue.

[NVS aLtiMa]

These tires suck. One of mine blew out during my first month of ownership. The car in general rides much harder and louder than my SE did, but not by much. Sometimes I think the damn wheel bearings have gone out, but I just turn the radio up and keep it movin

By the looks of the 2 Bridgestones that I do have left on the car, I will need to replace them before 25,000 miles.

[nismos14]

These tires are very very loud on some roads, on others they are not bad but they get to the point where you can't think over them on certain roads. Its annoying, but thats the cost of owning this car and having MAX performance tires on them.

As far as the feathering, if there is any issue with alignment this early, the car should be taken to nissan and you should raise hell till they do the alignment.

[net.altima]

if nissan screwed up alignment and that messed up tires nissan is at fault since the product was not properly used. check your suspension and airpressure as well. weak and worn/defective suspensions can make your tires wear funny.

[13B]

I have potenza's on my ES, they are loud!
My alignment is perfect.
When i come to a stop they growl, from high speed they growl very loud.

[proendo]

Originally Posted by 13B

I have potenza's on my ES, they are loud!
My alignment is perfect.
When i come to a stop they growl, from high speed they growl very loud.

I had the S03's as well and agree they are loud. I didnt put many km's on them before I changed rims size and rubber. S03's Stick pretty good and hold up in rain great. Not a bad tire if you can get past the roar.

I have heard they are suppost to get really loud as you get lower on the tread levels.

[bolt.com]

How gay is this thread?

So the tires are a little noisy!! SO3's are one of the best street performance tires you can buy for the $. They can be had on the internet for about $600/set not including mount/balance.

Go ahaed and buy some crap "performance" tire and see how you make out in dry or wet conditions. Try to do a cloverleaf in with a set of those other cheaper "performance" tires on.........but just make sure your speed is about 5-10 mph slower or your ride will suddenly look like ass.

Tires are all about tradeoffs. NO tire does everything well

[net.altima]

this thread is not gay, just because someone expresses a opinion you dont agree with does not mean what they say is gay. if so3's are one of the best how come they are cheaper than toyo's, mich,. btw you got the link for s03's at 150? maybe he got a bad set? not all are perfectly made.
btw before making stupid comments, open your eyes learn to read, his tires are feathering, dealer is telling him to file a complain with the tire manufacturer, tire manufacturer blaming the dealer, yet noone saying tires are good.

[Decoy]

first of all majority of bridgestone tires are straight garbage and wear extremely quick. ok 180 treadware on a W rated tire.. hmm that will last for like 10,000 miles maybe. if you want a good summer tire go with some toyo tires.

[net.altima]

Originally Posted by Decoy

first of all majority of bridgestone tires are straight garbage and wear extremely quick. ok 180 treadware on a W rated tire.. hmm that will last for like 10,000 miles maybe. if you want a good summer tire go with some toyo tires.

in my opinion toyo's are the best,
btw what did you lose?

[Mike S.]

Originally Posted by bolt.com

How gay is this thread?

So the tires are a little noisy!! SO3's are one of the best street performance tires you can buy for the $. They can be had on the internet for about $600/set not including mount/balance.

Go ahaed and buy some crap "performance" tire and see how you make out in dry or wet conditions. Try to do a cloverleaf in with a set of those other cheaper "performance" tires on.........but just make sure your speed is about 5-10 mph slower or your ride will suddenly look like ass.

Tires are all about tradeoffs. NO tire does everything well

Easy turbo. I've had summer tires before. I've lived with noise/harsh ride with no problems. However, THIS set is bad. They absolutely roar at 40 mph. They have severe feathering on the outside edges. Bridgestone thinks my car is out of alignment...right from the factory. So they're shifting blame to Nissan...who always says "the tire manufacturer is responsible for the warranty on the tires"

So in summary, with no abusive driving, these tires have deteriorated to a point where I can't take it. The main meat of the tire is not even that worn. I can get 10-15K more miles out of them...just don't try to have a conversation in the car.

The point of this threat was to figure out how battle both Nissan and Bridgestone.

Mike S.

[ncnmra]

I suggest you only deal with Nissan. Let them deal with Bridgestone, since you didn't actually buy the tires, you bought the car (ie: they supplied the tires). Its like them saying "go to Bose" if your radio stops working.

Make sure to speak with the Service/Dealership manager directly.

[net.altima]

yes good point ^^. tell dealership, you bought the tires you call em up. you file the claim.