2004 Acura TL Tires & Wheels Problems

ON RETURNING FROM MPLS. TO MILW. I STOPPED AT A REST STOP HALF WAY. WHEN CONTINUING THE TRIP I NOTICED A THUMPING SOUND AT ABOUT 50 MPH. I STOPPED AT THE NEXTREST STOP AND NOTICED THE SIDEWALL OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS STARTING TO OPEN, EXPOSING THE INNER WALL. I REPLACED THE TIRE. TWO WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WHEN DRIVING ON I94 IN MILWAUKEE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA 3.2TL. THE CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE . THE RIM BROKE INTO PIECES AND THE TIRE WAS DAMAGED. THE RIM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 11-24-08 *BF UPDATED 11/25/08. *JB

FORTY EIGHT DAYS AFTER PURCHASING A NEW SET OF PIRELLI P6 FOUR SEASON TIRES P235/45R17 FOR OUR 2004 ACURA, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE CROSSING THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE, GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES AN HOUR. ABOUT 3/4'S OF THE WAY ACROSS THE BRIDGE, WE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE CAR INSTANTLY BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, AND AS THERE IS NO PLACE TO STOP ON THE BRIDGE, SLOWED DOWN TO A CRAWL AND CONTINUED ABOUT A MILE UNTIL HE COULD SAFELY PULL OVER. THERE WAS NOTHING BUT THE REMAINS OF SIDEWALL ON THE RIM. THE POLICE OFFICER AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THEY'D NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BUT THAT WE WERE CORRECT IN NOT STOPPING ON THE BRIDGE. UPON RESEARCH, WE FOUND THAT THIS COMPLAINT OF A SUDDEN BLOW-OUT HAS COME UP SEVERAL TIMES WITH THIS PARTICULAR TIRE. I AM GLAD THAT IT DID NOT HAPPEN AT A HIGHER SPEED OR IN A SITUATION WHERE THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. AS IT WAS, WE WERE JUST DELAYED ON OUR TRIP BY A FEW HOURS. FORTUNATELY, THE STORE WHERE WE PURCHASED THE TIRES A FEW WEEKS BEFORE (AT ALMOST $900.00) REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH YOKOHAMA, THE BRAND THAT IS ORIGINAL TO OUR CAR. THE CAR IS DEALER MAINTAINED AND I AM CAREFUL TO CHECK AIRPRESSURE WHEN I FILL UP THE TANK. AT ANY RATE, THE SUDDEN DEFLATION WAS EXTRAORDINARY, AND AS NO OTHER VEHICLES SEEMED TO BE HAVING THE PROBLEM, I DOUBT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE ROAD THAT CAUSED IT. THE TIRES ONLY HAD 2,000 MILES ON THEM, AND THEY HAD A 60,000 MILE WARRANTY. THIS WAS NOT A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE AND I WOULD HOPE THAT A RECALL IS FORTHCOMING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE. *TR

COMPLETE FAILURE OF RIGHT REAR TIRE PURCHASED NEW IN A SET OF FOUR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH BEFORE (NOVEMBER 16, 2006). TIRE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. FAILED TIRE FLEW OFF RIM (WHEEL) CAUSING CAR TO BE NEARLY UNCONTROLLABLE AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT RIM (WHEEL) AND TIRE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. *JB

THE MICHELIN TIRES FAILED ON REAR OF FRONT WHEEL AFTER 2500 MILE ROAD TRIP. TIRES WERE INFLATED TO 38 PSI AS RECOMMENDED BY CAR MANUFACTURING WHEELS WERE E IN ALIGNMENT. BELTS APPEARED TO HAVE FAILED AS EVIDENCED BY WEAR PATTERN. MICHELIN AND THEIR DEALERS INDICATED THERE WAS NO WARRANTY OF ANY SORT ON THEIR XGTZ TIRES. THEREFORE, THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY ANYTHING ABOUT THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*AK

FOUR NEW P235/45ZR17 PIRELLI PZERO NERO M&S TIRES PURCHASED DECEMBER 6, 2005 FROM TIRE RACK. HAVE HAD 3 [SO FAR] OF THOSE TIRES BLOW OUT: MARCH 9, 2006 AFTER 3,295 MILES; MAY 30, 2006 AFTER 5,536 MILES; JUNE 30, 2006 AFTER 6,184 MILES. (1) WERE TOLD BY TIRE RACK AND THEIR INSTALLER THAT IT WAS JUST BAD LUCK. (2) TIRE RACK SAID IT COULD BE AN INSTALLATION PROBLEM. AUTHORIZED PIRELLI DEALER INSTALLERS (NOT THE ONES WHO ORIGINALLY INSTALLED THE TIRES) SAY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO INSTALL INCORRECTLY AND CONCLUDE IT IS BAD LUCK. (3) AUTHORIZED PIRELLI DEALER SAYS IT COULD BE THAT THE VALVE STEM HAS A TEAR AT ITS BASE BUT DENIES ANY MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. WE ARE CONVINCED WE BOUGHT A BAD RUN OF THESE TIRES OUT OF THE ITALY PLANT BEFORE THEY STOPPED MAKING THEM THERE. *JB

OEM BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42 TIRE DISINTEGRATED ON DRIVE SIDE REAR WHEEL OF 2004 ACURA TL. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROX 55 MPH. VIBRATION AND THEN SUDDENLY TIRE FELL APART. SIDEWALL COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM BEAD. TIRE SIZE P235/45 R17. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SIDEWALL SEPARATED FROM THE TREAD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED A TWO INCH CRACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DETERMINED THESE WERE RATED FOR 25,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAD 27,200 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. THE TIRE LINE IS 92354517EL42.

THIS COMPLAINT REFERS TO THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES (BRIDGESTONE EL-42, 235/45-17 93W ) SUPPLIED ON THE 2004 ACURA TL WITH 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. AFTER JUST A SHORT TIME I HAVE FOUND THIS TIRE TO BE ENTIRELY UNSAFE AND UNSUITABLE TO THIS VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT BOTH ACURA AND BRIDGESTONE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THIS TIRE ON ALL EXISTING VEHICLES. THIS TIRE EXHIBITS UNSAFE CHARACTERISTICS IN WET WEATHER, WITH NOTICEABLE DRIFT AND HYDROPLANING IN ANY AMOUNT OF STANDING WATER, EVEN AS LITTLE AS 1/16 INCH. IN HEAVY RAINS, EVEN WITH NO STANDING WATER PRESENT, THE TIRE SEEMS INCAPABLE OF DISPERSING WATER AS QUICKLY AS IT FALLS, AGAIN LEADING TO VEHICLE INSTABILITY. FROM A RIDE QUALITY POINT OF VIEW THE TIRE IS ALSO UNSATISFACTORY IN THAT IT FLAT SPOTS EVERY MORNING, ESPECIALLY IN COOL WEATHER BUT EVEN IN WARMER WEATHER AS WELL, LEADING TO VIBRATIONS IN THE INITIAL MILES OF ANY DRIVE. IT IS ALSO ESPECIALLY HARSH OVER ROADWAY EXPANSION JOINTS, AND IS SO LOUD ON CONCRETE PAVEMENTS THAT IT POSES A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO DRIVER FATIGUE INDUCED BY THE CONTINUOUS NOISE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE REGARDING THE RATING AS AN "ALL SEASON TIRE" WITH MANY OWNERS REPORTING THAT THIS TIRE IS VIRTUALLY USELESS IN ANY KIND OF SNOW CONDITIONS. *JB

BRIDGESTONE TURANZA E42 OEM TIRE ON 2004 ACURA TL HAVE FLAT SPOTTING ISSUES AND WERE WORN OUT AFTER 15,000 MILES. VERY POOR TRACTION IN RAIN AND SNOW FOR AN ALL SEASON TOURING TIRE. ACURA AND BRIDGESTONE SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THESE TIRES. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE HAD A BLOW OUT. THE THREE REMAINING TIRES WERE BALD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE BLOW OUT OCCURRED ON THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS VIBRATION BEFORE THE BLOW OUT. THE SPARE TIRE WAS IN PLACE AT THIS TIME. THE TIRE WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY. THE COMPLETE TIRE SIZE IS P235/45/17.

THE MAJORITY OF THE OWNERS OF 2004 AND NEWER ACURA TLS KNOW THAT THERE IS AN EXISTING PROBLEM WITH THE BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42 TIRES THAT THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH VIBRATION WITH THESE TIRES. IN 2005, ACURA STARTED SELLING THE TL WITH MICHELIN TIRES BECAUSE OF THE COMPLAINTS. THOSE OF US WHO STILL HAVE THE BRIDGESTONES ARE STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. CURRENTLY, MY VEHICLE (2004 TL) HAS CRACKING ON THE SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES NOW. I AM REQUIRED TO FILL IT WITH AIR APPROXIMATELY EVERY 2 OR 3 DAYS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INSPECTED THE TIRES AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE CRACKS, AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY WANTED ME TO HANDLE THE WARRANTY CLAIM WITH BRIDGESTONE AND SENT ME OFF ON MY WAY, WITH A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE VEHICLE. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT A BLOWOUT OF THE TIRE IS UNPREVENTABLE AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS, BUT THEY DO NOT CARE. I AM SUGGESTING THAT A RECALL BE PLACED ON THE BRIDGESTONE EL42 TIRES AND THAT ALL ACURA TLS WITH THESE TIRES BE REPLACED WITH THE MICHELIN TIRES, WHICH THE CURRENT YEAR TLS COME EQUIPPED WITH. *JB

MY 2004 ACURA 3.2 TL USES BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42 TIRES (235/45R17), W SPEED-RATED. THE EL 42 TIRES HAD A SO CALLED "FLAT SPOT" PROBLEM AND THEY WERE WORN OUT ONLY AT 15,500 MILE. THERE HAS BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TYPE OF TIRES ON THE INTERNET. MANY OF THEM MENTIONED THAT "FLAT SPOT" PROBLEM COULD BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE.

I HAVE CALLED THE ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND DID NOT GET THROUGH WITH ANYONE. MY 2004 ACURA TL HAS A CONSISTENT VIBRATION PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING BETWEEN 50 AND 60 MPH. THE VIBRATION SEEMS TO COME FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE ACURA DEALER AND THEY HAVE ASSURED ME THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TIRES. I ALSO HAD A SECOND OPINION FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHOM ALSO ASSURED ME THE PROBLEM ARE THE TIRES. I FIND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE BRIDGESTONE TIRES, AND I FEEL THAT THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE AND ACURA/BRIDEGSTONE SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THESE TIRES. THE CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THESE TIRES. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 10,000 MILES AND THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR CONSUMERS WHO JUST PURCHASED A BRAND NEW VEHICLE TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT TIRES, WHICH I FEEL MAY HAVE A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT CAUSING A VIBRATION IN THE CAR. THIS MAY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER 2004 ACURA OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE THIS PROBLEM GETS RESOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA TL. THE CONTACT REPLACED FOUR SETS OF BRIDGESTONE TIRES, SIZE P23545R17 (NA) DUE TO INNER TREAD WEAR. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 05-050, DATED JANUARY OF 2006. THE BULLETIN STATED THAT THE 2004 ACURA TL CAN ONLY USE BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42 TIRES. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT ACURA SHOULD HAVE INFORMED THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THE REQUIRED TIRES FOR THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. WHEN THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRES, HE REQUESTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER ASSIST WITH THE COST; HOWEVER, THEY REFUSED AND INSISTED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AFTER MARKET TIRES. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,400. UPDATED 4/21/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH FALKEN ZIEX ZE512 P235/45R17 ON 09/05 AND 01/07. THE CONSUMER FURTHER STATED THE LAST INCIDENT THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BY BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42. UPDATED 04/21/08 *TR

THIS COMPLAINT REFERS TO THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES (BRIDGESTONE EL-42, 235/45-17 93W ) SUPPLIED ON THE 2004 ACURA TL WITH 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER JUST A SHORT TIME I HAVE FOUND THIS TIRE TO BE ENTIRELY UNSAFE AND UNSUITABLE TO THIS VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT BOTH ACURA AND BRIDGESTONE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THIS TIRE ON ALL EXISTING VEHICLES. THIS TIRE EXHIBITS UNSAFE CHARACTERISTICS IN WET WEATHER AND ON SNOW. AT ABOUT 14,000 MILES WE JUST HAD A FLAT TIRE ON A HIGHWAY AND WHEN WE TOOK IT FOR FIXING WE WERE TOLD THAT THE SIDEWALL HAS COLLAPSED (AND LOOKS LIKE A BUBBLE) AND THAT WE CAN NO LONGER USE IT AS IT WILL EXPLODE. WE MUST REPLACE IT AFTER RIDING OVER A NAIL. WE BELIEVE THE SIDEWALL SHOULD BE REINFORCED MORE TO WITHHOLD DRIVING ON A FLAT TO SAFETY WITHOUT HAVING TO REPLACE IT. FROM A RIDE QUALITY POINT OF VIEW THE TIRE IS ALSO UNSATISFACTORY IN THAT IT FLAT SPOTS EVERY MORNING, LEADING TO VIBRATIONS DURING OUR DRIVE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE REGARDING THE RATING AS AN "ALL SEASON TIRE" WITH MANY OWNERS REPORTING THAT THIS TIRE IS VIRTUALLY USELESS IN ANY KIND OF SNOW CONDITIONS.*JB

DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE ON OUR 2004 ACURA TL AT 12,000 MILES, EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR WAS NOTED BY ACURA MECHANIC ON FRONT OEM BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42 TIRES. TIRE SIZE IS P235/45R17 (THIS COMPLAINT FORM DID NOT HAVE THE CORRECT SIZE OPTION TO SELECT). SAID TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED. FINDING IT HARD TO BELIEVE THESE TIRES WOULD LAST ONLY 12,000 MILES, WE GOT A 2ND OPINION BY A NON-ACURA GARAGE AND THEY AGREED TIRES WERE WORN AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. ACURA SAID PREMATURE WEAR WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO "FRONT END BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT" OR POSSIBLY "WRONG TIRE PRESSURE" (LATER FOUND NOT TO BE THE CASE WHEN ACURA REPLACED THE TIRES). NO MENTION OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH TIRES THEMSELVES. TRUSTING ACURA'S EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE, WE PURCHASED AND HAD THEM INSTALL TWO NEW EL42S. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT WE ARE JUST ONE OF MANY TO HAVE QUALITY AND SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES. READ THE MANY BAD CUSTOMER REVIEWS/RATINGS REPORTED ON WWW.TIRERACK.COM (ENTER "2004 ACURA TL" IN THE "SHOP FOR TIRES" SECTION, AND READ "TIRE REVIEWS FOR THIS VEHICLE"). LUCKILY, WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE POOR TRACTION, HYDROPLANING, NOISE, FLAT-SPOTTING, ETC THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED.

OEM TIRES (BRIDGESTONE EL42) COMPLETELY WORN OUT AFTER 10,000 MILES. FROM VERY BEGINNING, "ALL SEASON" TIRES WOULD ROUTINELY HYDROPLANE AT SPEEDS AS LOW AS 40MPH AND WERE UNUSABLE IN THE SNOW.

MY 2004TL CAME WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL-42 TIRES. THE DEALER STATED TIRES WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE WHEN I STATED CONCERNS WITH WHAT I HAD READ ABOUT FLAT SPOTTING. ON MY FIRST LONG DISTANCE TRIP (500+ MILES) MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OFF THE RIM. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT PROCTER ACURA IN TALLAHASSEE WHICH IN FORMED ME TO TAKE TIRE TO A TIRE MANUFACTURER SINCE IT IS WARRANTIED THRU ITS MANUFACTURURER. AS OF THIS DATE NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I BOUGHT A NEW TIRE ($225) AND AM WAITING TO HEAR WHAT ELSE BRIDGESTONE WILL DO TO COMPENSATE ME. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ORIGINAL REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 15,000 MILES DUE TO BALDNESS TWO-THIRDS FROM THE OUTSIDE TO THE INSIDE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE TURANZA P23545R17.