BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42 TIRES Complaints

MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM WITH TIRE AIR PRESSURE SYSTEM. NORMAL TIRE PRESSURE IS 35 PSI. BECAUSE OF THE TIRE DESIGN, YOU CAN RUN WITH VERY LOW AIR PRESSURE AND NOT FEEL IT (ON A NORMAL CAR, IT IS VERY OBVIOUS). THAT IS WHY TOYOTA HAD TO PUT IN THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEM/LIGHT. TWICE THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEM DID NOT COME ON UNTIL A TIRE HAD ~10 PSI. THAT IS A DANGEROUS LEVEL. THE FIRST TIME I DID NOTHING AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED BY THE TIRE MANUFACTURER (NAIL ISSUE) AND THE TIRE WAS LESS THEN 7 MONTHS OLD. THE SECOND TIME, I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER. THEY TESTED TWO WAYS: 1) ON THE COMPUTER AND IT PASSED; 2) TEST DRIVE WHERE ALERT LIGHT CAME ON BELOW 18 PSI. IN MY TESTING IT CAME ON BETWEEN 10-15 PSI AND IN REAL LIFE CLOSER TO 10-11 PSI (BASED ON MY 2 PROBLEMS). CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE DAILY DOES NOT HELP BECAUSE IN REAL LIFE, IF YOU TAKE A TRIP YOU CAN DRIVE FOR 3-6 HOURS WHICH IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE TIRE DURING THE TRIP, YOU WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL IT FAILS (AGAIN THIS IS BECAUSE UNLIKE NORMAL TIRES, YOU CAN NOT TELL THE TIRE HAS LOST SIGNIFICANT AIR PRESSURE. YOU CAN READ HERE AND OTHER PLACES ABOUT THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURES OTHERS HAVE HAD IN JUST THIS SITUATION. I SPENT MANY MANY HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH TOYOTA TO GET THE SPECIFICATION ON WHEN THE SYSTEM SHOULD ALERT YOU. I WAS ONCE TOLD IT IS A DIFFERENCE OF MORE THEN 5 PSI. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA HAS NO PUBLISHED SPEC FOR HOW THE SYSTEM SHOULD WORK IN REAL LIFE. THIS IS DEFECTIVE AND TOYOTA IS NOT TELLING US THE TRUTH. ALL SYSTEMS HAVE TO BE DESIGNED TO A SPEC. THIS SYSTEM WAS AND THERE IS SOMEWHERE AT TOYOTA A SPEC. THEY ARE NOT SHARING WITH CONSUMERS BECAUSE OF THE IMPLICATION IT WOULD HAVE (THEY WILL HAVE TO RECALL/FIX THEM). I DO HOPE SOMEONE AT THE NHTSA WILL PURSUE THIS SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR FAMILIES. *NM

HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF NOISE AND VIBRATION CAUSED BY IRREGULAR (UNEVEN) TIRE WEAR (FEATHERING) ON 2006 330I BMW WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL 42 225/45/17 RUN FLAT TIRES: EUROPEAN DELIVERY 9-12-2005, ARRANGED BY DEALER. AT ABOUT 16,000 MILES, BEGAN TO NOTICE FRONT TIRE NOISE (ROAR) AND VIBRATION AT 15-30 MPH, ESPECIALLY UPON BRAKING. THE NOISE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND COULD FEEL VIBRATIONS IN DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S FLOOR PANS. THE NOISE CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND THE VIBRATION BEGAN TO SOUND LIKE WORN FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. I TOOK TO DEALER AT 18,500 MILES AROUND 7/ 31/2006. VEHICLE TEST DRIVEN AT 18,775 MILES. SA ADVISED THAT THE FRONT TIRES HAD UNEVEN WEAR WHICH CAUSED THE NOISE AND VIBRATIONS, AND TIRES NOT COVERED BY NEITHER BMW NOR BRIDGESTONE. NO OTHER ADVICE OR REMEDY WAS GIVEN. WROTE TO PRESIDENT BMWNA, ON 8/04/2006 REQUESTING BMW PERFORM WHEEL ALIGNMENT (TO CORRECT THE FACTORY DEFECTIVE ALIGNMENT) AND TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES. CUSTOMER RELATIONS REP INSTRUCTED ME TO TAKE CAR TO DEALER FOR ALIGNMENT CHECK. ON 8/14/2006, ALIGNMENT CHECK PERFORMED BY DEALER, AND DETERMINED THAT THREE WHEELS ALIGNMENT WERE OUT OF FACTORY SPECIFICATION RANGE. CHARGED $225 FOR THIS ALIGNMENT. SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE UNEVENLY WORN AND NOISY TIRES. ON 8/16/2006, MESSAGE FROM CUSTOMER RELATIONS THAT BMW WOULD PAY FOR THE ALIGNMENT. HAD TIRES INSPECTED BY THE LOCAL BRIDGESTONE TIRE DEALER, AND MANAGER ADVISED THAT VEHICLE WAS MISS-ALIGNED CAUSING ALL FOUR TIRES TO EXHIBIT IRREGULAR WEAR (FEATHERING) CAUSING THE EXCESSIVE NOISE AND VIBRATION. HE SAID THE DEALER SHOULD REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES. ON 08/29/2006 WROTE 2ND REQUEST TO PRESIDENT OF BMWNA FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALL FOUR TIRES AND FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF $225. 09/18/2006 RECEIVED LETTER FROM CR REP PROMISING REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALIGNMENT, BUT DENYING REQUEST FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES ON THE BASIS THAT VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED TO SPECIFICATIONS AT THE FACTORY PRIOR TO DELIVERY. *NM

MY 2005 ACURA TL EL42 BRIDGESTONE REAR TIRES WENT COMPLETELY BALD ON A 3000 MILE TRIP(19000 MILES TOTAL) FROM DALLAS TO COLORADO AND BACK. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A SUSPENSION/TIRE PROBLEM WHERE THE REAR ALIGNMENT UNDER FULL LOAD OF 2 PASSANGERS AND LUGGAGE IN THE TRUNK DEGRADES AND CAUSES SEVERE TIRE WEAR. THIS CAUSES SEVERE LOSS OF CONTROL ON WET PAVEMENT WITH REAR HYDROPLANING AT EVEN <50 MPH. ACURA HAS A TSB AND REPLACE TIRES AT LOWERED COST BUT ONLY WITH THE SUSPECT EL42 TIRES. AFTER FURTHER INTERNET SEARCHES THIS SEEM NOT TO BE ISOLATED INCIDENT.

MY 2005 ACURA TL HAS 21,000 MILES AND ALREADY THE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR. THE BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42 TIRES ARE RATED FOR MUCH HIGHER WEAR AND I HAVE NOTICED MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. SOME ON THIS WEBSITE BUT THE MAJORITY ON OTHER WEBSITES. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE TIRE IS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER SAYS WE NEED TO REPLACE THEM, I REACHED OUT TO BRIDGESTONE BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR COMMENTS YET. *NM

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

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

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REFERENCE TO THE BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL 42 TIRE SUPPLIED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THE 2004 ACURA TL. THIS TIRE IS TOTALLY UNSUITABLE FOR THE VEHICLE AND IS UNSAFE FOR THE INTENDED CONDITIONS. ALTHOUGH IT IS RATED MS AS AN ALL SEASON TIRE, IT CAN NOT MAINTAIN EVEN MINIMAL TRACTION IN LIGHT SNOW. ALSO, AS THE TREAD WEARS, IT SHOW SIGNIFICANT TENDENCIES TO HYDROPLANE IN ANY AMOUNT OF STANDING WATER. THE FLAT SPOTTING ALSO CREATES DISTRACTING VIBRATIONS DURING COLD WEATHER. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THIS TIRE INSTALLED, YET ACURA AND BRIDGESTONE REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR ADDRESS THE PROBLEM UNLESS DIRECTED TO BY NHTSA. *NM

IN SPRING 2004 I PURCHASED AN ACURA TL WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL 42 HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES. AFTER 6,500 MILES ONE OF THE TIRES HAD A FLAT. ALTHOUGH THE GARAGE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE FLAT, IT CONTINUED TO LOSE AIR AND I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED A NEW TIRE. IT SEEMED ODD THAT A TIRE WOULD NOT BE REPARABLE AFTER THAT SHORT A USE, BUT I WAS ADVISED THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE LOCATION OF THE PUNCTURE AND WAS NOT A DEFECT. IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR, AFTER PUTTING 14,500 MILES ON THE CAR I HAD A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER TIRE. ON THIS OCCASION, WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND STOP. THE TIRE SIDEWALL HAD DISINTEGRATED AND WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. THE FOLLOWING DAY I TOOK THE TIRE INTO A FIRESTONE SHOP WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGER, TOM CURRY, ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A ROAD HAZARD AND WAS NOT A DEFECT. HE INSPECTED THE TIRE FOR A PUNCTURE, AND AFTER NOT FINDING ONE, ASSURED ME THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN IN THE DISINTEGRATED SIDEWALL. I THEN ASKED HIM IF HE HAD EVER SEEN A TIRE THAT WAS DAMAGED IN THE ABSENCE OF A ROAD HAZARD, AND HE TOLD ME HE HAD NOT. IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND THAT BRIDGESTONE REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. *NM

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 WHEN HITTING A BUMP THE REAR END THE VEHICLE SKIDDED OUT. CAUSING ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR. HE REPLACED THE REAR TIRES TWICE, EVERY 7,000-8,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOW ON IT'S THIRD SET OF TIRES. THE DEALER STATED THAT SINCE THE REAR TIRE WERE WORN EVENLY THAT ALIGNMENT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. *NM