I am now the latest victm to the "(fill in your own explative)tenzas". I was the 2nd car at a stop light waiting for it to turn green so I could make my right hand turn. Light turned green, I turned the wheel and a split second later the tires broke loose into an unrecoverable slide right into a median. Not any old median, that would have been fine, but a decorated one with stones and dirt built up around some landscaping. $700 worth of damage. Parts needed: 1 front bumper cover ($150 to repair or $180 to $300 for a new one), 1 AE front lip (Nissan oem is $354 or I can get a "Stealin" front spoiler for $219) plus the work and paint. That is money I was going to use on tires but instead have to repair what the tires let happen. I am so mad now... I have recovered from all sorts of foobars no prblem but I hate the "plow" because you see it coming and can't do a damned thing about it. I know some of you are going to say I was probably driving too fast but it was raining, I know I have bad tires, and I was stopped moments before ~20ft away. I could have gone slower, but it was raining and I didn't feel like pushing. (haha, just some lame humor). I like this lip:

http://www.stillen.com/sportscars_de...&id=326&page=2

Or should I go back with OEM? I guess now I have to try and save on my expenses and buy my tires 2 at a time. GRRrrrrrr

 

I can't believe you have made it this long on those things!!

As for the lip...if you plan on trading anytime, go OEM...aftermarket kit pieces, especially if only part of a kit usually kill resale value of the car as a whole.

As for tires...while I don't often advise the use of credit cards, this is one purchase I had no problem whatsoever justifying to myself when I got rid of mine. When you say the choice between the body or tires...is that with liquid cash? If so, bite the bullet and whip out the plastic!!

 

I'm not worried about resale, I'm keeping this car forever. I will drive this car till nissan is no longer making cars. Anyways, isn't it "stealin" that makes the OEM kit?

I have the plastic, but I hate using it. It has taken 1 1/2 years to pay off what I used when I was unemployed for over a year. I hate credit cards! They do nothing but get you into trouble. But you are right, I need to do something. I will figure something out, I always do...

 

I doubt they make the OEM kit, but stranger things have happened.

Yes, I hear you loud and clear about the pitfalls of plastic, but isn't your safety and further risks of $$$ spent on damage to your car, God forbid injury or death to other people, worth it???

 

now is there any difference between the stillen ae kit and the nissan OEM kit

 

I guess I dont quite understand what happened. You were at a stoplight so you were stopped--obviously.. you were the second car back you said..

Light turned green and you were turning right..ok.. I understand this part.

I dont understand how you went from a stop to turning right at a light, going about, what, 10-15 mph, and then sliding into a median..

Were you going straight down a hill, as in, STRAIGHT down?
Were you up north where its really icy?

Please explain the situation a little better.

Thanks

 

Since your profile is very limited, explain what car you have, which tires, and how long you have had it.

Personally i can fully understand the issue having driven on RE-92's for 18K miles and VERY happily retired them.

 

Sorry about what happened man, but how fast were you going? You had to be driving above the norm to do something like that from a stop.

 

Sure, would be happy to.

I own a 2k3 MAX , SS Titanium Edition, Auto, SE. I have owned the car since June 6th and have 4056 miles on the car currently. I have driven in rain probably 7 times, heavy rain 3 times, cruising around 75-80 mph on K-10 between Lawrence, KS. I put roughly 80-100 miles on the car daily in my commute to and from work.

I regularly drive my wife's vehicle also, a 1993 Ford Explorer with Goodyear somethingorrather tires on there.

Prior to this car, I owned a 97 gtp, 130k miles, many different tires, from the craptastic Continental touring tires to Cooper cobras (not a fan of those either), to Sumitomo HTR+ tires which I absolutely loved. I had this car from 82k miles up to 130k miles.

Prior to that, I owned a 94 GP, 87 Cutlass Cierra, 83 Mazda RX7, 84 Pontiac Sunbird Turbo, 80 Nissan 280zx, 79 Subaru Brat, 80 Subaru Brat, 1975 Honda Civic CVCC?, 1968 Chevy Truck, and drove an Aries K car for awhile in there. Also drove a Studebaker bulletnose to and from fishing trips with my dad. Drove a datsun B210 for a winter when I was sans car while in high school, and, one winter when I owned my 280zx in college, I drove a 198x ford Escort since it was front wheel drive and better in the snow.

As you can see, I've owned many cars. With owning many different cars, I have owned many different brands of tires, none of which have mystically "broken loose" while at a stop or even a mild 10-15 mph turn following a green light unless I purposely gunned it in an unsafe manner in order to "peel out" which would make no sense whatsoever if you are going around a corner so this couldnt possibly be what happened....

So, my original questions stand. I was not trying to be argumentative when I posted originally, but I just dont understand the scenario the original poster was in and wanted some clarity.

Thank you, drive through.

 

oh, and the car has the same stock potenzas on it that everyone else has or had.

 

I have a '01 SE-AE, 38,xxx miles on her with the original stock potenza re-92's. I have spun the tires aroun a corner before for fun, (never fast enough to loose control) but this was not one of those times. And even during those times all it takes to regain traction is simply let off the gas. Yes, 2nd car behind a red light making a right hand turn. There are 2 lanes to turn into, I chose the outside. Halfway thru the turn she started to plow and I took my foot off of the brake to try and gain more traction for turning. That didn't work so I engaged ABS and hoped for the best. I have gone back and looked at the concrete that I was on, I didn't see any noticable oil or other contaminant on the road surface. The only thing I noticed was that the concrete was the older stuff that was more rock than concrete. (not sure if you guys know what I am talking about, but it's the best when making u-turns.) Nothing would have happened to my car if it was just a normal median with a curb, but this one had landscaping and rocks built up around the edge with dirt fill behind. My drivers side front tire barely made it up onto the curb, maybe 1 1/2 tire widths. Not a single mark on the rim.

I contribute it to a combination of things. Freshly wetted roads, old concrete, almost bald tires, not paying 100% attention. Of all the foobars I've been into speed has only been a contributor to 1. (His a$$ was NOT getting away.)

BTW, I HAVE had tires break loose on me 2 other times before this. Both were in my old '80 280ZX. Both times I was making a right in the rain from a stop light and ended up facing traffic unexpectedly. Neither time was I "juicing" it. That was rear wheeled drive and is somewhat expected, but front wheel drive is un heard of. (at least to me) I am just glad I did not hit another vehicle or building, I can't afford my insurance to go up again.

I hope I have provided all the details. Just ask if anyone is unclear on something. Any opinions on which lip I should get?

 

I like how everyone blames their tires for their incompetence behind the wheel.

 

I like how some people make stupid statement like this.

 

 

Are you serious? These tires are so bad. Maybe when they new they perform ok in rain. But once you get some miles on them it is like driving on ice.
Everyday I take this turn, going usally 20-25mph and if there slight moisture on the road(not even from rain) the car starts to slide. Not a major slide, but you can definetly feel car moving out of the line. You literally have to take that turn at like 15mph. I mean it is just unheard of how bad these tires are.

And when it snows here in Boston, forget about it.

Before I got 2002 SE I was thinking of getting WRX and was reading on the forum about them. Alot of people complained that it understeered badly when it is raining. When I found out that they are running same exact POS Pretenzas as on Maxima.

 

I haven't had any problems with my Potenzas. I also know the limits of the car in rainy weather. Maybe the fact that I'm 40 and don't drive like a maniac anymore helps too. I didn't mean to offend anyone.

 

Hmmm,

Taking a turn at 25mph is considered driving like a maniac???? Yeah it is up to you, but tell you that much, one time you will need to avoid something on the road or come to sudden stop good luck with your Pretenzas.
I can't even take off from the light when it snows here in Boston. I use 3rd gear to do it and tires still spin and spin. And no I am not launching at 3000rpms by dropping clutch.

 

At 40, I would have expected you not to run off at the mouth and make overgeneralized statements like you did. It might also help for you to take into account there are many of us who live in very hot southern states with lots of highways which make for a combination of oily streets (which tends to come to the surface in rain and moist conditions) AND posted speeds higher than you are accustomed to in MA. Driving like a maniac has nothing to do with it, it is driving with traffic and not becoming a hazard by driving too slowly.

Maybe by the time you hit 50 you might begin to understand.

 

C'mon guys. The driver was at fault. I can't believe you'd break loose at 25 mph. The low profile tires don't have as much traction as regular tires. You should drive accordingly.

 

I think the problem with Pretenzas is that when it is dry they hold the cornering load well, but when it is raining outside, and you taking a corner, they just designed so bad that they can't provide any grip. I mean if I take turn at like 25mph and give it some gas(just a tap) just as I am taking that turn, the car will start to slide. It is very unsettling feeling.

 

jonbth, I have been unable to move on a wet incline with potenzas. They are by far the worst tire I have ever had the misfortune of owning. Drivers fault? Technically yes.. But I personally believe that they have been a contibuting factor in many accidents here on the boards. I have personally been unable to safely match any other cars on the interstate with a decent rain.

Just how many miles do you have on yours? You'd be the first person happy with them I've ever met. Look on tirerack for comments about them.

Would You Buy This Tire Again?
Most said: Probably Not (Average of 4.1 out of 10)

I understand your comments, and while not making any friends with your comment, yes it would be his fault.. but consider yourself warned about them. I'm not an agressive driver either and I never came close to wrecking with them... but I never EVER felt confidence in them on wet roads..

 

Damn... I love my Turanzas

Pretty sweet overall tires for comfort, dry, wet, & snow... but not the best in any category.

I would expect the Potenzas to be better performers... guess not.

Just my 50-Cent.

G

 

Well said, Tim.

However, driving style has absolutely nothing to do with how crappy the Potenza RE92 is. You could be the most careful driver who follows every rule to the letter and these tires will still suck in wet and snow conditions.

In fact, these tires remind me of the old Eagle GTs from the 80s. They could handle pretty well on dry pavement but were absolute horrors in the rain and snow.

But look at it this way. The 6th Gens have more to be concerned about. They are running Eagle RS-As and from my experiences with them, I would not hesitate to get rid of them in a heartbeat.

 

I only have 10,500 miles on mine. I usually don't drive in rain or snow. I've only had the tires break loose once on a wet road. I don't usually drive fast. I'm sorry for offending everybody. I guess I've just been lucky so far but I still believe you shouldn't blame the tires. If you know they suck, you should know that you have to be careful

 

Taking a corner at 25? I hope you guys were not talking about in the rain! As for me I try to be fairly careful in the rain. The only time I ever goof off in the rain is when I am 100% sure there is no risk to either me or my car. (Or anyone else or their property for that matter.) Yes, I could have been more careful while driving andmaybe this would not have happened. But I only clipped the curb and the only reason I have damage is because the median was landscaped with rocks built up. Like I said not even my rim was damaged even though I hit it with the wheel turned. I wasn't flying around anything, just the tires slipped and momentum carried me into the curb. Expensive lesson learned.