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…
2005 Acura TL tires problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
1crash
1fire
1injury
What stands out
No new NHTSA tires complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 20 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2005 Acura TL has widespread complaints about Bridgestone Turanza EL42 OEM tires failing prematurely with poor wet-weather traction and sidewall damage, while some owners report issues after suspension work with tire compatibility claims. Many owners needed early tire replacement at their own expense, and Acura/Bridgestone resisted warranty coverage despite multiple complaints.
The 2005 Acura TL comes with Bridgestone Turanza EL42 tires on many models, and owners report consistent problems with them. Tread wears out fast—one owner saw complete rear tire tread loss at just 8,000 miles despite a dealer rotation at 4,000 miles showing no unusual wear. Owners report needing replacements between 8,000 and 21,000 miles, along with flat spotting and vibration issues.
Wet-weather handling is a major complaint. Multiple owners say the tires hydroplane on light rain and standing water, losing grip even at 20 mph on ramps and 60 mph on highways, despite being rated all-season. One owner nearly lost control hydroplaning on just 1 inch of standing water with new tires (2,000 miles). Winter performance is described as dangerous.
Sidewall failures occur without obvious impact—disintegration, bubbling, deep cuts, and complete separation from the rim have been reported. One tire detached from a vehicle at 65 mph on an interstate after sidewall disintegration. Bridgestone service techs blamed road hazards, even when no puncture or curb impact was evident.
One owner claims suspension work prompted a dealer to declare previously compatible Michelin tires unsafe and push for dealer-only Michelin Pilot MXM4 replacements, citing an alleged suspension incompatibility never mentioned in the manual.
Acura initially passed responsibility to Bridgestone and dealers resisted early tire replacement. Later model-year 2005 TLs shipped with Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 tires instead, suggesting awareness of the problem.
Failure modes owners describe
Bridgestone Turanza EL42 — Premature tread wear
Owners report the Bridgestone Turanza EL42 tires (installed as OEM on some 2005 TL models) wear down rapidly and unevenly, with tread loss occurring within 8,000–21,000 miles. One owner reported complete rear tire tread loss at 8,000 miles despite a dealer rotation at 4,000 miles with no wear noted. Multiple owners cite tread wear and flat spotting as problems present from early ownership.
When: 8,000 to 21,000 miles; some observed upon purchase or within first few months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid tread wear exceeding rate expected for rated tread-wear index of 260; Flat spotting visible on tires; Vibration and noise in the vehicle; Vehicle instability on wet pavement due to loss of tread
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement required; owner reports dealer tire replacement costs around $800 for a full set. Acura dealer has replaced tires under customer complaint, though Acura initially refused responsibility and directed owners to tire manufacturer. Later model-year 2005 TLs shipped with Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 tires, suggesting Acura became aware of the Bridgestone issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura acknowledged vibration complaints in multiple TLs but refused proactive tire replacement on some vehicles, instead adding a rubber dampening pad near the engine mount. Bridgestone declined to accept responsibility in at least one case. Some later 2005 TLs were delivered with Michelin tires instead.
Bridgestone Turanza EL42 — Poor wet-weather traction and hydroplaning
Owners consistently report that the Bridgestone Turanza EL42 tires lose traction on wet roads and hydroplane at highway speeds, despite being rated all-season. The tires are described as unsafe in rain and snow, with loss of grip occurring even at moderate speeds (20 mph on ramps, 60 mph on wet pavement). One owner reports that even new tires (2,000 miles) hydroplaned on shallow standing water (1 inch deep).
When: Immediate upon purchase or first rain/wet-weather driving; persists throughout tire life
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of traction on wet roads at low speeds (20 mph) and highway speeds (60+ mph); Hydroplaning on shallow standing water; Loss of steering control or near-loss of control in wet conditions; Poor winter performance despite all-season rating; Tire cold-spotting after parking, causing poor steering
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement necessary to restore safe wet-weather handling. Acura dealer has replaced tires under customer pressure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura referred complaints to tire manufacturer Bridgestone. Bridgestone declined to address the issue as a defect.
Bridgestone Turanza EL42 — Sidewall failure and separation
Multiple owners report sidewall disintegration, bubbling, cracking, and complete separation of the tire from the rim. In one case, a sidewall disintegrated completely and separated from the rim while driving at 65 mph on an interstate, causing the tire to detach from the vehicle. Another owner reports both a sidewall bubble (egg-shaped) and a deep cut on sidewalls despite no impact with curbs or potholes.
When: After 14,500 miles (one case); under 10,000 miles on others; some occur in early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Sidewall disintegration or complete separation from rim; Egg-shaped bulge or bubble in sidewall; Deep cuts in sidewall without evidence of road hazard; Tire detachment from vehicle; Smoking tire and complete tire failure at highway speed
Repairs/costs cited: Tire and sometimes rim replacement required. In one case, tire rim was damaged after sidewall failure. One owner reports dealer replaced all 4 tires after a sidewall failure incident.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Bridgestone service managers attributed sidewall disintegration to road hazards (e.g., punctures in disintegrated sidewalls, or impact with curb) rather than accepting defect responsibility. Bridgestone declined warranty claims in at least one case where a technician acknowledged he had never seen unsupported sidewall damage.
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires — Rubber peeling and incompatibility claim
One owner reports that after suspension work (compliance bushing replacement and strut assembly replacement), the Acura dealer claimed the vehicle's pre-existing Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires were incompatible with the suspension, despite the owner having purchased them as an acceptable upgrade from Costco and the vehicle performing normally before the suspension work. By November 2010, fingernail-sized chunks of rubber were peeling off the front tires, and the dealer recommended immediate replacement with Michelin Pilot MXM4 tires claimed to be special order from the dealer only.
When: After suspension work (compliance bushing and strut assembly replacement) at 82,000 miles; rubber peeling observed by November 2010
Symptoms owners cite: Rough ride and unsafe handling after suspension work completed; Fingernail-sized chunks of rubber peeling from front tire tread and sidewalls; Tires deemed unsafe by dealer by November 2010
Repairs/costs cited: Tires replaced with Michelin Pilot MXM4 at owner and Costco expense. Owner disputes the claim that dealer-only tires are necessary, citing no mention in owner's manual and successful use of the Sport A/S Plus tires before suspension work.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura dealer initially stated tires were incompatible but did not disclose until later that Michelin Pilot MXM4 were special-order tires available only through the dealer. No formal recall or technical service bulletin referenced. Owner alleges lack of transparency regarding tire-suspension compatibility.
OEM wheels (five-spoke mags) — Rim fracture and spoke failure
One owner reports that the front five-spoke mag rim fractured catastrophically when the vehicle hit a 6-inch median curb at an oblique angle. All five spokes broke at the same point where they connect to the inner rim, causing the tire and outer rim to detach from the vehicle mid-highway. The owner states this is an unusual failure mode for a curb impact and questions whether the rim is adequately designed.
When: Single incident upon curb impact at high speed
Symptoms owners cite: All five spokes of the rim broke simultaneously at the same failure point; Complete separation of tire and outer rim from vehicle; Wheel detachment caused airbag deployment and brake caliper cracking
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel replacement required; vehicle also incurred airbag deployment and brake caliper damage as a result of the wheel failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acura dealership indicated that complete rim failure from a curb impact is normal and declined responsibility, stating Acura is not liable for impact damage.
Tire pressure monitoring and flat tire detection
One owner reports a tire lost air pressure due to a nail puncture and went completely flat (rear passenger side), but the driver felt no indication inside the vehicle that the tire was flat. The owner expressed concern that driving another 20 miles at highway speed would have resulted in tire detachment. The tire had low-profile construction, making deflation less perceptible.
When: During normal highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: No sensible vibration or handling change when tire is flat; Tire completely flat without driver awareness; Potential for extended driving on flat tire leading to tire detachment
Repairs/costs cited: Tire repaired or replaced. Sidewall of tire was noted to be worn.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None noted in narrative.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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Common questions
How serious is the tires problem on the 2005 Acura TL?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $150.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, tires issues most often appear around 25,113 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $150 for tires repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Acura/TL.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.