chgoblue

Guys, I know you've been through this a million times, but could you indulge me in some questions?

I've read about the dyna-plug kits, and that's one option (or maybe a few), so,...what about towing companies, from AAA or whoever?

The road hazard insurance just covers the tires, not the towing from what I can tell.

Non run-flats are a) so much cheaper than run-flats, and b) handle better I've been told by track guys.

Is AAA the only towing/insurance co. Others? Who are the best at getting out to tow a car fast?

And, where the hell to you have the car flat-bedded to when you do have it towed...the place that put on your tires in the first place I suppose?

I suppose the inconvenience of a) having to wait for a tow, b) getting towed to the tire place, and then having to get home yourself, is worth the premium?

Those dynaplug kits are starting to make sense.

Sorry, too many moving parts for me!

baddmojo

plug kit, pump, and a bunny suit...

and roadside assistance for $3.99 additional on my auto insurance (USAA), for a plan B...

chgoblue

thanks, so I have State Farm, so figure I'll ask them what they have.

But, let's say your living in CA where everything is 8 million miles from everything else (!). You get your car towed to the place that did your tires and leave it there. (I'm figuring at night, which is in accordance with Murphy's Law), so then how do you get home,...slip the tow truck driver another $50?

cclive

And then leave your Corvette in the parking lot for a few days until the new tire comes in from the warehouse...cuz they aren't going to have it in stock...

WMark

Sunday morning checked out of a hotel in Jerome, AZ. Got in the car, and a flat left front tire. Closest gas station was 6 miles away. Being Sunday, nothing open to help me out. Run-flats got me to the station, pumped in the air, and got back to Scottsdale. Screw right in the center of the tread.

I know the disadvantages of the run-flats, so will have to investigate this dyna-plug and other options when it is time to replace my tires. Would like the better ride and handling.

Not promoting run-flats, but Sunday morning I was grateful to have 'em. Middle of nowhere, nothing open, and avoided having to wait for a tow 100 miles back home!

jpuli28

Got a flat on the way back from the Fl Keys on a Sunday, same scenerio. RF vs Non RF, its a tough call

Drewstein

Tire sensor friendly goo and a small pump are all you need without run-craps.

Oh and I get it towed home and wait for the tire to come in. I just drive something else until then.

chgoblue

This is worse than I thought! I didn't even think about waiting for the new tire to come in

What a royal pain in the butt! I'm living in CA, where I don't want to have a 2nd car...I have one right now, but it's just depreciating.

So, another choice if you have only the Corvette:
1) run flat, and you drive around on that, keep filling it up until your tire comes in, or
2) 'tire sensor friendly goo' (like what?) holds air while you drive around on that?

Now, I'm thinking, you have to buy an extra tire to leave sitting around, no! you'd need four because they're all different, OMG, that doesn't work either.

lockman

I went with non runflats and I have a small pump that fits on one of the cubby holes in the back and a plug kit will work if I get a flat.

Knob Jockey

Tire Rack sells a small 12V air pump with sealant injection that's safe for TPMS (won't foul them). Has a pressure guage and is small enough to fit in the C6 rear cubby.

Continental 'ContiComfortKit'. $79.

Towing coverage added about $100/year for my 4 vehicles.

Rossi6998

I saw this on the Tire Rack website for the 'ContiComfortKit'

'This product's sealant may interfere with the tire pressure monitoring sensors on vehicles with direct TPMS, possibly leading to error prompts and incorrect pressure readings. Use of this product on direct TPMS vehicles could also result in damage to the tire pressure sensor inside the wheel. Please contact your sales specialist at Tire Rack for more information.'

baddmojo

tow it home then plug it (if you have to) to get it to the tire shop... AFTER they have the tire in hand..

Walt White Coupe

Even drivers with run flat tires should carry a small compressor in their back storage compartment.

redzone

This....

hyteck9

I have been thinking about all these very same things.
It really comes down to this:

A punctured tire, run-flat or no, will bring about inconvinience and cause you to change your plans.

so really the discussion is about degrees of inconvinience.

The way I see it, since there is no guarentee you will ever even end up with a flat tire, enjoy the softer/quieter/stickier ride that you ARE guarenteed every day on the non-RF.

and "if" misfortune happens.. well.. either way you've got a screw in your tread and shouldn't be driving on it. And do you REALLY wanna put 400+ HP to the ground and take 1g corners on a plugged tire? Not so much... You will end up replacing it. So at least that screw ruined a cheaper non-RF tire instead of ruining a more expensive RF tire.

No point in settling for a less than optimal ride 365 days a year due to an event that may never happen.

Dave_C6

What is it with all the screws and nails on Arizona roads? On the way to work yesterday in Scottsdale I heard a clicking sound, turned out to be a large screw jammed through the center of my left rear tire. Wasn't losing air so I took it to Discount Tire for a patch job after work. No big deal, but this is the fourth time in four months of Vette ownership that I've had a puncture from screws and nails. In the sixteen years I've lived here I'd estimate I get punctures at least twice each year on average.

LS WON

Here in the Republik of Kalifornia you don't only have to worry about nails but it is the furniture, sheet rock, landscaper tools, refrigerators, mattresses that you are more than likely to encounter on the roads .

LS WON

Perhaps driving long distances maybe a consideration whether to go RF or not?

hyteck9

wow, really???

I haven't had a flat tire since... since... 1995 I think.
and I drive everywhere... (at least 35k miles a year)

I guess all that rain here in the Ohio Valley has the unrealized benefit of washing away all the small road hazzards.

Maybe rain isn't so bad after all... yea that's it... That's your problem.. its too sunny over there on the west coast.

chgoblue

See, I've been thinking the same thing (well, at least 80%), but will add something:

Given that more tread:
a) gives you better handling
b) chances of getting a flat are lower with more tread (say in the first 20k), and
c) quieter

WHY WOULDN'T YOU BUY TOYO's FOR 60% OF THE PRICE, AND JUST REPLACE THEM AFTER 60% OF THE TREAD IS GONE?