Tire Choice
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Tire Choice
Regular topic and I know its on the Forum virtually every day so my apologies.
I'm about to buy a new set of tires and I'd almost made my mind up to buy a set of Michelin Pilot Sports. As always, a review of whats out there has posed more questions than it answered.
I really want a run flat with some reasonable wet weather performance. I know I live in Vegas but the car goes back to England next year.
The Pilot Sports are way the best spec but are expensive. The Kumho ECSTA MX Run flats are way cheaper and I've heard many positive comments about their performance. A stalking horse is the Falken GR Betas which are really cheap but quite a bit lower spec.
My dilemma is how to justify the extra cash on the Michelins?
I'd appreciate any thoughts.
I'm about to buy a new set of tires and I'd almost made my mind up to buy a set of Michelin Pilot Sports. As always, a review of whats out there has posed more questions than it answered.
I really want a run flat with some reasonable wet weather performance. I know I live in Vegas but the car goes back to England next year.
The Pilot Sports are way the best spec but are expensive. The Kumho ECSTA MX Run flats are way cheaper and I've heard many positive comments about their performance. A stalking horse is the Falken GR Betas which are really cheap but quite a bit lower spec.
My dilemma is how to justify the extra cash on the Michelins?
I'd appreciate any thoughts.
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
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This is such a subjective thing. Personally, regardless of the performance and price - I have a hard time justifying Korean tires on my American car.....I know I'm politicizing the question. By the same token, I have the same issue with the Michelins, although I have them on my DD and have had about 6 sets on different vehicles.
This "jingoism" of mine really limits the choices, so while you aren't considering them as an alternative, maybe Goodyear is the answer. The reality is that all run flats are not created equal. Only the Goodyears have the ability to go 200 miles with no air, and are recommended for repair.
Here's an interesting article on run flats and their relative merits...
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/....php?qstId=515
Did I muddy the waters? Sorry....... :o
This "jingoism" of mine really limits the choices, so while you aren't considering them as an alternative, maybe Goodyear is the answer. The reality is that all run flats are not created equal. Only the Goodyears have the ability to go 200 miles with no air, and are recommended for repair.
Here's an interesting article on run flats and their relative merits...
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/....php?qstId=515
Did I muddy the waters? Sorry....... :o
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,549
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From: MDT
i've been considering this same issue. we have michelins on our dd honda accord; truthfully i'm reluctant to have anything but michelin on my dd. however, for the vette i like the kuhmo price; the reviews on the www.tirerack.com website seem pretty favorable. i realize that the oem goodyear tires are reputed to go 200 miles with zero pressure. i wrote to tirerack to inquire about the kuhmo ability to run with zero pressure; here's their response below. bub
[The Kumho's can be driven without air safely for 150 miles.
If you have any other questions or need to place an order, please feel free to contact me. If you are placing an order online, please be sure to reference my name, so that I can watch over the order as it processes.
Thank You,
Blake
1-888-541-1777
EXT 621
Blake@Tirerack.com
[The Kumho's can be driven without air safely for 150 miles.
If you have any other questions or need to place an order, please feel free to contact me. If you are placing an order online, please be sure to reference my name, so that I can watch over the order as it processes.
Thank You,
Blake
1-888-541-1777
EXT 621
Blake@Tirerack.com
Last edited by ebubman; Sep 27, 2005 at 06:08 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Piedmont, SC Currently Own: 99 Nassau blue FRC. Previously Owned: 84,95,98 Indy Pace,01 Z06
Michelin Pilot Sport would be my choice. My dad worked there for 28 years at the Greenville plant and they go through extensive testing on there tires. I had Michelin Pilot Sports on my Pace Car, and that was the best tire I have ever had on the vette.
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The Michelin's are a fine tire, no doubt about it. But, I have a set of Firestone Firehawks that have performed very well for me - even in wet weather. Can't go 200 miles on zero pressure, but their 50 mile range gives me a good safety margin.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
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I find that in most things in life, you get what you pay for. And down the line, what's $200? 4 fillups? Do you want to spend the next 30,000 miles whishing you had a different set of tires on your car or do you want to be satisfied? Get what you want -- you won't be disappointed.
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Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
[QUOTE=mtwalet]
"She who must be obeyed" sees things differently. 
Originally Posted by DeeGee
.
My dilemma is how to justify the extra cash on the Michelins?
QUOTE]
The same way you justified the extra cash for the great American sportscar........the C5 Corvette!!
My dilemma is how to justify the extra cash on the Michelins?
QUOTE]
The same way you justified the extra cash for the great American sportscar........the C5 Corvette!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Machine Silver Z06 The Golden State......... Bay Area
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by DeeGee
"She who must be obeyed" sees things differently.
The buck starts and stops with me. 
And that's not always a good thing either. Good luck with your new tires, whatever you decide to go with.
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
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From: Herndon Va
Originally Posted by NVTHIS
Michelin Pilot Sport would be my choice. My dad worked there for 28 years at the Greenville plant and they go through extensive testing on there tires. I had Michelin Pilot Sports on my Pace Car, and that was the best tire I have ever had on the vette.
And they can be repaired per Michelin if they pick up a nail whereas I think the other's, excluding GY's, need to be replaced if you follow their manufacturer's recommendations.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 509
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From: Rocky Mount North Carolina
My car had the Firestone RF, ok tire but nothing great, it now has the Michelin. Totally different car, much much better. My best friend had the GY, his only regret about getting Michelin is he did not do it sooner.
From owners I have spoken to that have tried different brands all concur that Michelin is the superior tire. I have to agree.
From owners I have spoken to that have tried different brands all concur that Michelin is the superior tire. I have to agree.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by MisterC
I've had my Pilot Sport AS/ZP's for almost 2 years. That translates to about 12-14k miles. I still believe I made the right decision on these tires.
Great Avatar by the way.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Norfolk VA
Originally Posted by DeeGee
My dilemma is how to justify the extra cash on the Michelins?
I run 265/35-18 front and 295/35-18 rear
You said you wanted wet weather performance, try this. I live in Germany. On the Autobahn, I have to back it down to about 120-130mph when the road is wet.
My MXs get me around the Nurburgring, passing $100,000 Porsches on Michelin Pilot Sport PS2s (Z51 coupe, no suspension mods, only intake & exhaust for power, the rest of my mods are for safety); have carried me to work everyday for the last month, and all the way to 180mph on the Autobahn. The only change I'm making is going up to a 275 from a 265 next time around to help out a little bit with the understeer.
As far as the comments about a Korean tire on an American car:
Instrument panel - Japan
Brake Calipers - Australia
Brake Rotors - Brazil
Engine - Canada
That's the list off the top of my head, I'm sure it goes on much further than that.
Michelin is a good tire, but in my opinion, are over-rated and over-priced
Last edited by Lancer033; Oct 3, 2005 at 05:45 PM.
Race Director
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From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Purchase the tire that you feel meets your goals, needs and budget. Also, you have received some very good personal recommendations here. Now that you are armed with more info, you can now make an informed choice. There are some great tire brands out there. 