yellowvert,

Yes I am, and this is from experience, not second hand info.

 

Clayton, I going with the Falkens. Thanks for the comments. I got 20K on the run flats. How long do you think these will last?

Scott

 

Avon Tech M550 A/S

 

Scott (yellowvert): The highest tire longevity will always be better achieved by following through with consistent tire maintenance such as maintaining 30 cold psi in each tire (check weekly). Balancing each tire every 3K miles, AND, performing an entire suspension system/parts inspection, AND, alignment (utilize C5 Coupe specs for the most even tire wear and longevity, vs, C5 Z06 alignment specs).

Again, realign your vehicle every 3K. However, ALSO, perform an alignment adjustment when you know that you have struck a curb, pothole, or, have run over serious debris. Falken Tires are a subsidiary of Sumitomo Rubber, one of the largest tire companies in the world, and, in existence since 1909. In fact, Sumitomo was originally a Dunlop Rubber and Tire satellite plant established by Dunlop Rubber and Tire (an UK company) in Shirakawa, Japan in 1909. The now independent tire company has been called Sumitomo since 1963.

The Plus 0 Falken Beta FK-451's that I have recommended to you are 10/32 in tread depth for the 255/40-17 fronts, and, are at 11/32 of tread depth for the 285/35-18. This tire tread depth is exceptional, for most high performance tires waiver at between 8/32 to 9/32 original tread depth. In my own experience (with vigilant tire maintenance), I have achieved any where from 25K miles to 55K miles on Falken tires, in the almost twenty years that I have purchased these tires.

Lastly, as mentioned above, AVON Tire has now released tires for the C5 (which I discussed in a previous thread). This company has been quite unknown to the common retail consumer unless they are also motorcycle enthusiasts such as myself, personally. And, for your information, AVON Tire (a well known UK tire manufacturer) has been the o.e. tire for the Rolls Royce, the Morgan, and, the Range Rover, since the 1930's. The AVON tire, like the Falken tire, are two of the best low cost high performance tire alternative values for the common retail customer. Good Luck.

 

Thanks for the thoughtful response. I asked some of the questions on Falken's because I've not owned them, but I've heard of them. Did not know they were a subsidiary of Sumitomo. I do know Avon from bike days as well.

As for alignment, maybe I've just have been lucky but I sort of have a rule that says "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". On this car, it tracks well and the wear pattern is very even on all tires, except some evidence of over inflation of rears through less tread left in the center. I'm not inclined to have it aligned. Am I nuts? My wife's last Tahoe had the OE tires last 60+K miles and when I had the tires swapped, they too were evenly worn. She then hit a serious pothole and I was forced to get it aligned. It never seemed to track the same, etc and I took it back to the same Discount Tire but had different guys work on it, including the manager. I'm sure one answer is that they just didn't know what they were doing but I choose them because they are a busy place and don't seem to have high turnover. Its not like I can check to see if my alignment doctor got his degree from UCSF or mail order from Aruba Medical University....

All that said, you have your car aligned regardless of noticable need (pull, tracking, wear)? Do others do this? Am I the only fool who doesn't do alignment routinely?

Thanks!

 

I'm like you and don't get an alignment unless I think it's necessary. I bought a new Silverado in 99 and had the Firestone tires taken off two days later and replaced with Michelin LTX's. I just replaced them a couple of months ago with about 85,000 miles on them and have never had the truck aligned. It has been in some pretty rough places duck hunting in the winter but I never felt it needed one. It still tracks straight and the tires taken off had even wear on them. I guess if you had a buddy that could do it REAL cheap it might be ok. Seems to me you'd spend the close to the difference replacing the tires as you would in many alignments. Oh, also I just replaced my orig GY runflats with Goodyear GS D3's and love them. Night and day difference.

 

I'm partial to Toyo T1Rs. I've used Toyo brand on half a dozen of my cars and been pleased each time. However, I have read good things about the Pirelli Zero Nero which also has a run-flat version which tested within a couple of points of the non run-flat version.