Finally changed out the stock RFs for a set of F1 GS-D3s.

The reports from the forum and elsewhere are true - the non-run flats make a remarkable difference in the handling and overall feel of the car.

 

Conflicting reports??? I have read that the noise and ride are greatly improved, but you give up a little on the handling and response, due to the softer sidewalls.

My plans were to replace the R/F's with the F1 GS-D3's over the winter. This is probably a dumb question, but do you keep the pressure sensors with the non-run flats?

What was the total price for the changeover?

 

Tire pressure sensors will work fine. Make sure that your installer does not take them out. My installer asked me if I wanted them removed. I shopped online between Tire Rack and Discount Tire. Waited for a sale and ordered. Used a local installer to the tune of $25.00 per tire $2.00 disposal charge. Hope this helps. Oh yeah and I love my GS-D3's have had them on all summer. Awesome

 

Thanks,

I have seen quite a few C-5's with them on. Must be a good alternative.

 

Had to be a happy day for you!

 

I just went with a set of Michelin PS 2s, and took the runflats off. If you ask me, I would say the car handles better. The runflats had such bad bump steer when going around a corner if it was just a little rough you thought the whole rear was going to come around on you. Not to mention the fact that the car doesn't follow the rutts in the road anymore.

 

Yes, the sensors work fine. Just make sure that you keep the wheels in the same corner of the car. That is LF back to LF, otherwise the sensors will still work, but you'll be getting readings on the DIC from the wrong wheel.

 

completely, except that I have the GS-D3's (not that the PS-2's aren't great tires as well), and love 'em. But I've already managed to pick of a nail in the right rear . The plug/repair kit I put together worked great, though

 

Good choice. Enjoy the smooth ride.

 

I have the PS2s also and yes, the instantaneous turn in is less than the steel sidewall runflats but handling is improved along with smoothness and less noise.

 

Yep---until he gets a flat tire...

 

The TPS are there to let you know when you have a dangerous low or zero pressure condition in a run flat tire. The tire itself won't show any sign of a problem until it overheats and disintergrates.

I left them in because if it was a slow leak the DIC might warn you in time to get off the road and save the tire. If it is a severe puncture, the tire will be history and the DIC will indicate a moot point.

When swapping the tires, make sure the installer putd the wheels back on in the original position so the sensors don't get screwed up. I was told by the installer that the right front needed to go back on the right front etc. I did not bring the car in, just the wheels and tires so I marked everything so the installer would get the tires on right.

 

You mean that is going to go away when I get rid of my run flats? I would have had new tires on my coupe before I got it home if I had known that. My 02 is a white knuckle ride on anything other than flat roads. The second right lane on I95 South between Wilmington De and Newark De is pretty damn dangerous with the ruts jerking the car all over the place.

Glad I read this, new BFG's for me.

Cliff

 

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You are right. Everyone raves about how much better C5s ride without run flats. That is largely in part because the suspension was tuned to give an acceptable sports car ride with the very stiff run flats. When people put softer regular tires on, this results in a much softer ride, BUT handling suffers. Run flats have very extreme steering response due to the stiff sidewalls.

I am on my third set of OEM run flats (98,000 miles). My C5 rides like a luxury car compared to my 1964 VERT ! Besides, it is a sports car, if you want a luxury ride buy a luxury car ! You won't catch me changing a tire along the road (although I did on my Van recently, but I waited until a Police was behind me with his lights on), I have had a friend seriously injured changing a flat, it only has to happen once to you !

I would keep my TPS's in even with non-runflats. It gives you a warning if a slow leak is happening.

I know that Z06's with non-runflats catch grooves in the highway also. This is a function of tread width. C5 OEM runflats are extremely wide for their size, see below:

Here are the widths from Tire Rack:
The OEM Goodyear runflats are EXTREMELY WIDE for their size. The tread width is even wider than the 295 Z06 tires, here are the specs (tread width)
-Goodyear F1 GS EMT (275) 10.3 inches
-Goodyear Z06 (295) 10.2 inches
-Firestone (275) 8.6 inches
-Goodyear F1 GS D3 (275) 9.4 inches
-Goodyear F1 GS-2 EMT (285, 19 inch diameter) 9.2 inches

 

thats very interesting. i wan the security of runflats but i want the grip of nice sticky tires....whats a good medium???

 

There is nothing wrong with the Run Flats. Whenthey are new they probably ride very nice. I had 30k on the original stock tires and probably could have gone another 5,000 miles with them. Everyone says they get terrible mileage because they are so stiff but I did not find that to be true. They did get real loud, hard and tough to ride on. They are expensive too.

When time came to change them out I could not justify the extra $$$ just to avoid a flat. I can't remember the last time I got a flat in any vehicle I own. Just put together a repair kit with plugs, a small scissor jack and cheapo Walmart compressor and your ready to go.

All this talk about flats is ridiculous - if someone offered to give you a C5 with regular tires or a Z06 would not take it becuase you might get a flat?

 

That's correct, although the side-hopping doesn't go away completely. It IS greatly improved. By the way, the GSD3s handle just as well as the BF Goodrich tires on dry roads, yet are better on wet roads. Any other tire is a compromise.

Excellent choice by Estreeter for picking the king of tires!

 

well, its just kinda scary because i cant get a jack under it now, let alone if the tire is flat. So if im out in the middle of no where, how would i jack it up? Also, i dont want the added weight of a compressor in the trunk.

 

It's really not hard at all. Just carry a couple of short sections of 2"X6" or 2"X8" and slowly drive the tire up on them if you get a flat. You should then be able to get the jack under it. If you're concerned, try it sometime in the driveway and see how much lift you need to get your jack under with a flat tire.

Keep in mind, the vast majority of flat tires are the result of a slow leak from a nail or screw. If you have the TPMS functional, you should never experience one of these flats on the road. However if you drive down the interstate 10-15 pounds low on pressure, you can quickly and easily destroy a non-runflat tire. Yes catastrophic tire failures do occur, but most of them are the result of running excessively low air pressure, often associated with a slow leak that the owner never noticed.

GUSTO

 

This comes down to the old saying of-to each his own-I just went back to the runflats. It gave me peace of mind and my mind is the one that counts.
I don't want to carry sections of 2x4's to run the car up on to get it jacked up. By the time I put everything in the trunk that people suggest in event of an emergency my car would look like it belonged to Sanford and Son