Unfair comparison, since the car running the tires changes, too. But here's my experience.

Bought a '99 A4 coupe with the Michelin Pilot Sport ZP tires. Car tramlined (followed pavement grooves) like you wouldn't believe. Noisy. Harsh ride. Tires didn't make it much past 20k miles.

So I switched to an Avon (Cooper) non runflat. Handled better. Quieter. More precise steering. Put about 20k miles on them, then traded the car. Tires were still at about 70% tread at that point. Best comparison - I could take a cloverleaf onramp at 3-5 MPH faster than the Michelins at the end. That's important. Avons were new, Michelins by that time were down to the last 5-10%. But the Michelins were always loud and harsh, and loved to play follow the leader with the pavement.

Traded the '99 for an '02 M6 vert. Still has the original Goodyears on it. About 32k miles. Probably another 7-8k miles left in them, but maybe more. A little more noise than the Avons (which were far quieter than the Michelins), and where the Avons didn't tramline at all, I do get a little feedback on grooved pavement with the F1 runflats. But these tires are nearly at the point where I replaced the Michelins. Important things to me were that I could take that same cloverleaf with another 5-7 MPH comfortably, my wife can drive the car if she has to and not worry about a flat, and she doesn't think it's any louder than the coupe with the Avons. And she wouldn't ride in the coupe with the Michelins - too loud and too hard riding.

So I'll go with the Goodyears when it's time to replace. Guess that means I've gone from non runflats to runflats. For whatever reason, they seem to work for me.

Keep in mind that there was a car change, from an 80k mile coupe to a 30k mile vert, and that may affect the handling. But I'd still expect the vert to pick up more tire noise through its cloth top, and the Goodyears are pretty quiet.

Whatever you do, good luck. I get my tires at America's Tire Company (Discount Tire Company in most states), and they sell a manageable road hazard warranty. If you go with expensive tires, I'd buy the warranty. I'm probably about even on my costs - but I haven't had to shell out a load of money for an expensive tire in a while unless it was just worn out.

 

Had run flats and switched to non run flats. While I liked the change, I lost the piece of mind. Since I don't race my car at all on the street and usually obey the law, a "better tire" is not needed for my driving habits. I switched from the LOUD Goodyear tires to a much quieter Firestone run flat and have been happy with my street driving and tire performance.

As an FYI I had a blowout on the highway with the original Goodyear tires. I was driving at a rate of speed that was over the speed limit when the DIC notified me of ZERO air pressure in the right front tire. Saved my *** and I was able to drive the 50 miles home without issue. IMHO these tires are well worth it for me. No tow vs the time and cost associated with sitting on a highway waiting for a tow, give me the runflats.

 

Yep, and I didn't have any problem. Pulled out the nail with a good pair of long handle needle nose pliers, ran the reamer in and out a couple of times, threaded the patch stick on to the insert tool, and shoved it into the tire. Pluged in the air compressor attached it to the tire and put air into the tire.
No problem it held air then and is still holding air today.

 

Don't they make the GS-D3 in a run flat version now?

 

Only in C6 sizes.

 

Get AAA, includes 4 tows up to 150 miles each. Pays for itself the first time you stay a week in a hotel. AAA discount. The first year I got it I used it 3 times in a week on 2 non vettes. Keep the non run flats

 

jacks996, You may have forgotten to include possible damage to the wheel or bodywork necessary if the front tire goes and control is lost at speed. Yes it is not likely to happen. BTW I have AAA coverage and it does not include the towing coverage yours does. AAA coverage varies by which region you're in. Unfortunately (for me) AAA Mid-Atlantic does not have as good a coverage as your region. I will (hopefully) end this discussion by saying it is an individual decision, just like some men like boxer shorts and others prefer briefs