Ending the run-flat discussion
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 156
Likes: 8
Tire rack is about $984. + freight. I went to the Chevy dealer and their Michelin source had "buy 3 get one free" . Cost the same + $100 to mount and balance. No disposal fee, no shop material. I'm sure someone there scoffed the F1's up. I felt it was easier than having to have the tires shipped and then how was I going to get them to the dealership to mount? Plus they went on the same day purchased and I had had it with the noise and could not wait any longer.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Camp Hill PA
I just removed the Goodyear F1 run-flats with 10,000 miles on them and plenty of meat left yet. After some extensive research on Tire Rack I decided on the Michelin Zp Plus run-flats. I had qualms about going with another set of run-flats after reading all the posts about them vs non run-flats on the forum. However, the Michelins had a noise rating of 8.8 on a 1 to 10 scale, which was higher than some non run-flats and the reviews backed it up. I have suffered for a year since I purchased the car (04 convertible) with noise, and I mean noise, to the point where it was not fun to drive the car. Part of the suffering was my thought that the convertible was noisy and it was the nature of the beast to hear the tires. The Goodyears were balanced and wearing fine. The Tire Rack ratings on a scale of 1 to 10 should be reviewed. The Michelins should be a 10 and the Goodyears a minus 10. The car is an absolute pleasure to drive now. No railroad tracking, in fact, you can take your hands off the wheel at any speed and the car goes perfectly straight. Handling is improved, the ride is typically smooth Michelin but the noise was my main criteria and it is gone. The Michelins are not quite as wide but the height is the same. If anyone is on the fence about run-flats and non-run flats I hope this helps.
it was like a whole new car after I switched. Good to hear the new type are even better
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
I went a different route. Instead of replacing the stock run-flats I did a full cockpit and trunk insulation install on my '04 convertible. Seemed to help quite a bit. Cost about $200 from ExoticVette, a supporting vendor.
It also does a great job of insulating the interior from tunnel heat. Later I added a tunnel plate that almost eliminated tunnel heat altogether when combined with the insulation.
I've read on this forum another quick and dirty way to significantly cut down on run-flat noise is to fill the large trunk cavity with foam. I've never tried that. Don't need to.
..rickko..
PS. What did you do with your run-flats?
It also does a great job of insulating the interior from tunnel heat. Later I added a tunnel plate that almost eliminated tunnel heat altogether when combined with the insulation.
I've read on this forum another quick and dirty way to significantly cut down on run-flat noise is to fill the large trunk cavity with foam. I've never tried that. Don't need to.
..rickko..
PS. What did you do with your run-flats?
Last edited by rickko; Oct 25, 2008 at 01:23 AM.
