Honestly - you would probably be very happy with those General Exclaims.

 

Just to be clear and that's a good point, that is only with the new "Plus" models which is the second generation of that tire released last Sept along with the PS2 ZPs.

The first generation had some wear issues that some re-engineering fixed with the Plus.

Yes I agree as well, I get mine from Discount Tire who does an excellent job over the years with my Vettes.

I got about 24K on the first generation and am now just starting on the second generation Plus models. As before an excellent tire.

 

do alot of corvette drivers eventually go away from having the runflats? it seems like that

 

I had runflats on mine and went with the Generals. Great tire all around but not my first choice if you were going to track it. Hit tire rack's website and look at the reviews,survey and comments.
Good luck and keep us posted on your baby's new shoes

 

If you want to stick with runflats - the Firestone Firehawks are very good tires. I ran a set of these on the '00 I had and was very pleased with the performance. For non-runflats, Firestone Wide Ovals, Goodyear GS-D3 or General Exclaims are some to consider.

 

I have a 2004 also, I just changed mine last week to Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus from the stock run flats. Since my car is a DD I went with these with the all weather rating since it rains here in Va. So far I have been extremely pleased, no road noise and a much better ride. They also make a run flat version of this same tire Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP. You just have to make up your mind as to which tire is best for you.

 

I went with Pirelli P Zero Rosso's and I absolutely love them!

 

Just to clarify from my experience the Firestone wide Ovals was not available in the size for the rear 275/40ZR-18 only came in the Z06 size 295/35ZR-18 the front is available. That was my choice of tire so I went to the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position that had better specs and just slighly more money. If you look on the Tire Rack site this will confirm that

 

Just a note.... The top-tier Ultra High Performance Summer tires (GSD3s, PS2s and KDW2s) perform as well or better on wet roads than any all-season tire. In fact, the Goodyear GSD3s pulled .82 Gs on wet surfaces in a tire comparison test by Car & Driver. That is better than some tires grip on dry surfaces!

All season tires may come in handy if your car encounters occasional snow or very cold (sub-30) ambient temperatures. However, that A/S tire will NOT handle as well as an ultra high performance Summer tire listed above. If you always drive in a leisurely manner, then you won't be able to tell the difference among many of the tires mentioned in these posts, but high-performance (agressive) drivers may well benefit from any of the high-end models.

 

I have to disagree a little bit with ya Dave, see quote below:

"The Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP (Zero Pressure) is the Ultra High Performance All-Season run-flat tire member of Michelin’s Pilot family of low profile, high-speed tires and represents the evolution of the Pilot Sport A/S ZP. Developed for the drivers of Chevrolet Corvette C-5 sports cars, the Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP is designed to temporarily support the weight of the car even after a loss of air pressure, as well as combine enhanced all-weather performance, wet grip and treadwear along with year-round traction, including in light snow."

The primary difference of this A/S tire is the ability to handle low temperatures and even light snow. It is a UHP tire, and I've put both generations through some tight turns and it is totally predictable what the tire is doing.

Numbers aren't available via feedback yet on both the new A/S Plus and the PS2 ZP, but based on their predecessors, the A/S ZP had a 9.0 and the PS2 a 9.2 for cornering stability. Steering response for the PS2 a 9.2 and on the A/S ZP 9.2.

And I agree with you that the summer variants are even more aggressive on dry hot roads, such as the F1 Eagles, PS2, and so forth even with the run flat versions (ZP).

Based on the numbers available, one can see how the new generation ZPs are performing just as well as non-run flats. Certain manufacturers considered.

"The Pilot Sport PS2 ZP (Zero Pressure) is Michelin’s Max Performance Summer run-flat tire developed for selected performance sedans and sports cars. Initially introduced as Original Equipment (O.E.) on BMW 3 series sport package cars, the Pilot Sport PS2 ZP has recently expanded its O.E. applications to include Michelin’s first Corvette fitment on the highest performing production supercar in Chevrolet’s history, the 2009 Corvette ZR1. The Pilot Sport PS2 ZP is designed to combine world class dry road traction, handling and cornering, however it is not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice."

I think many of these arguments were weighted in that favor years ago, remember the C5 came on the market in '97 and was designed years before along with the tire spec's handed to tire companies. These new generation run flats have the UHP/MP ratings, else why would Chevy selected the PS2 ZP as it's OEM for the Corvette ZR1. Likewise, the C6R Corvette racing team chose Michelin after using Goodyear for years.

Technology, engineering and materials have changed the game in run flat design tires.

Now the Goodyear F1-GS-D3 is a good tire and available in run flats (limited sizes not C5 stock), but it is not considered a UHP tire. I ran two sets of those on my previous C4, and no doubt an awesome tire but the design and technology are aging. They get an 8.9 for cornering stability. Steering response is only an 8.8.

"The Eagle F1 GS-D3 is Goodyear's Max Performance Summer radial developed for driving enthusiasts who want more performance from their factory stock or aftermarket-tuned sports cars, sporty coupes and performance sedans. The Eagle F1 GS-D3 excels in wet conditions by delivering class-leading hydroplaning resistance and traction, as well as offers competitive dry performance. Like all summer tires, it is not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice."

I don't have any experience with the KDW2s.


Also, take note about the OEM and A/S are considered UHP while the others were Maximum Performance Tires (MP).




Data courtesy of Tire Rack.com Values based on a scale of 10.

 

Yokahama is the brand I ride. Love 'em.

Craig