So many times on this forum people writer to ask about one tire or another being the "best" for their use. Last Monday I had a chance to ride along in a 2008 ZO6 as it participated in a "precision driving school" at Brainerd International Raceway. It had new General UHP tires on all 4 corners. These are the same tires we can buy at your local tire shop.
These tires were amazing. First, that car didn't so much as twitch whether it was going 150mph down a straight, or 125 going around a banked turn, or 95 on a flat turn. After a half hour of flat out driving with hard braking, hairpin corners, high-speed corners and the like, the tires showed a certain amunt of "melting" on their surface - similar to what you would expect on full-race tires. Consider that these tires have a UTOG rating of somewhere around 400 (great tread life for a high performance tire) but they performed similar to a tire rated to be much "stickier."
I'm not affiliated with any tire store or company, but these tires were a complete revelation to me. I know they are supposed to be a "bargain priced" tire. But they sure performed far above that classification.
I'm not here to suggest you buy one tire or another. But if you're looking for a tire capable of performing on the track that is priced very competitively, you may want to research these tires for yourself.
Glen

 

Check my avatar...thats my ride at Watkins Glen carving some turns on UHPs!

For an economy tire, they hold their own very well

 

Beautiful avatar. Wish i could have brought a camera along to take shots from inside the car as it was running. I'll be attending this same school in September as a participant rather than a guest. Looking forward to seeing what I and my 04 with the Z51 package can do. After riding along with my friend, I have a new respect for how much performance GM packed into these cars - especially considering their cost. It's hard to believe a person can go out and buy a '97 Corvette for maybe $12000. put on a set of brake pads, get a helmet, and be competitive on a race track. Just amazing when you think about how much is spent for other cars with much less capability.
Glen

 

Good to know!

Put a set of UHP's on my Vette about 2 months ago,and so far they've exceeded my expectations,AND they're quiet.

 

Put them on my C6Z06 love 'em

 

As I have said on this forum before, I installed UHP's two years ago and like them very much. I got mine from the General dealer on South State Street, Salt Lake City. The cost was $546.00 mounted and balanced. Their work was excellent and they put the balancing weights on the inside of the rims --- and there is not the least bit of unbalance up to 150 mph --- then I ran out of road.

 

I know that a lot of forum members are running the General tires on their car and I don't recall any negative reports from them. They are certainly a tire worth looking into if you need new ones.

 

I got them for the UHP rating and the the safety of the all season rating (though not really a true all season. no temps less that 40') . however the rain performance is truly exceptional. you never know when you gonna get caught in that downpour! Kudos to General on this model.

 

This was more likely melted rubber off others sticky tires picked up when leaving the track to pit (commonly referred to as pickup). Everyone will have this stuff on their tires in the pits. After some normal street driving it will scrub off and the tires will look normal again.

I ran a set of these on our Mazda 3 and they performed okay for normal driving but the sidewalls felt a little soft to be a good track tire. Worth keeping in mind for when the Goodyears wear out though.

 

General Exclaim! UHP... had them on my BMW, loved them. Sidewalls are softer but they just felt stickier. Can't wait for my tires to wear out and put them on the Coupe.

 

I have them in stock size on my 01. Only wish I'd gone a bit wider. Still love'em though.

 

Ditto, installed them about 6 months ago, very impressed with the preformance to price factor. They do make a little noise on certain roads at certain speeds, but nothing to loud, the stock run flats yelled 24/7. I will be sticking with these tires from now on, great looking and sticks to the road in Napa Valley... Get some...

 

Put them on the wife's vette last summer and have been very impressed with the handling and lack of noise. Great tire, at an economical price point, my brother after driving the wife's vette put them on his coupe.

 

They are a great tire for a very reasonable price many happy campers with them

Thanks,Matt

 

I just bought my 99 coupe from a small dealer 2 weeks ago. It had baldies and wagon wheels on it when sitting on the lot. I told him if he took the tires (General UHP's and chrome spoke) & wheels off the 2001 sitting next to it on the lot, and put them on the 99, then I would buy it. He did, and I did. Love the General's & love the 99. (he also came down a few grand too)