please give feedback
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 39
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From: Novi MI
please give feedback
Today I am looking to purchase new tires for my 1998 vette. I have an issue. My rears have 4/32 left. My fronts have 8-9/32 left. My right front tire has a bubble and needs to be replaced. My thought was to replace all four with Michelin PS2 ZP runflats. Out the door pricing was $1550. I would take the three used tires and sell. My other option would be to purchase GY OEM's. The three out the door would be $1250. This would save me $300. My vette is a garage queen with only 24,500 miles on it. In the 2-1/2 years of owning the car I have only put 1,000 miles on it. I have only lit the tires up once and regretted it since it took me over an hour to clean the wheel wells. This car will never see a track it is just a weekend driver which I take to shows. I only want to stick with GY's or Michelin runflats only. Do I spend the extra $300 and get the Michelin and sell my three GY's or just buy three GY tires?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 930
Likes: 13
From: Aiken SC
Check the parts for sale forum.....sometimes you can get some good deals on tires and rims. If you don't want or need the rims, you can sell them to recoup some of your money. If the car isn't driven that much, that's what I would do. Just a suggestion.
Gregg
Gregg
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,520
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From: Long Island NY
If you only put 1000 miles on in 2 1/2 years then save the money and buy the three GY's. If I were you I would invest the extra $300 and buy a whole new set and most likely go with the Michelin's and for goodness sakes man DRIVE YOUR CAR MORE OFTEN! The worst thing you can do to your car is to let it sit around for such long periods of time undriven. Thse cars are built to be driven, not sit stagnant. Get those fluids flowing, your car will thank you for it!
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Garage Queen = Good Years
Since your car is mainly used for looks and socializing at shows, the OEM GY run flats with the low profile look the best. I drive my car, have 66K miles now in almost ten years. I'm on my third set of rears; previous sets were GY OEM's.
Just bought the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S ZP's today and I have to say that my first impression is that the GY's look better. I thought I'd try the Michelin's out since poeple are claiming lower road noise and bit longer life. But, I may have to go back to the GY's if I end up hating the look - I haven't decided yet. The Michelin's also have a "rim guard" built into the tire where they kind of hang over the edge of the rim 2 to 3mm - again, not sure I like the look.
Someone said that since the Michelin's aren't as low profile as the GY's they look like the F-body tires and my first impression is that they don't look as sweet. IMHO
Just bought the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S ZP's today and I have to say that my first impression is that the GY's look better. I thought I'd try the Michelin's out since poeple are claiming lower road noise and bit longer life. But, I may have to go back to the GY's if I end up hating the look - I haven't decided yet. The Michelin's also have a "rim guard" built into the tire where they kind of hang over the edge of the rim 2 to 3mm - again, not sure I like the look.
Someone said that since the Michelin's aren't as low profile as the GY's they look like the F-body tires and my first impression is that they don't look as sweet. IMHO
Last edited by Diva Toy; Apr 2, 2011 at 01:52 PM. Reason: clarification
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,998
Likes: 33
From: somewhere in New Hampshire
Since your car is mainly used for looks and socializing at shows, the OEM GY run flats with the low profile look the best. I drive my car, have 66K miles now in almost ten years. I'm on my third set of rears; previous sets were GY OEM's.
Just bought the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S ZP's today and I have to say that my first impression is that the GY's look better. I thought I'd try the Michelin's out since poeple are claiming lower road noise and bit longer life. But, I may have to go back to the GY's if I end up hating the look - I haven't decided yet. The Michelin's also have a "rim guard" built into the tire where they kind of hang over the edge of the rim 2 to 3mm - again, not sure I like the look.
Someone said that since the Michelin's aren't as low profile as the GY's they look like the F-body tires and my first impression is that they don't look as sweet. IMHO
Just bought the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S ZP's today and I have to say that my first impression is that the GY's look better. I thought I'd try the Michelin's out since poeple are claiming lower road noise and bit longer life. But, I may have to go back to the GY's if I end up hating the look - I haven't decided yet. The Michelin's also have a "rim guard" built into the tire where they kind of hang over the edge of the rim 2 to 3mm - again, not sure I like the look.
Someone said that since the Michelin's aren't as low profile as the GY's they look like the F-body tires and my first impression is that they don't look as sweet. IMHO
I have the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S ZP's and they ride great, but I thought the GY's looked better. When I switched to chrome Spyder rims I was pleasantly surprised that the look improved because there's no lip and they filled the gap left by the Michelin rim guards. To the OP, if you're not going to drive the car I would just get 3 GY's.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Novi MI
re: please help tire question
If I go with the Michelin SP2 ZP runflats and sell my GY OEM (2) rears with 4-5/32 and my (1) front 8-9/32 what do you think is a fair price for the three? Is the rears worth selling or do I just have the tire shop throw the two rears away?
Administrator
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As little as you drive the car, just save the money and get a set of the Goodyears.
If you weren't set on either Goodyears or Michelin, I would recommend looking at a set of the Firestone Firehawks. I had a set and loved them.
If you weren't set on either Goodyears or Michelin, I would recommend looking at a set of the Firestone Firehawks. I had a set and loved them.
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 235
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From: On a mountain New York
How old are the tires. I would get 4 new either way, pick your flavor. Otherwise you may have three new tires and a mtaching fourth but it is old and dryrotted. The rears are worth nothing. I would save the fronts incase of the event you get a flat in the future. Oh... definetly drive it more. You both will appreciate it.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Novi MI
OEM tires
The front tire is 2-1/2" years old that was just put on when I purchased the car. Thats why it has soo much tread left. I have only put 1,000 miles on it. Honestly the rears I could not tell you. They are still on the car. If I decide to sell them I would make sure the rears are in good shape before I sell. They would not come with the TPMS. I am looking to possibly put on Michelin SP2 ZP tires.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,114
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From: SE Pennsylvania
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Oldtimer
Tires !
This is truly a no-brainer. 1 Look up your tire on Tire Rack website. 2. Order four brand new Michelin Pilot Sport PS/2 ZP's have the sent to their closest facility. Cost me $1300.00 for all four, I bought four new TPSM and that was extra so I didn't have to dismount the tires in a few years as the batteries wear out in them. Have the tires hi-speed balanced.
Go home and take a picture of two of you three tires and post them in the C5 'For sales' section. I did and all four of my originals sold in less that 48 hours.
Sit and have a cool drink knowing you now have a full set of tires that are !00% better than the rock hard, lousy handling tires on the planet.
Go home and take a picture of two of you three tires and post them in the C5 'For sales' section. I did and all four of my originals sold in less that 48 hours.
Sit and have a cool drink knowing you now have a full set of tires that are !00% better than the rock hard, lousy handling tires on the planet.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,206
Likes: 311
From: Lino Lakes MN
My thought is the rears are 14 years old with minimal tread, essentially they are junk so worth basically nothing. You have one front tire with 9/32, I sold a pair with the same tread for $300.00 which means your single tire is worth no more than $125. if you can find a buyer for the correct side of the car, remember these tires are unidirectional.
I took the tires off my wife's C4 that were about 10 years old with 7/32 tread, the tire shop refused to mount them on my brothers C4 due to there age.
As I see it, buy the tire you like best for all 4 corners and realize, anything you can get for the single tire is a bonus.
I took the tires off my wife's C4 that were about 10 years old with 7/32 tread, the tire shop refused to mount them on my brothers C4 due to there age.
As I see it, buy the tire you like best for all 4 corners and realize, anything you can get for the single tire is a bonus.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Coral Springs Fl
This is truly a no-brainer. 1 Look up your tire on Tire Rack website. 2. Order four brand new Michelin Pilot Sport PS/2 ZP's have the sent to their closest facility. Cost me $1300.00 for all four, I bought four new TPSM and that was extra so I didn't have to dismount the tires in a few years as the batteries wear out in them. Have the tires hi-speed balanced.
Go home and take a picture of two of you three tires and post them in the C5 'For sales' section. I did and all four of my originals sold in less that 48 hours.
Sit and have a cool drink knowing you now have a full set of tires that are !00% better than the rock hard, lousy handling tires on the planet.
Go home and take a picture of two of you three tires and post them in the C5 'For sales' section. I did and all four of my originals sold in less that 48 hours.
Sit and have a cool drink knowing you now have a full set of tires that are !00% better than the rock hard, lousy handling tires on the planet.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Coral Springs Fl
My thought is the rears are 14 years old with minimal tread, essentially they are junk so worth basically nothing. You have one front tire with 9/32, I sold a pair with the same tread for $300.00 which means your single tire is worth no more than $125. if you can find a buyer for the correct side of the car, remember these tires are unidirectional.
I took the tires off my wife's C4 that were about 10 years old with 7/32 tread, the tire shop refused to mount them on my brothers C4 due to there age.
As I see it, buy the tire you like best for all 4 corners and realize, anything you can get for the single tire is a bonus.
I took the tires off my wife's C4 that were about 10 years old with 7/32 tread, the tire shop refused to mount them on my brothers C4 due to there age.
As I see it, buy the tire you like best for all 4 corners and realize, anything you can get for the single tire is a bonus.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
For a garage queen I wouldn't buy either set. Go to tirerack.com and buy a set for under $1000. They have very good deals. But if you need to spend more $$ buy a new set of goodyears. And drive it. 
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Novi MI
re: please help tire question
Just checked date code on tires. fronts were installed early 2007. One of the tires is still good 9/32 tread. The other front tire with 9/32 tread has a small bubble on the side wall which I will discard. The two rears have a date code of early 2002. From an earlier post they probably are not worth selling; they have 4-5/32 tread. From what I am reading on the posts it is a toss up on what to do. I either purchase four Michelin SP2 ZP (which someone said might not fit rim properly "I have chrome 5 spoke rims".) I hear and read that Michelin ZP would be a better tire than GY or I buy the three new GY's knowing that my fourth is four years old.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Green and Wet Western Oregon
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The Michelins will fit your wheels just fine. It is just a matter of appearance with some people. The Goodyears you have on your car right now are worthless due to wear and more importantly, age. I am one of the few who remained loyal to Goodyear until they could not provide rear tires for our C5. I bought a full set of four (which is what I would recommend you do) Michelin Pilot Sport A/S ZP and had one hell of a hard time selling the two brand new Goodyears from the front. I chose the A/S ZP's because we drive our Corvette year-round and needed the wet traction provided by the all-season tire. The PS2's are a softer compound better suited to performance driving and warm, dry surfaces.
Visual proof that Michelin's will fit your thin-spokes:
Visual proof that Michelin's will fit your thin-spokes: