I just bought a 1998 corvette last friday with the original Goodyear Eagle run flat tires that has 15,000 miles on them. They still have a fair amount of thread left on them. This is my first vette and I know very little about these cars as I'm in a learning curve right now. I didn't know that this kind of tire was even made. I live in upstate new york and was calling around for prices and couldn't believe the cost. Goodyear replacements around 1900.00 out the door installed. Then I checked a few online sites and they seem to be about half that minus installation. I'm a little skeptic about getting something that I can't see in person. Is that 1900.00 price fair, is there another run flat tire thats as good or better, that might be a little less expensive. I really like the idea of that type of tire so what ever I get will be another run flat tire. Thanks,Jim.

 

$1200 for the tires + labor/balancing + (in your case the very expensive) Tire pressure sensors will probably get you in that range at a dealer for Goodyears.

 

Run flats have a very rough ride, ditch the RF and get yourself a set of normal tires that will be a lot cheaper. I got rid of mine 5 years ago and just carry a can of fix-a-flat in case. Never had a flat though. You will be amazed on how nice the car will feel with new rubber. just my .02, good luck on your choice.

Also check out Discount Tires, I only by my tires from them!

 

A flat these days that cannot be temporarily fixed with an on-board kit (slime in a can or plug plus compressor, etc.) is very rare. You might want to re-think your insistence on run-flats and go with non-run-flats at $600 and up for a decent set if money is an issue. Non-run-flats save weight (important as it is unsprung weight) and almost always ride softer and quieter

 

Try classifieds for a complete used set of wheels & tires. Maybe $600-$1200 with almost new tires and you won't have those awfull wagon wheels.

 

If you want to stick to run flats try the Michelins. They are much softer than the original Goodyears. Ride and handling improve dramatically. They should be around $1000 installed and balanced. (1/2 the price of Goodyears).

Stick with your wagon wheels. They're classic and they never let you down.

 

Noisy too, I have the Michelins and they're still noisy

 

I'll defend the RF's. I like the extra security they give me. I bought the Michelins, and as said earlier about $1000 out the door. Many say they can just use their Cell phone and call AAA and be towed. I, on the other hand, live in rural America and need a bit more security. I've had to rely on the RFs and am thankful for them.

I don't auto-x or race my car so that makes a difference too. I don't find the Michelins noisy at all, at least compared to the Kuhmo RFs that were on the car when I bought it.

What ever you decide, make certain that you WAVE at the other Corvettes you meet.

 

I have a '99 coupe and I recently (last three months) purchased Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500's...they are awesome. The softness of the ride and reduced road noise is much better than the RF's. I picked them up at a local Firestone dealer for $716 all around (excludes road hazard warranty)...I opted not to purchase. Been on several out-of-town trips and they are absolutely a sweet tire. Hope this helps.

Mike

 

Oh yeah...don't forget the WAVE!!!

 

I got rid of the Goodyear RF w/17M miles on them & went with Michelin RF. IMO the Michelins are a very good choice if you want RF's. U might want to go w/new sensors if your going w/RF. The sensors last maybe 10 yrs. I got my Michelins for about $1000. I bought them online from Tirerack & had them dropped shpd to a tire dealer for the instal. Shop around, good luck!

 

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP - Good grip, good in the wet, pretty quiet and long tread wear. Got mine at Tirerack.com and had them drop shipped to an installer for a bit under $1000.00 incl. shipping.

 

Try www.tirerack.com

 

Well, another to defend run flats....I read all the post on Hankook v12's, (great handling and quite ride), I ordered and installed 2 rear tires....after a couple of days I have changed my mind and getting some goodyears back on my vette. The handling is not great the sidewalls are very soft and car rolls over and I'm willing to bet that's why people are putting larger sway bars on their vettes, when my worn out goodyears where on my car, it was very solid feeling. Having said all that, hankook tire is good quite tire for sure, just not what I was used to driving, so I'll be selling these as soon as my other tires get here, learning is expensive

 

I rode in a car club member's vette about six years ago and he had run flats. My back and butt still has nightmares. Hard buckboard ride, noisy on all surfaces, cold weather grip is crap, and the expense ( are you ****** serious?). Get yourself a good set of conventional tires, Bridgestone, Contis,Michelins,etc., a good tire repair kit, make sure you get road hazard on the tires, and make sure you have/get AAA. I have had one flat in 10 years ,and I certainly don't lose sleep over it. I would be more worried on a long road trip , a runflat goes south and the local yokel tire dealer may not carry the brand you need or if so its overpriced. Get the regular tire. The difference in ride and noise is like night and day.

 

The Michelins are some good tires. If you want runflats, that would be the way I'd go.

 

I switched from Goodyear EMTs to Michelin Pilot Sport All Season ZP (run flats) this past spring on my '98. Cost from TireRack.com was about $950, plus cost to mount and balance at a local shop.

The Michelins are a big improvement over the Goodyears: better ride, better handling, less noise. I highly recommend them over the Goodyears.

Did I mention they're also significantly cheaper than the Goodyear EMTs?

 

I had Kuhmo run flats on my 98. They held up well, but once worn, I replaced them with non-run flat Hankook Ventus V12 tires. Very happy! I'm chancing the flat tire issues, since I've not had one since 1975 with my '69 big block (which had a full size spare, but a rusted lock mechanism, so I couldn't get the tire down). Zuti

 

I replaced the OE Goodyears on my 98 with Michelin A/S run flats for around $1100 a little over three years ago. Michelin A/S tire was a 1000% improvement in all areas.

 

I just purchased a 04 with 11000 mi. measured the tires front and rear and both were at 6/32 so I thought I was good to go. Since purchased new wheels and had a friend who is the best front end shop in the area install them for me and he called right away to show me the Goodyears in the front. The inside edge was cupped bad on both tires, and I thought that noise was the run flats as I never drove on them before. Called the dealer and he said he could not help unless I took the car to them and they would check it out. Ran home and checked out reviews and the Hancock ventus non run flats got great reviews and were cheap so off to the hancock dealer to pick up a set as they had them in stock. The dealer even told me not to use them as the softer sidewall was not recommended for this car. Talked himself out of a sale but at least he was very honest. Ended up with The Michelins PS2 run flats. Cheapest price anywhere even tire rack is 1300. and up front and rear. The AS michelin was much cheaper but I didn't want an AS tire. Much improvement over the Goodyears in all aspects. Glad I bought them.
JMHO.