When I got my C5 last Oct, they still had the original GoodYear RF's on them, I replaced them with Michelin Sport NRF's. Much quieter, but I have thought about this, since michelin sells both RF and NRF's of the same model, why not put RF's in the front and NRF's in the back? Most of the road noise obviously comes from the rear tires from behind the seat, I would presume not so much from the fronts, on top of this, the most scariest blow outs would be the front tires going and losing control of the wheel, where as a rear tire wouldnt be as bad IMO under normal everyday use. Unless of course the tire comes flying off as which point your F-ed no matter what you have on the car.

 

I ran NRF in front for a while until the RF in rear finally wore down (they were just too new). I had no problems with mixed technologies, didn't wreck. I did have fun burning off the rear RF towards the end (20k miles later), and replaced with the same brand NRF as in front. I have replaced the fronts again, NRF same brand. Everything good.

 

I agree with this completely and I have aaa. Just because you have aaa and a cell phone does not mean they will show up promptly. Look at any cell phone coverage map and there are still lots of holes in it. Can You Hear Me Now? Most national parks don't allow cell phone towers. Try the highways in Arizona Utah Nevada and other western states for phone coverage. Once you reach aaa dispatch you are still waiting. For this old man the no brainer is run flat Michelins

Steve

 

I've been driving Corvettes for over forty years,in over forty states,and have never experienced a flat tire. Flats on these cars are extremely rare.
No way I'd ever run RunCraps on a Vette.

 

There's one caveat to the repair kit that I've read several times on the C5G and that is not to use those canned leak repair sprays. Supposedly, the goo that seals the puncture also damages the tire pressure sensor.

I have a convertible, so the amount of noise the run-flats make (Pilot Sport A/S ZP) doesn't make that much difference to me. They did save my ***, however, when I picked up a large sheet metal screw. I was able to drive to the nearest tire store with no air in the tire.

 

41 years old and I've never had a flat tire in all my life.

This is 2014, practically everybody owns a cell phone.

If by some extremely rare circumstance one gets a flat tire, it's simple to use the cell phone to get assistance.

There is a chance to get stuck due to electrical or mechanical failure as well. Does everyone feel the need to carry a full toolkit and spare parts?

Take off the run flats and enjoy the MUCH improved ride.

 

And i sincerely hope your good fortune continues. For me, it has not worked that way. I have owned C2, C3,C4 vetts that all came with a spare, a jack, a lug nut wrench, and a driver that knew how to use all of them. I new without a doubt that i could handle a flat. The C5 frc that i bought last summer had a flat within a month of owning it. I drove over a sharp little wood screw, and when i got into the car the next morning i had no clue it was zero pressure in the right front tire until the DIC told me "0 in RF tire" The car stood proud on all four tires, with one totally without any pressure. I drove it to a repair facility, and problem solved.

I understand the non RF point of view. My concern, is that for me, i would always be wondering if the air compressor in the back was really going to work, or if it was still there at all. Maybe the wife took it out to make room for that extra bag of shoes on the last trip. Can i find the hole to plug it too. I have fixed a lot of flats with the tire entirely off the car and had a hard time finding the hole, even after pumping up the tire and running a garden hose over it. Now i am looking for a hole in the tire with the side rails of the car an inch or so off the ground. I cant see the bottom of the tire or top of the tire. I can maybe see the front or back of the tire. And if i do not find the hole in the front or back of the tire, i will drive it ahead a couple feet and look again, and maybe find it. And maybe not. And if it is a big honking chunk of something still stuck in the tire, will i have my vise grips with me to pull it out before i try to patch it? If i have that can of green slime or whatever that stuff is, is the can still good. Did i buy that last year, or was that three years ago? Do i have my flashlight with me, with good batteries? For me, there are just too many variables to keep track of and make sure they all work when that time comes. I am not naive enough to think that RF tires solve all the issues, but i believe they fit me and my driving habits well.

It is tempting to take the risk and buy the non Rf's. The price is less for sure, until you factor in all the other stuff you need to have with you to fix your flat, if and when it happens. The Michelin AS ZP's are much quieter and ride much better than the Goodyears that i had on the car when i bought it. To those that go the other way with tires, i wish you all the best.



steve

 

There is a version of the "leak repair goo" that is specifically designed not to damage TPMS sensors. Use "Slime" and not "Fix A Flat".

 

RFs obviously work for you, and that is great.

I had a flat (actually a slow leak) in my Grand Am last weekend. A small screw in the tread. Found the problem in my driveway.

Tires were not run flats, but even if they had been, I would have done the same thing that I did.

I plugged the tire while it was on the car. I sometimes take the wheel off of the car to plug the tire.

I would not, in either circumstance, drive on it with low tire pressure in it.

The cost of rum flats vs. no run flats isn't the issue for me. I would pay more for non run flats vs. run flats.

What I am after is the quality of the ride, and I have heard enough opinions to convince me that non run flats (Michelin) are the way to go.

I am even contemplating carrying a spare tire the correct size if I go on a long trip.

But I am still going for the non run flats.

 

The RF - Non-RF decision (IMHO) depends on where you drive your Corvette. You damage a RF tire in Western Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, parts of Utah, Nevada, Idaho, the Dakotas, etc. even if you're in range (50 to a max of 200 miles) of a town, good luck in finding a garage that can handle RF tires.

 

While TPMS may cause occasional troubles, knowing when a tire is getting low due to something like a nail makes it very worthwhile.

 

You have more trouble controlling a car when a rear tire blows than if a front tire blows. Lots of people don't realize that.

 

I have t agree with the rest here go the route of non run flats and go to Walmart pick up tire kit with compressor and fix a flat and repair kit. Also be sure to have AAA