Tires
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Schoolcraft MIchigan
Tires
I have a 2001 Corvette Convertible with 18,000 miles. This car still has the original tires. Is there any danger of driving on tires that are this old? They still have great tread on them. Thanks
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
... to some people that may be acceptable but not me, I would get them replaced regardless of what they look like... the tread may appear ok but over time the compound will harden and it's basically like driving on glass which sucks for traction and becomes a safety issue in an emergency situation or when the elements are involved
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,472
Likes: 309
From: Scottsdale AZ
Lots of threads on replacements-- use the search feature by brand name.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
If you drive posted speed limits and only a few hundred miles a year, those tires will probably work for you for a few more years. There are a lot of C5s out there still on original rubber and not once have we heard about a single catastrophic failure. However if you plan on driving it more and driving it harder, you better get new tires.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 106
Likes: 5
From: Nashville Tennessee
I bought a 2002 Convertible last year that had 8,974 miles and it still had the OEM run flats on it.
The first thing I did was replace them with a set of Bridgestone RE760 non run flats. I cannot tell you much better the car rides and handles now.
Get rid of those old and potentially unsafe tires and buy yourself a really good set of non run flats (and carry a slime kit in the trunk).
The first thing I did was replace them with a set of Bridgestone RE760 non run flats. I cannot tell you much better the car rides and handles now.
Get rid of those old and potentially unsafe tires and buy yourself a really good set of non run flats (and carry a slime kit in the trunk).
Last edited by MikeNSX; Jan 14, 2016 at 03:00 PM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 597
Likes: 25
From: Atlanta Georgia
St. Jude Donor '13,'14
When I purchased my 2003 Z 4 years ago it had only done 7000 miles. The tires were original. Had bad steering wheel shimmy until I replaced them. I wouldn't be comfortable doing highway speeds with 15 year old tires.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,136
Likes: 2,984
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e&autoModClar=
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,781
Likes: 24,683
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Your tires a much older than what I would feel comfortable driving around on, especially if you drive the car in a fashion other than like a little old lady. I would replace them soon. I run a set of Hankook Ventus V12 EVOs on my car and really like them.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Continental extreme contact dw for summer only driving (rain or shine). Work great, I've beat several other c5's modded to similar levels simply because of how much better these grip, especially in the rain. Also they are far lighter than the oem.
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 300
Likes: 34
From: Bella Vista, AR
Yes, there is some danger if you keep driving on them. How much depends on a number of factors, and whether you're comfortable taking the risk. Only you can answer that. While they may "still have great tread on them," they need to be examined closely for cracks and dry rot, which if that's the condition they're in, I'd get rid of them. It's really not worth the risk of having a blowout or having them come apart possibly at highway speed. Fifteen years out of a set of tires is way more than what almost anyone would consider their useful life span.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 142
From: Lynn MA
If you fill out the rest of your profile people will know what to give you for advise on tires dependent on where you live. Example= Florida then summer tires like the conti- DW's would be perfect. Minnesota= an all-season tire etc. But that's JMHO on the subject.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 698
Likes: 20
From: Md
Pics of Cutlass Please!!!
Thanks, Mark
OP- i'd only wanna putt-putt around on those tires as well. Threw one of my orig. on for a week or so as a fill in and was like grease. Scary lack of traction. GL
Last edited by cvm; Jan 17, 2016 at 09:15 AM. Reason: oops
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 472
From: Newark Delaware
I went with non-run-flats - Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 - on my '99 convertible. Put on two years ago at 54k and am now at 65k. Very happy with them.
Rubber hardens with age and really should not be used beyond 6-7 years. If it is a garage queen that only goes to nearby shows and you are trying to keep it "original" then maybe you keep the OEM rubber but, otherwise, get new tires.
K9Leader
Red cars are faster. They did a study on it.
Rubber hardens with age and really should not be used beyond 6-7 years. If it is a garage queen that only goes to nearby shows and you are trying to keep it "original" then maybe you keep the OEM rubber but, otherwise, get new tires.
K9Leader
Red cars are faster. They did a study on it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 14
From: Odessa TX
I replaced a set of Continental DW for Nitto NT555 on the rear of my cam only Z and I think they're garbage. The only plus side is they're cheap and are supposed to have decent thread life. But in terms of traction they're bad in the dry and laughable in the wet. Build date of November '14, got them in Feb '15, so it's not a new old stock issue either.
Strange thing is how widely recommended they are on this forum.
Strange thing is how widely recommended they are on this forum.
Last edited by onspeed; Jan 18, 2016 at 02:11 AM.
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
I replaced a set of Continental DW for Nitto NT555 on the rear of my cam only Z and I think they're garbage. The only plus side is they're cheap and are supposed to have decent thread life. But in terms of traction they're bad in the dry and laughable in the wet. Build date of November '14, got them in Feb '15, so it's not a new old stock issue either.
Strange thing is how widely recommended they are on this forum.
Strange thing is how widely recommended they are on this forum.