Run Flats
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Generally the consensus here is that the Michelin PS runflats are the top choice, but it's very strange that after only 5 years you are experiencing dry rot on your tires.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Many things cause dry rot, the most over looked is tire pressure. But, any tire dressing with nitrates will eat the oils out of the rubber. Some tire dressings are designed to make your tires, a silicone junkie.. the more you use the more you need to use. the nitrates will clean the tire, but it will also clean the tire of essential oils. Corvette people are very prone to over doing things... Their motivation is that they think that more is better. Road chemicals also can be a contributor.. Heat is the number one killer of a rubber compound..
Bill aka ET
BTW there are no real secrets to tire manufacturing.. R& D has been done to death, both Michelin and Good year will give your the big name tax reflected in MSRP. Don't ever compare the specs (Tread wear ).. from one manufacturer to another These are used internally with no regulated guideline... a 200 rating from one manufacturer could last longer than a 300 from another manufacturer... these guidelines are only used internally to distinguish one tire compound from another within that manufacturer.
Bill aka ET
BTW there are no real secrets to tire manufacturing.. R& D has been done to death, both Michelin and Good year will give your the big name tax reflected in MSRP. Don't ever compare the specs (Tread wear ).. from one manufacturer to another These are used internally with no regulated guideline... a 200 rating from one manufacturer could last longer than a 300 from another manufacturer... these guidelines are only used internally to distinguish one tire compound from another within that manufacturer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I suspect they may be older than 5 years.
You can check the date codes on the tire to know for sure. The last four digits after the "DOT" mark will be the date code when the tire was made. The four digits will show the first 2 digits as the week of the year and the last two digits as the year. For example 4104 would be the 41st week of 2004.
Check to see how old the tires really are.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,030
Likes: 2,587
From: Del Boca Vista FL
and back to FL I opted for a new set of wheels and run flats for the trip.
I will be interested to see how the run flats wear as compared to the non run flats. I have about 17,000 on the Sumitomo's and they are still looking good on all four corners.
I have not noticed a difference in ride or noise level between the different tires.
Now if I just had more room in the garage for the extra wheels and tires.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
When I bought my 04 in 2014, the GY run flats were 3 years old. Now 4.5 years and all is well. I have no issues with ride, sound or tire derogation. Not sure what others are complaining about with GY run flats but but the ones on my car are fine.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
Where did you find them? (And how much?)
I need new fronts and no one I've checked has them. Out of stock - 6-8 weeks minimum before any more arrive. Applies to at least 10 local shops and a out the same number of online outlets
I need new fronts and no one I've checked has them. Out of stock - 6-8 weeks minimum before any more arrive. Applies to at least 10 local shops and a out the same number of online outlets
Last edited by aj98; Mar 23, 2016 at 07:20 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,030
Likes: 2,587
From: Del Boca Vista FL
Fronts were $242.99 each and rears were $346.99 each.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Determining the Age of a Tire
This tire was made in the 51st week of 2007...
This link should tell you how to reed your DOT number.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=11
Good luck... GUSTO
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 435
Likes: 3
From: Lake Orion Michigan
I agree. I just installed a new set of GY Run Flats in the fall of last year. I to was expecting a noisy tire based on the comments of other experiences on the forum.I was pleasantly surprised. These tires are extremely quite - no noise at all.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 779
Likes: 67
From: Simi Valley Ca
St. Jude Donor '12
I noticed the same thing on my Michelins that I installed about 6 yrs ago and 40k miles. Took it to a couple of tire shops, including Costco, and was told that Michelins tend to dry out before they wear out. The side walls definitely look older than the tread. Costco said I probably have 6mos to a year left on my tires though. They quoted me $1,407 out the door for a set of 4 Pilot Sport ps2. I'm thinking of going with Hankook.
Last edited by Mr31FlavorsVette; Mar 24, 2016 at 01:47 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
argh. When I select a tire size, The TK web site requests a zip code, then redirects to a local business, who said they have none on hand or in their warehouse(s).
Talked to someone at the TK 800 number, same answer.
double argh.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,030
Likes: 2,587
From: Del Boca Vista FL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
. The one they pulled from out of state must be the mate to the single one the 800 number person told me she found in some warehouse.
Ah well, least i have something else to drive while this hunt continues.
Edit 03-25-16: unconventional sources. Local Ford dealer has them.
Last edited by aj98; Mar 25, 2016 at 10:08 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Here is the scoop..... Fresh rubber, no matter how the tire is constructed is relatively quiet to the point where no one could tell the noise level of either a run flat or a non run flat.
Because the rubber is fresh and not " WORK HARD ".
Because a Run-flat has to support 1/4th of the total weight of the car ( without air ) they are made with a much harder compound, ( More carbon ), that and the internal construction, makes them run much hotter than a conventional tire. This heat is what causes tire compounds in run flats to get hard. The noise level of run flats is a product of the total design ( both in co9mpoounbd and internal structure ).. Heat is a killer for all rubber products, but especially in run flats where heat is a common occurrence of the design, over a regular conventional tire. Just some insight on how these issues are part of the noise factor. Run flats get harder much quicker than conventional tires. But when run flats are new, there is little evidence of this fact because they have not been work hardened.
Because the rubber is fresh and not " WORK HARD ".
Because a Run-flat has to support 1/4th of the total weight of the car ( without air ) they are made with a much harder compound, ( More carbon ), that and the internal construction, makes them run much hotter than a conventional tire. This heat is what causes tire compounds in run flats to get hard. The noise level of run flats is a product of the total design ( both in co9mpoounbd and internal structure ).. Heat is a killer for all rubber products, but especially in run flats where heat is a common occurrence of the design, over a regular conventional tire. Just some insight on how these issues are part of the noise factor. Run flats get harder much quicker than conventional tires. But when run flats are new, there is little evidence of this fact because they have not been work hardened.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
By the time a run flat gets really hard and noisy, people buy non run flats and note how dramatic the noise level difference is. But in reality a fresh set of run flats would be just as quiet. Problem is Run flats get noticeable noisy way before their life actually is over.. where as a conventional tire that is well maintained with prober air pressure, will be almost as quiet as when it was new because the heat factor is much less.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,729
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From: Aiken, SC
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '26
I noticed the same thing on my Michelins that I installed about 6 yrs ago and 40k miles. Took it to a couple of tire shops, including Costco, and was told that Michelins tend to dry out before they wear out. The side walls definitely look older than the tread. Costco said I probably have 6mos to a year left on my tires though. They quoted me $1,407 out the door for a set of 4 Pilot Sport ps2. I'm thinking of going with Hankook.