jrd1990zr1

Relatively new to 2003 C-5 ownership. Have a C-3 and C-4 so I have never had to deal with run flat tire before this. Original (14 year old) tires are very hard and you feel every defect in the road.

1. Are new run flats always this hard, or just 14 year old ones?

2. Is it a good option to replace them with non run flats and take the chance since there is no spare, jack or tools?

3. Is there a third option?

Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

bobs77vet

lots of choices...

new run flats are better then the old ones,

non run flats are quite comfortable to drive,

GTO compact spares are available if you decide to go the non run flat route and want some protection, and jacks fit in the rear center storage compartment

some people carry plug in inflators and tire repair kits..

the decision is yours.....good luck bob

Vetteman Jack

New runflats will ride much better than old ones, but if you want a very good ride with better handling, go with runflats. Plenty of choices out there. I run a set of Hankook Ventus V12s on my car and am very pleased with them.

Jeff T.

Search tires... More posts on tires than just about anything else.

mfi

I replaced my runflat Eagles with Goodrich comps...waaaay better ride. Bought a very good air compressor and tire fix kit.

typeav

Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Tsumi

The original Goodyear ones were rated to running 300 miles with no pressure, while the newer ones are rated to 50 miles on the low end. This allows for much greater sidewall flexibility, which translates to better ride and handling. However, the ride and handling of a runflat will never match that of a non-runflat of the same level (a high end runflat can sometimes match a low end non-runflat).

The real questions for considering runflat over non-runflat are these:
How far do you typically travel in your Corvette?
Do you track or plan to track your Corvette?
How comfortable are you in plugging a hole in your tire on the side of the highway?
In an absolute worst case scenario, how comfortable are you waiting 2 or so hours for a flatbed tow truck?

03WhiteConv

This is what I did:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-runflats.html

Been very happy with them but there is risk to using non-run flats. I think paying close attention to the TPMS and inspecting tires when you lose a little pressure will keep you out of trouble most of the time. Depends on how much you drive and the likelihood of putting nails/screws in the tire. I am always working on my house and have only picked up one screw in almost 5 years.

jrd1990zr1

Thankou everyone

knewblewkorvette

If you only drive in warm weather, this is one great tire.

Dave1998

I just replaced my old runflats with the Hankook Ventus and what a great improvement !

No more noise and such a super ride to them

grasshopper645

for what its worth, my C5 is an export model. The export model C5's don't come with runflats or TPMS from the factory (amongst other things)

I just carry that tyreweld trash & a cigarette lighter pump in the boot and hope for the best.

Route99

I'm obviously the outsider here having just put Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP on our '99.
They ride better and are quieter than the 9 year old non-run flats that were on before. Plus, we like to make trips throughout the year and want a tire that is all weather capable (more for lower temps than snow).
Somewhat following Tsumi's questionnaire; many of our trips are a few hundred miles and some even more. We just returned from about a 1200 mile round trip to Memphis for the St. Jude check presentation and we got home at 1am. I would prefer not to be trying to plug and air up a tire on the side of the Interstate at that time of the night, (or any time for that matter). No plans on tracking our car, and if I did, I would use different wheels/tires anyhow.
A suggestion: If you have any Corvette gatherings - Cars and Coffee or the such, attend and talk to different Vette owners about their tire selection and their rationale. Many will even give you a ride allowing you to compare the feel and highway noise of different tire configurations.
I respect the thoughts in Tsumi's questionnaire as a good decision making starting point. I also like Bob's suggestion about the GTO spare if you decide on the non-run flats. I will also suggest that run flats have come a long ways in ride, road noise and tire responsiveness in the last 20 years.
Best wishes.

grasshopper645

I've got pilot super sports on the rear, pilot sport 3's on the front. Damn fine tyres if I may say so.

not sure of the difference between the 3's and the super sports.

jrprich

If you have 14 year old tires and are still driving on them you are putting yourself and others at risk. ANY new replacement tire will be better than 14 year old tires.

Just get a membership with AAA or National General Motor Club, or other services that provide towing and repair on demand.

STALION

Cooper Zeon RS-3...best bang for the buck hands down!

Mike98SilVert

I currently have BF Goodrich g-Force Sport Comp-2's (non run flat tires). They are made by Michelin and have very good dry and wet traction. I also recommend Nitto 555 Extreme and Kumho Ecsta from previous experience. I carry a small portable air compressor and tire plug kit with tools in all of my cars.
Check the tire websites for current tire manuafacturer discounts/rebates.

jrprich

I have been running the BFG G-FORCE COMP-2 A/S Ultra High Performance All-Season tires for over two years and really like their grip and ride. I went with the AS version as Oregon sees a wide range of weather........often in the same day.

Roddy13

I have nitto invos... Basically the most bottom rung tire of 2017 is going to be a night and day difference over your 14 year old tires.

steig

I also put the BF Goodrich g-force Sport Comps on. Made a huge difference over the original Run Flats.

I also carry the portable compressor and plug kit.