Tires
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 496
Likes: 105
From: Las Vegas
Tires
I just bought a 1998 C5. The tires are 245/40-17 on front and 275/40-18 on the rear. Im wanting to take it out of town and do a road trip of about 1000 miles. Because there is no spare, I'm thinking of purchasing a new set of run flats. I've looked at numerous tires....what would you suggest? Do I really need run flats?
Is there a consensus out there about a good, better, best tire?
Thanks for your replys
Is there a consensus out there about a good, better, best tire?
Thanks for your replys
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 329
You could do OK with a portable air pump and flat repair. Many prefer non-run flat due to cost and some claimed improvement in ride. Depends on what type of person you are? If you prefer security and worry free driving and money is not tight, run flats are a good choice. I have Michelin run flats on my spring/fall wheels and non run flats on my summer wheels. If you prefer a softer ride and perhaps more choices in tires, regular tires (air pump and can of fix-a-flat) ought to do.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,398
Likes: 768
From: jefferson texas
I don't care for run flats. Being in Texas I run summer tires year round and I carry a small compressor and two cans of fix a flat just in case. You can look further into the run flat/non run flat issue. There are numerous posts on that subject in this forum.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Run Flats are garbage. Ride hard, noisy, and not worth the cost. AAA is cheap. I went over 2,000 miles last year on a road trip over two weeks without a spare. And if I had one, I'm a phone call away from a tow truck or a tire shop.
They aren't worth neutering the responsiveness of your car, IMO.
One thing to consider is if you plan on driving long distances, try and buy a tire from a chain shop of some kind. That way you shouldn't have trouble finding a replacement. You're going to have a hard time finding a chingchong online tire in the middle of nowhere compared to say a Goodyear, Firestone, Michelin, etc.
They aren't worth neutering the responsiveness of your car, IMO.
One thing to consider is if you plan on driving long distances, try and buy a tire from a chain shop of some kind. That way you shouldn't have trouble finding a replacement. You're going to have a hard time finding a chingchong online tire in the middle of nowhere compared to say a Goodyear, Firestone, Michelin, etc.
Last edited by Stingroo; Nov 17, 2020 at 07:21 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 782
From: Fort Myers Beach Florida
I did away with the run flats and went with Hankook v12's. They certainly have much better traction but I hoped for a greater reduction in road noise. I carry a 12 volt compressor and a plug kit.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 348
Likes: 41
From: Northridge Ca
When I got my C5 I put Michelin Pilot super sports and never looked back. Much better handling and quieter than the run flats. Drove to Austin Texas for the inaugural F1 race, 1300 miles and no problems with the tires. AAA for peace of mind and a credit card handy and let her rip. Enjoy your trip. No worries.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 10,247
Likes: 888
From: Hickory NC
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '17 thru '26
I am on the other side of the fence.
We have 18"/19" wheels and use Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP (run flat) tires. I do not find them to be hard or noisy. They are a very good all-around tire. Are there other tires with more traction? Yes. However, how many drivers really get to even 7/10s of their tire's ability?
Like you were mentioning, we use our C5 for many longer trips (800-1500 miles), and not uncommonly, are driving late into the evening. I would prefer not to be sitting on the side of the road waiting for AAA to come; or with traffic zipping by, leaning over my car pumping a fix-a-flat type glue into the tire and then topping it off with compressed air.
Interestingly, a 2019 Corvette ZR1 comes with run flat tires. Of course, those tires ONLY support 0-60 in about 3 seconds; top speed of 210+ mph and pulling over 1.2 Gs on track!
We have 18"/19" wheels and use Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP (run flat) tires. I do not find them to be hard or noisy. They are a very good all-around tire. Are there other tires with more traction? Yes. However, how many drivers really get to even 7/10s of their tire's ability?
Like you were mentioning, we use our C5 for many longer trips (800-1500 miles), and not uncommonly, are driving late into the evening. I would prefer not to be sitting on the side of the road waiting for AAA to come; or with traffic zipping by, leaning over my car pumping a fix-a-flat type glue into the tire and then topping it off with compressed air.
Interestingly, a 2019 Corvette ZR1 comes with run flat tires. Of course, those tires ONLY support 0-60 in about 3 seconds; top speed of 210+ mph and pulling over 1.2 Gs on track!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,274
Likes: 1,094
From: Pittsburgh PA
The stock tire sizes for the C5 are 245-45-17 & 275-40-18. I also have run flats. 23 years. Unless people have run the last Michelin run flats their experience is out dated. It is the best tire you can put on you car.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 643
Likes: 54
From: Greensboro NC
Veteran
I too vote for the "NO RUN FLATS". I just replaced the GY with General G-Max , noew i can hear the exhaust instead of the road. I also bought a inflator kit to keep in the trunk.
BTY... PM me if you want to purchase the GY.
BTY... PM me if you want to purchase the GY.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,274
Likes: 1,094
From: Pittsburgh PA
The GY run flats are junk. You aren’t doing anyone a favor by selling them Old GY run flats. To compare them with the newest Michelin ZP is out dated technology
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
TireRack will show you where the tire is made if that's something important to you, though.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,535
Likes: 3,274
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
I vote Michelin Pilot Super Sports (non run flat) Get AAA and a compressor. If you order from Tire Rack you get a free road hazard warranty. That's what I'm running on my car. I got a screw in one of them about a week after I got them. I was able to use the air compressor to still be able to drive the car. Tire Rack replaced the damaged tire with no issues at all.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Yeah TireRack's road hazard is great. One of the car lines I work for also uses TireRack for tires, so we handle their warranty claims as well. Very easy process and tires are usually here next day. I can undersell TireRack by a few bucks usually, too. Always surprises people when the BIG BAD STEALERSHIP is cheaper than TR. 
Last edited by Stingroo; Nov 18, 2020 at 10:29 AM.
