Which Tires for C5 ?
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,390
Likes: 24,790
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 '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I’m running Michelin A/S 3+ ZP tires on my C7 and really like them. On my C5s, I ran the Hankook Ventus V12 EVOs and they performed very well, plus they were very reasonably priced.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 81
From: Bel Air MD
I had the Michelin run flats for about 20 years. I just switched to non run flats about a month ago. It was the best thing I ever did. I was going to go with the Continentals but i got a better deal on General tires. So far I love them. The ride does cannot compare to the old runflats.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 106
From: The Natures Coast/Caribbean
Non run flats since first replacement and tire repair kit, fix em right on the car. Only repaired one or two times since 2006. I have great experience with Kumhos on C-6 wheels.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg GA
Well, I bought a C5 new twenty years ago and have ORIGINAL Goodyear Run flats still on it ! Just got back from a river run today and decided it was time for new tires ! Almost 15000 on my car ! I don't drive it in winter, don't race, only leisure driving ! I really didn't notice much road/tire noise from the run flats but my hearing is not great ! I have read that run flats are much improved from twenty years ago. So lay it on me ! Your preference for tires ? 
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 67
Likes: 24
From: Long Island NY
I just replaced my tires, they had 2010, and 2008 date codes. They looked fine, with a lot of tread, But were very dry, no stick anymore. When I was driving over 80, I could feel the car swaying back and forth. Now, with the new tires, feels like a new car. These tires you have are not safe. Replace them! If you sell the car, anyone with knowledge will see the old tires and try and bring the price down. Dont get run flats, just pickup a can of fix a flat. I just got the continental extreme contact sport, installed for under $1200. Worth it.
Instructor
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 244
Likes: 131
From: Beautiful Texas Hill Country
I have Michelin Pilot Sport AS/3+ run flats on my '04 vert, expensive yes....no problems whatsoever for the past 3 years. Not a harsh ride, and a huge improvement over the run-flats I have previously had on other cars...hard to tell difference between these run flats and non run flats riding in another friends vette. Still cannot figure out the complaints of run flats unless they were older generation run flat tires. When these wear out, I will certainly buy Michelin run flats again. Takes the worry out of flats for more important worries...like inflation, gas prices, etc.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 230
From: right here
Almost 70 here and I can count on one hand with fingers left over the number of flat tires I've had in my driving career...none of which occurred while actually driving by the way. Run-flat tires are just a hard sell for myself.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 472
From: Newark Delaware
I have Michelin Pilot Sport AS/3+ run flats on my '04 vert, expensive yes....no problems whatsoever for the past 3 years. Not a harsh ride, and a huge improvement over the run-flats I have previously had on other cars...hard to tell difference between these run flats and non run flats riding in another friends vette. Still cannot figure out the complaints of run flats unless they were older generation run flat tires. When these wear out, I will certainly buy Michelin run flats again. Takes the worry out of flats for more important worries...like inflation, gas prices, etc.
I am firmly in the "Just say no" to run-flats camp.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 1,144
From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
Well, I will be passing my 03 50th anniversary corvette to my daughter soon and safety wise I think I will stay with run flats ! At this point I am most interested in Bridgestone Drive Guard tires which I think would be a good choice for run flats ! Thanks for your opinions ! As they say, " anyone asking you for your opinion, is actually looking for an accomplice" Continental Extreme Contact look enticing but a run flat is what I think I want for my daughter !
Continental Extreme Contact look enticing but a run flat is what I think I want for my daughter !I'm no supporter of run-flats...but... if safety is of any concern....any new tire is better than what you've got on there now.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 1,406
From: Central Ohio
Wow, replace! Those are unsafe! I had the originals on mine when I bought it at 13 years old and 19k. Rode like a log wagon. Put the Hankooks on and rode like a caddy by comparison. Plus the old run flats had a tendency to jerk on me. Hankooks are 9 yrs strong now and should be replaced soon too due to age only.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 472
From: Newark Delaware
Even for people who are knowledgeable about cars, it can be hard to accept that tires may be "worn out" due to age even though the tread is not worn down to the wear strips. My father has a 2009? (whatever was the final year of production) Saturn Sky Redline (with the 260hp turbo engine). It is a beast to drive, just wicked fast, but it is on the original tires which still have good tread on them but tare 13+ years old. He does not believe me when I tell him he should replace them. Now, fortunately, he does not drive it aggressively (he's 86) but, still, they are not safe no matter the driving style.
On my two fun cars - '99 C5 and 2011 BMW 128i - I have two wheel/tire sets - all seasons for fall-spring and summer tires for spring-fall. I have accepted that I will never wear out the tread on the all-seasons before they age out. I may wear down the summers within the consensus 6-8 years before tires are too old or maybe not.
On my two fun cars - '99 C5 and 2011 BMW 128i - I have two wheel/tire sets - all seasons for fall-spring and summer tires for spring-fall. I have accepted that I will never wear out the tread on the all-seasons before they age out. I may wear down the summers within the consensus 6-8 years before tires are too old or maybe not.