From the posts it looks like most people prefer standard rather than run flat tires. What do you do about flat tires and no spare? An aerosol can is fine for slow leaks, but how about cuts, etc.? You just chance it?

 

Well - you have a couple of options.....

1. Cell phone and a AAA card - problem is sporadic cell phone coverage especially away from metro areas and waiting by the side of the road for up to several hours for your friendly and gentle tow truck driver.

2. Purchase the kit that comes standard on a Z06 - about $450. consists of small compressor with cigarette lighter plug, plug kit, etc.

3. Make your own kit. I bought a small Campbell-Hausfield compressor at Wally World for $10, bought a flat repair kit from Griot's Garage with a pliers, plugs and insertion tool with a bag on a closeout deal for $20. I added a flashlight, a pair of MechanixWear gloves, an old shower curtain/drop cloth to lay on or kneel on and a good quality digital air pressure gauge. My total outlay was well under $100. I still keep my cell phone handy for just in case....

I would not recommend using the fix-a-flat goop in a can. It will make a mess of the tire pressure sensor and the inside of the tire.

None of these solutions should be considered permanent fixes. Once you've repaired your flat, you'll need to seek professional "hot patch" repairs. Of course none of these solutions, except for the first one will address a blow out or a large puncture either to the tread of the sidewall. In those cases - a tow truck and a replacement tire is the course of action required.

 

It's your call. As for me, my car is a daily driver. I live inside the beltway in Houston. I'm in the construction business. I would not even remotely consider regular tires. Peace of mind is reason enough to stick with run flats. I have Yokohame AVS sport run flats now and love them. They are expensive however. Got good deal from Tire Rack and had a reliable tire shop here in town do the change out. $50.00 mount and balance.
EEL

 

Put truck tires on your Corvette before
runflats. They suck!
You will not know handling at all until
you change those run fats.
They are a terrible choice on any car.
And expensive as well. They SUCK.
That means they are HORRIBLE.
Did I say runflats are HUGELY TERRIBLE!

 

Where can you get this kit?

 

Never mind ... I found it on LAPD's site:

http://www.thelapd.com/Merchant2/mer...e_Code=thelapd

 

Save yourself a ton of money. Go to Wal_Mart and get a 12 volt compressor, a collapsable lug wrench, and a tire patch kit with a tee handle.

You can also get a great little jack that takes up very little room for $50.00


http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=867116

 

The New Z06 will be run flat... because dispite what you read here... the vast majority of Corvette owners are not here.. of the 240,000 C5 owners out there we have only about 1100 active members here...
Consumer surveys have shown that Z06 owners hands down do Not want to try to plug their tires... Goodyear has answered this call by changing the side wall and offer two different compounds. the run flat capability will go from 200 miles at 50 mph, to 100 miles at 50 mph... with this concession they were able to make a quiet tire that builds less heat... keeps the rubber softer and adds much more performance both wet and dry... This new EMT will handle and be as quiet as an F1 super tire, but it will be EMT... offered in both 18 and 19 sizes with wider widths for the Z06

 

Sorry but I have absolutely no faith in Goodyear being able to pull something like this off. My guess there will be 10 other tires out there that will improve all aspects of the C6 experience in short order.

 

Hey Evil, thanks for the info. I don't have any issues with these run flats, and when the time comes to change them because of wear, it's good to know there will be an improved version. Sounds like a great compromise, getting the EMT advantage with better, quieter performance. You the Man!

 

[B]I agree that the new runflats are worth a look. I have a post in the ZO6 area about this. I have driven in many areas where it would be very difficult to fix/plug a tire. I really am interested in the new tires

 

Anyone know if the new Goodyear runflats are available yet ?

 

NO they are not available yet.. remember they are in 18 and 19 sizes so they wont fit your stock C5 wheels...

 

you will also have a choice of tire compounds... a touring compound and a performance compound... the new Z06 ( different size than the couple and vert ) tire will only come in the performance compound... a little softer... less milage...
but the coupe and vert size tire will come in two compounds... although the buyer of a new C6 doesnt have a choice... atleast not right now.. but the Mag ride suspension only will get the performance compound....

 

When you think about it, having your driving interrupted by a flat tire is a relic from the early days of motoring. I don't know how good the technology will be with the new EMT's, but I am sure that some time in the future - 2005, or 2015, or whenever - technology will give us a street runflat that will perform on a par with a non-runflat. Just hope I live that long.

 

I know alot of folks here hate runflats, especially the GY variety. I wouldn't be w/o them. Story might be different if I was racing every weekend. I'm a firm believer that if you put earplugs in our ears most of us wouldn't be able to tell a runflat from a regular in daily driving. I drive mine as hard as anyone and sometimes at illegal speeds (witnessed by my plate). I got the Michelin Pilot Sports ZP's and love them. Much quieter than the GY's and I believe short of prolonged track useage will stay with any non runflat. I wouldn't be caught w/o runflats here in AZ. In town or out of town I don't want to wait for a tow truck n 110 degree heat.
Just my .02

 

AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK........................


TTT

 

less than one-half of 1 % of C5 ownership even knows or cares about this Forumn. Most of the people I know that own C5s are not on the Forumn (I told them about it) . ..there is an evolution to run-flat tires in the automotive industry. Within this decades all new cars will be delivered with run flat tires. A considerable amount of the noise level comes from the lack of insulation between the C5 and the outside world.

 

BMW recently made this transition on their Z4 roadster. Unfortunately, the tire mag testers were sorely disappointed with the jittery steering and harsh ride - a rarity among BMWs. They attributed the horrible handling to the latest Bridgestone runflat tires.

Runflats are heavier and have stiffer sidewalls. Combine these traits with stiff antisway bars and firmer shocks and you end up with a dangerous ride around "less-than-perfect" curves. White-knuckle driving took on new meaning when the Z51 C5s came with runflats. The added bonus of non-runflats is that they are 6-7 lbs ligher (per tire) - a significant difference in unsprung weight. I never cease to be amazed at how much better riding my Goodyear GS D3s are compared to runflats and for most of us, the chance of getting a flat is very minimal. Why suffer for such a small probability - enjoy the C5 handling to its fullest!

 

I have Z51 suspension, I got 43,000 worry free miles out of my firast set of EMT's. I never had any handling issues in five years of use... they were noisy so I insulated the car...I have zero noise below 45 mph, and I reduced the noise by 50% above 45 mph even on concrete roads... IM on my second set of EMT's without issue... Ive never had to white knuckle any curve, the handling characteristic of the C5 a delivered makes it an awesome car... people who drive public roads are not doing 110 in the corners...