Everyone has a different take on what they will take chances with and that is the way it should be without it being right or wrong !!

I have this story to tell, had a friend, we went out West skiing for five straight years, one year we would take my 59 Vette and the next his 70 Coupe. His Coupe didn't have enough room so we took the spare out and used the space for our ski boots. (spare had a compartment under the Vette) So we went from GR Mi. to Colorado then to Daytona beach then home to GR Mi. no flats !!! Being in our early twenties had little sense or worries !!

 

You took a vette in the snow
(not to mention vintage)

You're a wild man

 

At one point going into the mountains they had a road block and said I had to use chains, I said it would be a cold day in hell before I would put chains on my Vette. Told them it had posi-tract with a four speed and I was from Michigan and they let me through !!!

 

you have no idea !!!!!!

 

it wasn't vintage then !!!

 

I generally don't stray that far from home with the Vette anymore but I still do on occasion. In that situation just flat bed it to someone who can install a new tire.

I found the run flats to be really bad tires. If in a corner the rear end would jump sideways every time I hit a heave in the road, which there are a lot of in New England. The tires I have on now are so much better in ride and handling and it was apparent in the first 100 feet I drove the car after installation. I carry the kit for pluggin and the phone for a disaster situation. Not much else you can do.

Understand it is a legimate concern and one anyone who makes the switch needs to be aware of, but I decided I just couldn't handle the run flats anymore (at least the stock version). Not sure if they have been improved much since then, if they have I would love to get some input.

 

I find myself in that position, now, too, and it's a little frustrating. Before I retired, I lived 24-25 miles from work, and I drove the 'Vette there, regularly. If I had a flat tire either to or fro, I could still make the round trip safely, and deal with a bad tire in the comfort of my own garage.

Since I now have more time for "cruising", I find it kind of frustrating that I'm reluctant to take the 'Vette on a ride of any consequence. At least the OE GoodYears, as questionable as they may be, were supposed to be good for 100 miles of zero inflation driving, which SHOULD be able to get you to a place with help. The Michelins, which I currently have, are rated for only 50 miles.....

 

Hopefully some here may recall that when Chevrolet first introduced the Corvette with Goodyear "run-flat" tires on it, they performed a "stunt" with it called A Lap Of America. It was reported on in a number of publications including I believe, the NCCC's Blue Bars magazine.

They drove a course around the U.S. of something like 3500 (?) miles in a new C5 Corvette with no air in one of the front tires to convince us that the technology was sound. Try as I might doing an Internet search, I can find no reference to it today. Many of the manufacturers of run-flat/zero pressure tires are now claiming that they can be used for no more than 50 miles.

I'm guessing they know us too well and for legal reasons have decided the disclaimer is the only way to avoid our love of legal-lottery-litigation.

GUSTO

 

I went to tire rack, and investigated all the summer tires. I live in Arizona, and it is below 43 degrees for about a week the first week in January.

So in my research, I came across the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500, and read the reviews.
They said for a road tire that never sees 32 degrees and lower, Firestone nailed it.

So I bought two for the front.

A little firmer than I expected, but as it has begun to warm up in Arizona, the tires have softened a little, and yup, they seem to be a real road tire.
With a flat tread with no siping, they grip going around corners pretty well.
When I got the car, it had Dunlop tires on the front, and runflats on the rear.
The tires were all new.
The Dunlops lasted about 22,ooo miles, and the runflats lasted about 25,ooo miles.
I replaced all four with Kumho tires, and they were so so. I have 80,000 miles on it, and the firestones seem to liven up the drive home after work.

They were not expensive, and we will see how they last.
in AZ, you never buy UTQ rated tires above about 340, because with the extreme summer heat, the tires just get hard, and in the rain, there is no traction whatsoever.
These fit the need, and are not directional. You just get the tire guys to install them with the words outside facing the side of the car, and good to go.
They don't seem to flatspot like the Kumhos do, so that's a plus.

 

I jest recently got a 98 c5 that needed tires, i just put some cheap sumitomos on it for now, it cost me 520/ set of 4. the place i ordered them from is a mustang/f150 speciallty place.

 

My ExtremeContact DW rears and DWS06 fronts cost me about 600.

 

Where did you get them from? I got tired of looking and just went with the summer version of what I run on my cobra

 

DW's were on clearance at TireRack for about $140 a tire for the 285/40/18 size. DWS06 were about 160 a tire from TiresDirect for 255/45/17.

 

Gratz on the vette. I bought my C5Z with 13k miles in December. It too still had the original tires on it mfged back in 02'. I have been looking to buy new tires as well and there are a few choices but it all comes down to what you want to spend. my plan so far is going with the nittos NT01 rear: 305/35ZR18 101W and front: 275/40ZR17 98W which should fit on the factory rims. I don't know too much about tires though.

 

I just went with the stock size, so I couldn't tell you what will and won't fit on the stock rims. And I have wanted a vette since I was 5-6 years old.

 

I just went with the stock size, so I couldn't tell you what will and won't fit on the stock rims. And I have wanted a vette since I was 5-6 years old.

 

Interesting. After 40 years and 3 flat tires, I'd think you would be against carrying around unnecessary equipment.

How many transmission failures have you had in 40 years? Do you carry around transmissions? How many fuel pump failures have you had. Do you carry around spare fuel pumps?

At what point are you driving around with a spare car on a flat bed to prevent any downtime?

 

LOL! My flatbed is the AAA Platinum plan for ~ $180 per year; their great response time (most places) and semi-unlimited free towing make it worthwhile. Covers my trouble-prone hotrods too, as well as trailers.

In addition, you will love the non-runflats for much better ride, noise, and handling. Not to mention a 30% - 50% savings. Conti DWS-06 is my preference for both cars.

Use part of the savings for the AAA plan.

 

I think you going a little overboard, here. Flat tires are far more common than transmission or fuel pump failures, and frequently, they give you some warning. Flat tires happen pretty much immediately.

 

Did someone say spare tires?