Feedback on Firestone Firehawks
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 589
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Feedback on Firestone Firehawks
I am researching new tires for my 02 convertible. I would like to hear from forum members that have Firestone Firehawk SZ50 RFT tires. I am interested in wear,handling, noise etc. What pressure are you running them at? I have heard reports of these tires playing havoc with the sensors because they have a max pressure rating of 44psi.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,488
Likes: 713
From: Sausalito CA
Firestone Runflats are a great tire.
Way better than OEM goodyears.
Visually, they look a little skinnie'er when compared to GY.
I drive with fun and got 17K miles.
At 30 psi my rears wore the center and my fronts wore both edges.
So I ran 33 ft and 25 rear to balance the tire wear...and it worked.
I now have the Yoko runflats, but would not hesitate to run firestone again.
Way better than OEM goodyears.
Visually, they look a little skinnie'er when compared to GY.
I drive with fun and got 17K miles.
At 30 psi my rears wore the center and my fronts wore both edges.
So I ran 33 ft and 25 rear to balance the tire wear...and it worked.
I now have the Yoko runflats, but would not hesitate to run firestone again.
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 531
Likes: 46
From: Tucson, AZ
I run the Firehawks, and they are amazing...I drag race at the strip and autocross, and they are much much better than I could possibly imagine for a run flat...The difference was night and day compared to the stock GYs
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 50
From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'09-'10
I like 'em. No problem with sensors if you run them at 30-32 in front and 26-28 rear cold, plus they'll ride alot better. The other nice thing is they have a lip that protects rims from curb rash. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 81
From: Bel Air MD
I read where Firestone does not recommend that the tires be repaired if you get any type of flat. I think there is an article on www.corvetteactioncenter.com that does an extensive comparison on the different run flat tires. I have the Michelin run flats and I am very pleased with them.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,208
Likes: 2
From: Rochester MN
CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
NCM Ambassador
Originally Posted by skyman51
I have heard reports of these tires playing havoc with the sensors because they have a max pressure rating of 44psi.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,083
Likes: 710
From: Sunnyvale CA
Originally Posted by rwlc5
I read where Firestone does not recommend that the tires be repaired if you get any type of flat. I think there is an article on www.corvetteactioncenter.com that does an extensive comparison on the different run flat tires. I have the Michelin run flats and I am very pleased with them.
Besides what others have said, they are much quieter than the Goodyears.
However, I do not like the looks as well as the Goodyears. From the side they have a more 'rounded' look than the Goodyears.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 315
Likes: 1
From: Bakersfield California
I have them on my '97. They were on when I bought the car. I don't have any complaints about them. My sensors work fine. When they wear out I will not be replacing them with new Firehawks. Not because of performance but rather because I am going to switch to non-runflat tires. Very few people will even touch a run flat tire. I am trying to get mine swiched over to new wheels and am having a hard time finding a shop willing to do the job. I am going to switch to tires that anybody can fix!
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: St Louis MO
They were on my car when I bought it. The car handled great in the rain - city and highway. With the manual and 4.10s I never had a problem getting the car moving on hills even in rain. If I need runflats again I will consider them, if not I will consider the non-runflat version. As far as life expectancy I only have about 6K miles on them so I don't know, but they have been great so far.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 67
From: Ocean Springs MS
Originally Posted by ptdrummer54
Why would you run any tire at the max pressure? Each application (vehicle) lists the pressure recommendation for tires - I have never seen one that is close to the max pressure rating of a tire.
The max pressure is the highest pressure you can run without risking the tire coming off the rim. Who would want that? Heck, I think the max on the oem runflats is 45psi, and what do you know, Chevy says run them at 30psi.
Firestone runflats
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,576
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
I've got 25k on my fronts, and they have worn much better than the GYs. The shoulders of the GYs wore thru to the cord with the same amount of mileage, and I probably have another 10k left on the Firestones.
The rears have 20k, and they need to come off. They have worn evenly across the face, and still have tread, but are just as slippery as the GYs when they were that worn - meaning, that on asphalt I can break the rears loose into 4th gear. They are to the point where I am VERY careful when getting on the throttle. Rain, no way, too slick to feel safe.
Short of the long, they exhibit the same hard-rubber slickness as the GYs when they are worn to 20% remaining tire life.
Will be graduating to non-runflats my next set, too likely to end up in a ditch with the current setup.
F
The rears have 20k, and they need to come off. They have worn evenly across the face, and still have tread, but are just as slippery as the GYs when they were that worn - meaning, that on asphalt I can break the rears loose into 4th gear. They are to the point where I am VERY careful when getting on the throttle. Rain, no way, too slick to feel safe.
Short of the long, they exhibit the same hard-rubber slickness as the GYs when they are worn to 20% remaining tire life.
Will be graduating to non-runflats my next set, too likely to end up in a ditch with the current setup.
F
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,037
Likes: 9,801
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Had them on my 97 and they were really great. If I could get them in Z06 sizes I would put them on my Z since they performed almost the same in the dry as the F1s and much better in the rain.
Bill
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 34,472
Likes: 69
St. Jude Donor '21
I had the Firestones for a long time and they are an excellent tire. When they began to wear and I don't recall the mileage, I switched to Goodyear GSD3's because I heard so many good things about this tire. In closing, the Firestones are excellent tires though.
Last edited by xjcharity; Jan 22, 2005 at 11:54 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,604
Likes: 395
From: Austin, TX
Originally Posted by rwlc5
I read where Firestone does not recommend that the tires be repaired if you get any type of flat. I think there is an article on www.corvetteactioncenter.com that does an extensive comparison on the different run flat tires. I have the Michelin run flats and I am very pleased with them.
Tell me about it....got a puncture in my sidewall last week and had to replace two of my Firestones.
That being said, they are a great tire!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,349
Likes: 38
From: Dix Hills, NY
I just received new rims and tires (18/19) and will be selling my firestone runflats. They have about 6000 miles on them. Let me know if you are interested. I can measure the tread for ya. 
