Replacement tires
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 163
From: Anaheim Hills CA
Replacement tires
I need to know what many of you guys have done regarding the replacement of the OEM tires with your C 6 Vettes. I see that because they are run flats we are pretty much limited to Gooeyear and the $400+ price per tire plus labor. That is about $1,800 for tire replacement. I did some checking at Tire Rack and see that there are other options available. Those are in the $200 per tire range BUT none of them are "run flats".My question is whether it is worth the risk of getting a flat without a spare on board... At that point you are doomed to a towing bill and being hauled to a tire store where you may pay the higher price that a internet tire company like Tire Rack.
What to do??
What to do??
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 41,331
Likes: 615
From: FL
CI-7-8-9-10 Veteran
Cruise-In IX AutoX Winner
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '11,'19,'22,'25
St. Jude/CI Name Tag Designer
The Firestone runflats for the C6 are great.
The Bridgestone runflats for the C6 Z06 are outstanding.
The Bridgestone runflats for the C6 Z06 are outstanding.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,610
Likes: 12
I chose to get away from the runflat ideology altogether. Michelin PS2s were not in production yet for the size I wanted, so I went with:
Toyo Proxes T1r high performance tires.
275/30-19 front
305/30-20 rear
Toyo Proxes T1r high performance tires.
275/30-19 front
305/30-20 rear
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,762
Likes: 2
I now have Goodyear GS-D3 run-flats on my C6, but that was only because the GS-2's were on backorder for months.
They will cost you a little more than $1800 but they're great tires and have excellent wet traction. I wouldn't put a non run-flat on my car.
They will cost you a little more than $1800 but they're great tires and have excellent wet traction. I wouldn't put a non run-flat on my car.
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
CF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,252
Likes: 2,892
From: Charlotte N.C.
GSD3 RUN FLATS????
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Yes, Goodyear GS-D3 runflats. Check out the tirerack website for stock sizes that fit our cars.
As to OP's quesiton, I frankly don't care what a tire looks like on the outside or even the inside (as long as it doesn't have holes or a lotta patches
). What I do care about is how a tire performs.
Some may say GM bought these as lowest-cost bid, or some such. I doubt it. Some will say there are better tires out there. Maybe so. And some will say it's fine to go with a non-runflat tire. That's ok for you, IF it's ok for you.
My story is: I was coming back through the desert of Arizona about 3 weeks ago on a weekday at about 11 am. There on the side of the road was the beginning of a tire change: a new Audi A6, fully-loaded trunk being unloaded. Temperatiure outside? 103.
Not for me. I want to be/go somewhere where I can get it fixed, and yes, I do know about the Conti kit, and the fix-a-flat equivalents. No thanks to that, too.
Technology marches on, and altho I don't always go in lockstep, on this issue, I do.
As to OP's quesiton, I frankly don't care what a tire looks like on the outside or even the inside (as long as it doesn't have holes or a lotta patches
). What I do care about is how a tire performs.Some may say GM bought these as lowest-cost bid, or some such. I doubt it. Some will say there are better tires out there. Maybe so. And some will say it's fine to go with a non-runflat tire. That's ok for you, IF it's ok for you.
My story is: I was coming back through the desert of Arizona about 3 weeks ago on a weekday at about 11 am. There on the side of the road was the beginning of a tire change: a new Audi A6, fully-loaded trunk being unloaded. Temperatiure outside? 103.
Not for me. I want to be/go somewhere where I can get it fixed, and yes, I do know about the Conti kit, and the fix-a-flat equivalents. No thanks to that, too.
Technology marches on, and altho I don't always go in lockstep, on this issue, I do.
Last edited by AORoads; Jul 26, 2008 at 08:00 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Henderson Nevada
Tire replacement
Lets see, you are out in the middle of bum **** eygpt and you get a flat, I also forgot to say it is either 30 below or 110 deg's hot. some have bought a plug kit and a pump, now are you going to lay on the ground and try and make a repair. I dont think so, and if when your car came to rest the bead seperated from the rim , you are screwed any ways, unless you are carring a bottle jack. As for tire noise, I could not tell the differance between my RF and non RF tires, performance wise, as for tire noise, the differance to me is like comparing my mud tires vs street tires on my 4x4, now thats noise. I guess the question you have to ask your self is, are you willing to lay on a road some were ( who knows what time of day) and try and fix your flat, or be able to drive in slowly until you can get it repaired.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City OK
Michelin JUST announced they will be making tires for C6 Vettes. From what I saw, they look like the same ones that come on the ZR-1. I, for one, had made up my mind to go with the Firestone runflats because there are too many people on here that have them and like them and they continually get recommended by members. But, dagnabbit, Michelin has thrown me a curve ball. I do think they will be considerably more expensive than the Firestones but will definitely be a consideration. 
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
I just received a reply from Michelin customer service regarding their new Michelin PS2 ZP tire for the Corvette. They will be available for the C6 in October. I also asked about pricing, but they avoided answering this question. I'm certain they will be more than Firestones, but as long as they're not more than the Goodyear EMT's, I'm willing to wait another couple of months to get them. The reviews on them look great.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,762
Likes: 2
Yes, just make sure you're sitting down when you look at the price. 
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e1=yes&place=0
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e1=yes&place=0
Nice tires by the way, I've had them almost a month.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e1=yes&place=0
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e1=yes&place=0
Nice tires by the way, I've had them almost a month.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Boca Raton FL
I just replaced mine about 3 weeks ago.
I went with the Kumho Ecsta SPT XRP(runflat) on the front and the Firehawk Wide Oval runflats on the rear all stock sizes. Including a 4 wheel balance the total was $1250.
I went with the Kumho Ecsta SPT XRP(runflat) on the front and the Firehawk Wide Oval runflats on the rear all stock sizes. Including a 4 wheel balance the total was $1250.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,433
Likes: 3,622
From: Commerce Texas
I too went with the Kumho runflats on the front, but went with Good Years on the rear. I've got about 1000 miles on the new combination. Seem just fine. Am a big fan of Kumho tires anyway, ran them on my last C4 with great results.
Last edited by 4thC4at60; Jul 28, 2008 at 04:24 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Clarksville Maryland
Just put the non runflat Kumhos on, and couldn't be happier. The ride is much quieter and smoother. Also go the Conti kit and plugger kit as well.
I guess its all about how you approach life. You can enjoy the pure sensual thrill of it, or you can go about worrying about what might happen.
I guess its all about how you approach life. You can enjoy the pure sensual thrill of it, or you can go about worrying about what might happen.