Ok I decided to go Non RF because i'm already living with a no spare car DD (12 Regal GS). So I figure why not on the Vette. the GS comes with a slime/compressor, and i added tools/flat repair, ect. I will do the same for the vette (not sure on the slime).

I drive ~4000 a year. I want summer tires, but I don't drive agressive all the time or want to spend more than I need. I also need them ASAP because a bubble has appeared on one tire.

So I read lots of threads, and seached the web, and found two that I like & are in Stock.

Firestone Wide Oval Indy 500
Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position

Anyone have expirance with these. I did look at Korean brands, but not interested. The two above rank 2 & 3 with TR.

I did like the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2, but no stock on the rears till Sept.

My installer said to have TPMS sensors on hand as they can break. I', thinking I might as well replace them since they will be 7 years old soon.

Thanks ahead of time
Frank

 

I'm running the Yokohama Advan Sport in 285 for the rears. it is a 180 treadwear rateing, but I was able to get them for $290 ea before the prices started going up on tires.

I already had some front tires in the same treadwear rating, i don't know if those advans come in the 245/40-18 size, but the 285 rears are oem on the Nismo 370Z.

 

Running Continental Extreme Contact DWS front and rear 500 tread wear. Like them so far great grip and smooth ride.

 

I see you have the base C6, so you have plenty of choices in tires. I prefer to stick with RF's on my Z06 but I understand why you want to go with the non RF's. When I had my C5, I went with the Michelin A/S tires(stayed with the RF feature) and loved them.

As for your tire dealer, I would look at using another. If he is worried about breaking the tire pressure sensor's then he doesn't know what he is doing. The wide tires on my Z06 are much more difficult to change vs the tires on your car. My dealer knew what he was doing. He didn't break my sensors or scratch my wheels or damage my rocker panels( I did bring my hockey pucks for him to use). That said, at seven years of age, it would be best to go ahead and install new sensors. The new sensors are installed while the tire is off the rim. If the dealer is incompetent, will he guarantee that he won't break your new sensors while installing the new tires. If he does break a tire sensor, is he going to pay for it? Might want to ask him. If he damages a wheel, does he expect you to also have a new wheel with you?

I checked Tire Rack and Discount Tire Direct and ended up buying my Bridgestones from my local Bridgestone tire dealer as he beat the mail order price by hundreds and I had one company to deal with if I did have any problems with the new tires(I didn't).

Remember, if you buy your tires mail order, you still have to get them installed by a local dealer. I personally feel that a local dealer will take care of you and your car better if he sold you the tires to start out with.

 

I am using the same above tires and they were the lowest in cost of all brands available.
Continental makes another tire that has less tread life but perhaps more sticky tire which is the DW (D)ry (W)et.

The factory Goodyears did feel like they stick better than these tires but I don't corner hard usually on turns.

 

Only 4,000 miles per year.! Why even worry about tires and make such a big deal of it. You could run crap on your car and you would still be happy. Your tires will dry rot before you use them up at that rate. I put maybe 5,000 a year on my DD and went with the Hankooks
and to me they are a great tire for the money, CONSIDERING how few miles I put on my car. AND, it is nearly always summer driving here in San Diego! If you are concerned about costs then you need to consider NOT spending for super premium or even any kind of premium tires.

 

KX,
i see your point, but the two I'm looking at are only $90-$250 per set more than the lowest cost tire for the C6. I agree that the upper end is not for me.

To me it makes sense to replace all 4 at this time even if one is damaged. At 7 years old you're right about the dry rot, even though I don't see evidence of it.

 

I have both the Michelin PS2s and the Michelin Super Sports for track. Both very sticky and of course the SSs are non/rfs. Great tires.

 

I had the Firestone Wide Oval Indy 500s on my C5 1999 coupe MN6. Awesome tires IMO. Nice smooth, quiet ride and overall good dry and wet traction for street drivers. Got the whole set in stock sizes from a local Firestone dealer for $800.00 installed.

Note - I did not purchase the road hazard warranty ($100 extra).

MT

 

Looking at Tire Rack's prices, I see a set of the Michelin A/S run flats($1166) are only $334 more then the cheaper Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 tires($832) and the Michelins are a (Y) tire and the Firesone's are a W rated tire.

 

I dumped my Goodyear run flats last year for the Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500's.No more cabin noise and they give a smoother ride .

 

With A/S tires I doubt the speed rating really matters since A/S tire equipped cars usually don't see the track or even fast speeds. Great tire for a cruise only Vette but they'll get eaten up alive even on the street by a decent handling car with proper tires.

Firestones are good since you are talking about a narrow body Vette. Make sure you get the road hazard warranty though as it says DO NOT REPAIR right on the sidewall. Otherwise one nail/screw will cost you a few hundred $$$.

Both tires are a drop performance wise compared to the stock Goodyears and definitely compared to Nittos or Michelins.

 

I was pointing out that the Michelin A/S tire have a higher speed rating then the Firestones that are not A/S tires, not the other way around.

You are 100% correct that most of us are never going to exceed a W rating of 168 MPH of the Firestone tire, but I have driven my Z06 at 162 MPH. Unfortunately, some Corvette owners could get by with a S rated tire(112 MPH)

 

I just got hancook evo v12 ventus tires for $880 shipped with an $80 rebate after the sale (so $800 total cost). Put them on my o8 z-51 mn6. I love them so far, 2nd gear grabs very hard now under hard shifts. 100x better than my Stock GY runflats that were brand new when I bought the car. BUT- the runflat did its job when I got the dreaded "flat tire". I think the $2/mo i get triple A for is a much better deal than spending 2k on Runflats that only last 10k miles.... just my .02

 

Thanks everyone for you comments.

 

I do that on my other car that came with V-rated tires as I have used H-rated tires before and V-rated tires when replacement time comes...Usually the lower speed rated tire has a longer treadlife. So I went 44,000+ on original V-rated tires and 66,000 on H-rated tires.