When Do You Replace The Tires?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 237
From: Murphy NC
I find myself replacing tires when I hit a puddle and the car hydroplanes, I start shopping.
It is usually around the 30K miles mark.
I am on my third set of Michelin's.
Not really true about the fronts wearing out faster.
My fronts could go another 30K, the rears are what my car wears out.
My driving is about 90% highway at 70mph+. Never tracked, never raced, sometimes I will take off from a light.
It is usually around the 30K miles mark.
I am on my third set of Michelin's.
Not really true about the fronts wearing out faster.
My fronts could go another 30K, the rears are what my car wears out.
My driving is about 90% highway at 70mph+. Never tracked, never raced, sometimes I will take off from a light.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 977
Likes: 28
From: Lynchburg VA
I'm at 9,5XX miles on my 2013 Grand Sport. The rear tires are close to the wear bars @ approximately 4/32 and the fronts have even wear across the tire with approximately 6/32 remaining. Isn't this supposed to be the exact opposite?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 419
Likes: 39
From: Helena Alabama
My 2012 Grand sport was the same as yours at 7500 miles. Replaced the OEM with Michelin Super Sport non run flats. Rides like it should now.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 977
Likes: 28
From: Lynchburg VA
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 498
Likes: 8
From: The Woodlands TX
I was thinking in terms of how many miles one gets if one does not race the car, although I did not actually say "miles" in the question. That seemed fairly obvious to me, although a few really insightful folks just said to change them when they wear out. Well, duh. Anyone that can afford a Corvette can figure that out. The posts that specified miles driven (without racing, or burnouts) were useful. Thanks.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 4,138
Likes: 171
From: Missouri
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
As soon as I bought the car. 
those run flats are crap.
As far as an actual mileage? Impossible to judge based on that metric. Driving styles, roads, temperatures, alignment specs, etc. People here have reported anywhere from 8000 to 24000+ on the factory Goodyears.
those run flats are crap.As far as an actual mileage? Impossible to judge based on that metric. Driving styles, roads, temperatures, alignment specs, etc. People here have reported anywhere from 8000 to 24000+ on the factory Goodyears.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,106
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I was thinking in terms of how many miles one gets if one does not race the car, although I did not actually say "miles" in the question. That seemed fairly obvious to me, although a few really insightful folks just said to change them when they wear out. Well, duh. Anyone that can afford a Corvette can figure that out. The posts that specified miles driven (without racing, or burnouts) were useful. Thanks.
OEM tires on Z51 optioned cars driven mostly in town are dead in the 10K to 15K range, while OEM tires on base and F55 optioned cars easily top 30K on the highway. Even though the tire size is identical, the compounds are different and wear at significantly different rates.
I got 34K on my OEM GY's (F55 car) and had 4/32 remaining when I changed to Invos. It was mostly highway driving, but I had nearly 100 passes at the drag strip too.
You'd be hard pressed to find someone who managed to get 20K with the OEM tires supplied on a Z51 optioned car.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 498
Likes: 8
From: The Woodlands TX
Miles is a really poor measure of tire life unless you indicate the specific tire and general usage.
OEM tires on Z51 optioned cars driven mostly in town are dead in the 10K to 15K range, while OEM tires on base and F55 optioned cars easily top 30K on the highway. Even though the tire size is identical, the compounds are different and wear at significantly different rates.
I got 34K on my OEM GY's (F55 car) and had 4/32 remaining when I changed to Invos. It was mostly highway driving, but I had nearly 100 passes at the drag strip too.
You'd be hard pressed to find someone who managed to get 20K with the OEM tires supplied on a Z51 optioned car.
OEM tires on Z51 optioned cars driven mostly in town are dead in the 10K to 15K range, while OEM tires on base and F55 optioned cars easily top 30K on the highway. Even though the tire size is identical, the compounds are different and wear at significantly different rates.
I got 34K on my OEM GY's (F55 car) and had 4/32 remaining when I changed to Invos. It was mostly highway driving, but I had nearly 100 passes at the drag strip too.
You'd be hard pressed to find someone who managed to get 20K with the OEM tires supplied on a Z51 optioned car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,391
Likes: 1,453
From: South Dakota
Replace when it is obvious that they need replacing. Replacement has more to do with remaining tread etc than miles. Some can go a lot longer, or less, than others based on tire type, driving habits of the driver, keeping tire properly inflated etc.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,400
Likes: 39
From: Atlanta Georgia
"Check your vehicle owner’s manual for specific recommendations for tire replacement for your vehicle. Some vehicle manufacturers recommend six years, some tire manufacturers recommend 10 years as the maximum service life for tires, including spares."
From the NHTSA website here:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Pre...ng+Hot+Weather
From the NHTSA website here:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Pre...ng+Hot+Weather
Pro
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 746
Likes: 15
Other than at the legal tread depth of 3/32nd, I notice an increase in road noise as well as the wandering as tires age. They seem fine up to a point (which differs on cars and tuning), then I start to notice the more pronounced wandering when driving on less than perfect roads.
Also, a worn pair will hydroplane with less water on the roadway. I do drive mine daily and have been out in some moderate rain that was enough to feel the front end not responding to turning inputs so I slowed down from highway speeds.
There is an event in early November where I might sign up to track my car. I will hold off until after this event (rain or shine) to replace my tires. I still have more than the legal tread depth, but these are the stock Goodyear F1 Runflats. I bought the car used with 23k and I'm now at 36k after 6 months. Previous owner might have replaced them at some point with the OEM tire.
At the end of the day, if the tires are legal, it's whenever you want to replace them.
Also, a worn pair will hydroplane with less water on the roadway. I do drive mine daily and have been out in some moderate rain that was enough to feel the front end not responding to turning inputs so I slowed down from highway speeds.
There is an event in early November where I might sign up to track my car. I will hold off until after this event (rain or shine) to replace my tires. I still have more than the legal tread depth, but these are the stock Goodyear F1 Runflats. I bought the car used with 23k and I'm now at 36k after 6 months. Previous owner might have replaced them at some point with the OEM tire.
At the end of the day, if the tires are legal, it's whenever you want to replace them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 8,244
Likes: 850
From: Hamilton Square NJ, Ocean City N. J. Key Biscayne Fla.
Its a high performance sports car. Only as good/safe as its tires. So, every 20K I buy new tires. Only exception were the OEMs which were shot at 9K. New tires gives the Car a fresh feel. IMHO, its not about seeing the wear bars. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 799
Likes: 9
From: Long Beach CA
Miles is a really poor measure of tire life unless you indicate the specific tire and general usage.
OEM tires on Z51 optioned cars driven mostly in town are dead in the 10K to 15K range, while OEM tires on base and F55 optioned cars easily top 30K on the highway. Even though the tire size is identical, the compounds are different and wear at significantly different rates.
I got 34K on my OEM GY's (F55 car) and had 4/32 remaining when I changed to Invos. It was mostly highway driving, but I had nearly 100 passes at the drag strip too.
You'd be hard pressed to find someone who managed to get 20K with the OEM tires supplied on a Z51 optioned car.
OEM tires on Z51 optioned cars driven mostly in town are dead in the 10K to 15K range, while OEM tires on base and F55 optioned cars easily top 30K on the highway. Even though the tire size is identical, the compounds are different and wear at significantly different rates.
I got 34K on my OEM GY's (F55 car) and had 4/32 remaining when I changed to Invos. It was mostly highway driving, but I had nearly 100 passes at the drag strip too.
You'd be hard pressed to find someone who managed to get 20K with the OEM tires supplied on a Z51 optioned car.
My fronts always seem to wear a little more than my rears. PFADT "performance street"" alignment specs.
Last edited by Blue Demon Owner; Oct 9, 2014 at 04:47 PM.