hate run flats
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 2,694
From: New Mexico
2018 C6 of Year Finalist
I have Conti dws 06 and the grip and ride quality is great compared to the GY with 4000 miles that they replaced. No more dangerous darting and rut grabbing on the highway either.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,391
Likes: 1,453
From: South Dakota
Judging from your post, I assume you have experience with all of them. What was your personal experience with the Firestone Firehawk rft"s?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 809
Likes: 101
From: MD
Something to keep in mind as well. Although RF give you the comfort of being able to move on, any tire that picks up a nail is rated as a non speed tire and is to not exceed 85mph. So with that in mind if you buy a RF at 400.00 and get a nail then to get the same performance back it will cost you 400.00 for a new tire. But if you buy a NRF at 200 and the same scenario then its 200.00 to get back the speed rating.
So the only real benefit of the RF in my mind is that you gain the comfort of not sitting around for a tow (which is in most insurance policies) .
JMO.
So the only real benefit of the RF in my mind is that you gain the comfort of not sitting around for a tow (which is in most insurance policies) .
JMO.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 315
From: Bridgewater New Jersey
Observation and experience; and something that I have not seen anyone talk about. I have the Firestone Wide Ovals RFT and have run over a few serious pot holes as of late in the winter time, and I have to believe they have saved me a few bent rims on my car.
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,540
Likes: 79
From: Houston, Tx
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14
Something to keep in mind as well. Although RF give you the comfort of being able to move on, any tire that picks up a nail is rated as a non speed tire and is to not exceed 85mph. So with that in mind if you buy a RF at 400.00 and get a nail then to get the same performance back it will cost you 400.00 for a new tire. But if you buy a NRF at 200 and the same scenario then its 200.00 to get back the speed rating.
So the only real benefit of the RF in my mind is that you gain the comfort of not sitting around for a tow (which is in most insurance policies) .
JMO.
So the only real benefit of the RF in my mind is that you gain the comfort of not sitting around for a tow (which is in most insurance policies) .
JMO.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,232
Likes: 4,357
From: Chirper Island
Why, yes I have (not due to a tire); all the same, it's a sad, scary, anxiety inducing event. 
Or can you imagine your car having to be driven off the pavement because of no shoulder, with possible undercarriage damage, into the mud on a Sunday, in the rain, in a cell dead spot, 50 miles from the nearest place that could replace the tire? And then have to hike or hope that someone (kind, not evil) will take mercy on you and pick you up whilst hiking to a phone. and then hoping to get back to where the car has been sinking into the mud for who knows how long to meet the tow truck so you can see the horrifying sight of said baby being loaded up.
I haven't because I had RFs when this flat happened, otherwise all the bad in that scenario would have happened. Instead, I drove it those 50+miles (instead of having my baby hauled up out of the mud on to the flatbed), drove it to where I could have my tire changed out.
Or can you imagine your car having to be driven off the pavement because of no shoulder, with possible undercarriage damage, into the mud on a Sunday, in the rain, in a cell dead spot, 50 miles from the nearest place that could replace the tire? And then have to hike or hope that someone (kind, not evil) will take mercy on you and pick you up whilst hiking to a phone. and then hoping to get back to where the car has been sinking into the mud for who knows how long to meet the tow truck so you can see the horrifying sight of said baby being loaded up.
I haven't because I had RFs when this flat happened, otherwise all the bad in that scenario would have happened. Instead, I drove it those 50+miles (instead of having my baby hauled up out of the mud on to the flatbed), drove it to where I could have my tire changed out.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 801
Likes: 259
From: Gambrills, Maryland
Same decision recently, went with the Michelin PS2 AS +ZP (run-flat) and pleased as punch.
As for the Continental tires, not really an apples to apples comparison but I put a set of the DWS on a small coupe (Accord) a few years ago. Were good tires, rode great but were a little noisier than I had expected. Good trade off for the car they were on and considered them for the Vette but in the end, wanted the peace of mind.
I fully appreciate tires for these cars are a significant investment and want to make a good decision. The Michelins were pricy but I drive the car year round and the only compromise I have found so far was the little extra coin.
Allen
As for the Continental tires, not really an apples to apples comparison but I put a set of the DWS on a small coupe (Accord) a few years ago. Were good tires, rode great but were a little noisier than I had expected. Good trade off for the car they were on and considered them for the Vette but in the end, wanted the peace of mind.
I fully appreciate tires for these cars are a significant investment and want to make a good decision. The Michelins were pricy but I drive the car year round and the only compromise I have found so far was the little extra coin.
Allen
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 37
Likes: 7
From: Vail, CO
I have Conti DWS all seasons on two of our cars . . . excellent tires, very pleased with them. I plan to get the DW's on my Vette when my OEM GY's are done. Online reviews are good too.
I've had several cars with OEM runflats, have always replaced them with non run flats, never one regret. The improvement in ride, noise and comfort is always noticeable. I keep a can of Slime in each car but really, if you have a cell phone how bad can the really rare flat tire be?
Good luck.
I've had several cars with OEM runflats, have always replaced them with non run flats, never one regret. The improvement in ride, noise and comfort is always noticeable. I keep a can of Slime in each car but really, if you have a cell phone how bad can the really rare flat tire be?
Good luck.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 257
From: Shawnee, OK
I won't attempt to convince anyone either way, as this, like many topics on the forum, have a very personal component to them. I will admit that non-RF tires will generally be quieter and appear to provide a more comfortable ride. But, you cannot use the GY specimens as a baseline or even in comparison when considering RF technology. The GY units are just garbage. I can affirm that the Michelin PS ZP units are exceptional and I would put them up against any non-RF tire any day. I chose the ZP's because of their performance, but also because I wanted a stiffer sidewall to help protect my super expensive wheels. With ZR-1 sized sidewalls, I wanted the most protection for my wheels, while still maintaining performance.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,463
Likes: 1,138
From: Chino CA
As we were heading out for dinner and a movie last night, we saw a nice C5 on the side of the road and the owner appeared to be plugging a flat tire. When we returned home three hours later, the nice C5 was still sitting there all alone with a flat tire. That guy probably never worried about a flat tire until last night.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 7,148
Likes: 1,546
From: Florida
I have two sets of wheels/tires. Original RFs on one set, switched to performance summer tires on the second set. I won't go back to RFs and will put another set of summer performances on the first set.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 329
Likes: 27
I thought the same thing... tires have date of manufacture codes on their sidewalls. Please change your tires when they are out of date. The ride of course will improve and you won't have to worry about a blow out on the highway. The tires may have enough tread left due to low mileage from your example but the rubber degrades over time. Not worth risking your life over.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 223
Likes: 15
From: The Villages, FL (unwillingly LOL)
Most of the issue is the brand you went with. I got rid of my rear F1s and am now debating on throwing away the front F1s even though they have lots of tread left.
The replacement? Michelin pilot SS.... completely changed my ride