Having read Spin's Tractionmonster post (GREAT Wrtie-up by the way!) and realizing his desired results are different from my own, I'll not be going down the path of the widened welded rims and Nitto's (at least not this year).

Here's what I'm looking to accomplish:
1) Keep the Stock C6 F55 Rims
2) Increased handling (meaning both lateral stability and straight line grip)above the run flats
3) Comparable to stock treadwear (or as close as possible)
4) Good Dry and Wet Traction

I've read on multiple threads that we should "Get rid of the run flats" because they either don't grip well enough or they are too heavy. That being said, I have no personal experience with these issues as I'm a new vette owner.

Right now, I'm leaning toward the BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2.

Look forward to your input.

 

Well, if you don't like traction then get anything but the Nitto's......ok, I'll be nice, the Michelin P2's, that's what the new ZR1 will be using. Good luck.

 

The PS2s are good, I'd say a better tire than the BFGs. But they're quite a bit more expensive, and will wear faster, say around 15k miles vs 25k for the BFGs.

As usual, there's a performance vs. cost tradeoff. But it seems like almost everybody that has either of those tires likes them, so I don't think you'll go wrong either way.

The ZR1 tires are runflat versions of the PS2. Those should be available in C6 / Z06 sizes soon if you want to hold out for a runflat.

 

I ran 275/35-18 front and 305/30-19 rear Michelin PS2 tires on stock wheels and they are a vast improvement over the Goodyear EMT tires. The best thing is the improved ride over the EMT's. My Goodyear Supercar EMT's only lasted 15K miles and it appears the Michelins will easily exceed that.
The BFG tires are also great and similar to the PS2 (Michelin owns BFG). The primary complaint on the BFG is very high noise after they have a few thousand miles.

 

My requirements are a bit diffrent. I am less worried about performance and more worried about year round safety/comfort.

I will be driving this car year round including in mild snow.

I've heard that the BFs are the best sounding (least noise) tires available.

Thoughts?

 

I just did tons of reading on this topic and I hard narrowed it down to PS2's or invo's. got my invo's for like $980 to my door.

I have kdw-2's on my mustang great traction but they are noisy and as they wear they tramline bad. they are the coolest looking tire out there IMO but since they have issues as they were I decided to try something different this time.

the invo's I have on my vett and they are quiter new than the bfg's were. For the money I think the Invo's are the way to go. I think the ps2 are nice tires but they were going to be ~$1600 to my door.

it is hard to find a 285 tire with any kind of snow rating so I am not sure your going to find much that is going to be snow friendly.

 

Why did you not consider the Firestone Wide Ovals with run-flat feature? I got my set in January and have been very happy with the traction, lack of noise, and handling.

 

From what I have heard the 2 best and resonably priced tires are the KDW2 and the Invo.

That being said, I think you will find that both perform better than stock... I don't think you will get a consensus on which is better.. they are very similar. Some people go with the KDW2s some go with the Invos. In all honesty, I would go with which ever one you can find at the best price!

Also, the KDW2 comes in a 295, and the Invo only a 285... if that matters to you as well as the fact that the KDW2s look MEAN!!! They have a very unique tread pattern.

 

I have KDW2's and am very happy with them. I have zero "road noise" issues and the traction is excellent. They also look very cool!

 

Guys,

Thanks for all your information/input!

Pwoolford, How long have you driven these tires, and did you have to heat cycle the tires? I'm wondering if that might have had any involvement in their lack of road noise.

 

runflats are heavier than non-runflats. less unsrung wieght=faster car. they also will have a stiffer sidewall and not quite ride as nice.

 

Invo comes in a 305 as well. that was the deciding factor for me. I have 11" rear wheels.

kdw's look better but invo's ride nicer. traction on the invo's is very good. I have not had kdw's on the vet to compare. as long as I make sure to get planted in first I can get out the whole pretty well. thes cars have enough power if you are too hard on it out of the hole there is really no dot tire that will completely hook up. If I really nail second it might wheel hop a tad but it will still hook it.

 

You will have ZERO handling with the invos! They are good in a straight line but thats it! Go to tire rack or Discount tire direct and look at the reviews with the guys with corvettes.
When I looked not a single guy said they would buy Invos again.
Its up to you and what you want to do with the car.
Mich PS2s are the best tire out there and you pay for it too
I have them on my car Great handling and straight line!
Tire rack and Discount tire direct told me when I was looking
that the PS2 was the best tire they sell period and IMO I agree!
Mike

 

HAS anybody thaught about hoosiers ?

 

Ive been running KDWs on mine for just under 4k miles, never heat cycled either. Soon as they were put on i drove the car like a stole it. Ive yet to hear any road noise people talk of.

Im pushing just above 500 to the wheels, and with t/c off i still dont have a problem grabbing an goin with an A6 tranny. Ive also pulled just above .8g's at 68mph into a corner and yeah that was the coolest thing ever. Nothing like watching an M3 slow down in the corner as your sticking and going.

I think anything will outlast stock runcraps. Like i said i have over 4k miles on my current set, and they still look new, all the stubbys are on the sidewall and inside the tread patterns. The tires have a all around good traction, i live in central florida right by the beach we have the hot days, and the days where someone left the hose on(like tonight). In the 48 miles i drove in torrential downpour did i ever hydroplane which i couldnt say for the stock runcraps.

If price is a factor, i bought all four tires being stock front size and 295 rears, $996 shipped to my door, and i got them in 2 days from tirerack. I couldnt justify spending twice the amount for a fraction of the performance gain the PS2s claim, but thats just me. With either tire you choose, youll never regret upgrading from the stock tires.

 

Check out the Toyo R888's. Competition tire, comes in stock sizes, and will work ok in the rain. I'd get those except I have the wider Z06 rears and they don't come in that size. Widest they make is a 305, and im still thinking about geting them anyway.

 

why don't you spread some more bs. I am going to bet there is a 100% chance you have never driven a corvette with invo's. they don't sell invo's at the tire rack for starters. Almost every review at discount tire was from a car other than a vett. If you go to discount tire dirrect you will see people saying they have not strait line traction either and I think they hook great. I read the review on this site rom actual corvette owners before I bought them.

car handles great.

do they grip as well as the ps2's? I don't know as I don't have them and I am not going to post up other peoples reviews. I would hope not as there was $700 price difference. my car is my daily I will take a little hit on perfromace to save $700 a year on tires.

If you read around here with people actually running invo's on these cars you will see a different story.

I will say if the PS2's are in you budget they get the best reviews. I would only run them on a track car or weekend toy myself.

 

what is the tire wear like on the r888's?

 

Absolutely correct... They will meet and or exceed your requirements. They are truly inexpensive for a "run-flat." I replaced my "Supercars" just shy of 13K and used the FS over the winter with excellent results... I will replace them soon with the "Supercars" for the long Ca summer driving weather and then when the temps begin to drop, I'll swap in my FS... Good luck..

 

Toyo R888 info.

http://www.toyo.com/docs/tires/tires...category=sport