Flat Again
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Many of us keep a small compressor in the rear cubby, if the leak isn't too bad then you can stop every time the low pressure warning comes on, air it up, and drive clear across the country without causing any further damage.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,234
Likes: 4,358
From: Chirper Island
Here is a little history and clarification about the "50 miles" that keeps being bandied about.
This was GM and GY's policy ( and selling point) when RFs first started being factory installed. Basically they said that the tire was rated to be driven up to 50 miles at ZP and still be deemed structurally sound enough to be repaired. This arbitrary figure was because, at the time, generally speaking, Chevy dealers weren't farther apart than 100 miles. This didn't even take into account any GY dealers, or the fact that neither of them had the capability to change a RF tire in most of their facilities.
It was never an expiration point on a "flat" tire and how far it may be driven at ZP and get you to either safety or a replacement.
Fast forward to C7 and Michelin. Michelin's policy is now that they won't repair any tire driven at ZP. Lawyer talk (no way to "determine" any internal sidewall damage....), and still not about how far a tire may be driven at ZP to get you to either safety or a replacement.
Plenty of us that have driven a very long way at ZP with both brands.
This was GM and GY's policy ( and selling point) when RFs first started being factory installed. Basically they said that the tire was rated to be driven up to 50 miles at ZP and still be deemed structurally sound enough to be repaired. This arbitrary figure was because, at the time, generally speaking, Chevy dealers weren't farther apart than 100 miles. This didn't even take into account any GY dealers, or the fact that neither of them had the capability to change a RF tire in most of their facilities.
It was never an expiration point on a "flat" tire and how far it may be driven at ZP and get you to either safety or a replacement.
Fast forward to C7 and Michelin. Michelin's policy is now that they won't repair any tire driven at ZP. Lawyer talk (no way to "determine" any internal sidewall damage....), and still not about how far a tire may be driven at ZP to get you to either safety or a replacement.
Plenty of us that have driven a very long way at ZP with both brands.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Here is a little history and clarification about the "50 miles" that keeps being bandied about.
This was GM and GY's policy ( and selling point) when RFs first started being factory installed. Basically they said that the tire was rated to be driven up to 50 miles at ZP and still be deemed structurally sound enough to be repaired. This arbitrary figure was because, at the time, generally speaking, Chevy dealers weren't farther apart than 100 miles. This didn't even take into account any GY dealers, or the fact that neither of them had the capability to change a RF tire in most of their facilities.
It was never an expiration point on a "flat" tire and how far it may be driven at ZP and get you to either safety or a replacement.
Fast forward to C7 and Michelin. Michelin's policy is now that they won't repair any tire driven at ZP. Lawyer talk (no way to "determine" any internal sidewall damage....), and still not about how far a tire may be driven at ZP to get you to either safety or a replacement.
Plenty of us that have driven a very long way at ZP with both brands.
This was GM and GY's policy ( and selling point) when RFs first started being factory installed. Basically they said that the tire was rated to be driven up to 50 miles at ZP and still be deemed structurally sound enough to be repaired. This arbitrary figure was because, at the time, generally speaking, Chevy dealers weren't farther apart than 100 miles. This didn't even take into account any GY dealers, or the fact that neither of them had the capability to change a RF tire in most of their facilities.
It was never an expiration point on a "flat" tire and how far it may be driven at ZP and get you to either safety or a replacement.
Fast forward to C7 and Michelin. Michelin's policy is now that they won't repair any tire driven at ZP. Lawyer talk (no way to "determine" any internal sidewall damage....), and still not about how far a tire may be driven at ZP to get you to either safety or a replacement.
Plenty of us that have driven a very long way at ZP with both brands.
"Run-flat tires can be driven on with no air pressure. There is no need to stop on the side of the road to change the tire. Continue driving; however, do not drive too far or too fast. Driving on the tire may not be possible if there is permanent damage. To prevent permanent damage, the tire can be driven with no air pressure for up to 80 km (50 mi) at speeds slower than 80 km/h (50 mph). As soon as possible, contact the nearest authorized GM or run-flat servicing facility for inspection and repair or replacement. When driving on a deflated run-flat tire, avoid potholes and other road hazards that could damage the tire and/or wheel beyond repair. When atire has been damaged, or if driven any distance while deflated, check with an authorized run-flat tire service center to determine whether the tire can be repaired or should be replaced. To maintain the run-flat feature, all replacement tires must be run-flat tires."
GM says after driving flat, repair is permitted after inspection. Since many GM dealers do tire repairs, I doubt that GM would authorize a repair that Michelin prohibits.
Tire Rack's website says that Michelin allows one repair on a ZP tire, and their same article says that Firestone does not allow repair if the tire was driven below 15 psi; Michelin does not show that restriction.
Sometimes tire companies publish generic "no repair after driven flat" statements, and you have to do some digging to find the runflat repair approval.
Last edited by Gearhead Jim; Oct 7, 2018 at 10:56 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,234
Likes: 4,358
From: Chirper Island
Thank you for the further clarification from a more recent source than I had (or the last time I looked).
Tire Rack's Michelin language is now murky as to what is (or not) going to be allowed as far as repairing. It never states that they can be repaired at up to that many miles at ZP; only that they may be driven and inspected. My experience is that it's hit or miss whether or not any given facility will repair after driving at ZP.
Tire Rack's Michelin language is now murky as to what is (or not) going to be allowed as far as repairing. It never states that they can be repaired at up to that many miles at ZP; only that they may be driven and inspected. My experience is that it's hit or miss whether or not any given facility will repair after driving at ZP.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Thank you for the further clarification from a more recent source than I had (or the last time I looked).
Tire Rack's Michelin language is now murky as to what is (or not) going to be allowed as far as repairing. It never states that they can be repaired at up to that many miles at ZP; only that they may be driven and inspected. My experience is that it's hit or miss whether or not any given facility will repair after driving at ZP.
Tire Rack's Michelin language is now murky as to what is (or not) going to be allowed as far as repairing. It never states that they can be repaired at up to that many miles at ZP; only that they may be driven and inspected. My experience is that it's hit or miss whether or not any given facility will repair after driving at ZP.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 230
From: McDonough, Georgia
I agree with the bold part. Most of the time, the tire will be inspected to determine if it can safely be repaired. A few places won't touch a ZP that's been driven flat at all, a few do only a cursory inspection. Neither of those is a good idea. And the language in the 2019 OM implies that 50 miles at 50 mph is just fine. Maybe, maybe not.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Cheer up!
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
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 230
From: McDonough, Georgia
I can understand that, but my personal experience over the years has been that tires shops are willing to repair, for free or a very low price, any tire that I thought was indeed repairable. And the ones that they declared to be junk, I also agreed. This has been true both on Corvette runflats and tin car non-runflats.
Cheer up!
Cheer up!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 14,492
Likes: 549
From: Dallas, TX
I've had two already, both in left rear but on different tires (one in original set, one in second set) on my Grand Sport inside of the first 17,000 miles. Sucks but wide sticky tires pick things up, I guess.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
I've had two (RF and LR) since taking delivery in Feb. My tire/wheel insurance policy ($600 for 5 years) has more than paid for itself in 8 months with two new PSS ZPs costing me $0.
Last edited by Foosh; Oct 9, 2018 at 03:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,382
Likes: 3,501
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
I pay for the free tire replacement from Discount. I think it is about $40 per tire or so. I have had to use it twice in all of my five flats. I did have to buy a wheel out of my pocket one time. A piece of rebar went through the tire and the rim! Yikes! It happened about 400 ft down the street as I pulled away from my house.