Replacement tires. When it comes time to replace the original equipment tires on my 2015 Z 51, for just a normal street driving do I need to replace with runflat tires again or go with non-runflats?

 

The Intros section is for introducing yourself to the forum, not for general vehicle questions. Moving this thread to the C7 General section.

 

Do you like the safety that the run flats have afforded you? If you're looking for a softer ride, then a non run flat may be what you're after.

 

Where you gonna put your spare when you get a Flat
Call a tow truck or ruin a rim or stay with RF'S

 

Hi Charley,

You can use non-run flats for sure!

When I changed out my tires on my z51 I did not use the run flats. To help my thoughts of what happens if I get a flat - I purchased a small 12v air pump and a bottle of tire slime and have it stored in the back small compartments when you flip up the back window. The other fail safe I have my cell phone to call for help.

The benefits of non-run flats are as mentioned - they are a softer feel because the sidewalls don’t have to sustain a flat tire aspect. Also they are to me definitely quieter. Although even the run flats are getting better. Plus the non-run flats are a bit cheaper.

It it truly comes down to the idea behind run flats. You can drive on them up to 50 miles they say to get help. I didn’t see that being much of an advantage.

Some me people will say “what if you are running at 100mph plus and you get a flat? Even run flats are not good when no pressure at 100 mph.

Hope this helps.

 

I've never seen a tow truck driver advertise "we specialize in Corvette recoveries." Tow trucks are big steel machines with metal chains and grappling hooks to attach to tow holes, (assuming you don't have permanent jacking pucks in them). Even the roll on roll off Jerr-Dans have ramps steeper than the front splitter height on most vettes. Corvettes are plastic parts, ok, carbon fiber on some, covering soft aluminum parts of suspension, motor and frame, inches off the ground, and Chevy won't even supply tow hooks in the American Version of vettes, you have to buy them yourself. Who is going to win when a steel chain and an aluminum control arm have a difference of opinion on the ******? I bought a set of nice soft tow straps off ebay, cheaper than tow hooks, which brings the coupling to the tow trucks hook out in front of the car. But its a rainy night on a busy street and its luck of the draw who is going to be sent to pickup your non-run flat car for a flat tire. I'll prefer to drive my car to the dealership on zero pressure runflats when that occurs. if the car won't run, plan b is the tow straps in the rear cubby.

 

Non run flat are generally quieter although run flat have improved a lot in the past 15 years or so

 

Your C7 does not have a spare. At least mine doesn't. You're fleeing the cops in desperate flight. A televised high speed chase to elude your soon to be ex wife's repo man. Helicopter TV camera above and Shep Smith reporting coast to coast from the Fox News desk. 10 million people watching in mesmerized prurient curiosity. Who's side are they on anyway? And the Highway Patrol puts down spike strips. Don't you just hate it when that happens? What's a fleeing fellow to do? You have no time to nor place to swerve around them. Decisions decisions? Then you drive over them. Predictably, you now have 4 flat tires. A dozen LEO's chomping at your rear. The eggbeater drone of the Sikorsky relentless above you. Clearly Plan A is exhausted. What's your Plan B? Mine is run flat tires. Think about it eh?

 

Slim kit, plug and or air compressor wouldn’t have worked. Late at night on the side of a really busy freeway and I have to wait on a wrecker, no thanks. Run flats for me all the way.

 

"Do you feel lucky punk? Well do you?"
I just purchased Michlin as 3 run flats for my 2019 Grand Sport.

 

You can't plan on where and when you are going to have a flat

Those that say they have a patch kit , slime and an air compressor are living with a false sense of security ....

So do you think you can craw or bend down and find the nail , pull it out , ram a plug into it and then fill it back up all while on the side of some road that might be highly traveled....??

To those that say , I have a cell phone ... I will call a tow truck...

Well I was that guy stuck on the side or route 85 at 10:00 PM waiting on a tow truck ( not for a flat , my motor blew up ) talk about scary as the cars were whizzing by at 70 to 80 MPH

Even though I was only 15 miles from my home ,Geico could not pinpoint my location as the area had poor cell phone reception and I could only guess what mile post I was located at

It took 4 hours and 3 different tow operators before they found one that would transport my Vette . I called several local tow companies that I had used in the past for my work and they all said they would love to pick me up but they were all on 15 minute police accident response time and could not take a chance to come and get me

Had this been just a flat tire.... I would have just slowed down and drove it the 15 miles home and then the 2 Miles the next day to get it fixed...

So the moral of the story is ... as someone stated above ... how lucky do you feel ?

Dave

 

Here is my story. I have 101,000 miles on the car and have had 5 flats. Only in two circumstances would I have been able to pull over in a convenient place to change the tire, or plug it before destroying the rims. Of the 5 flats 3 would have been repairable. One had a 3/8 inch rebar through tire and the rim! Drove 85 miles to the tire store and they gave a substitute tire to get home on and plugged the rim for a temporary fix until the tire came in the next day. I also just got back from a 1,100 mile road trip. There were fewer places to pull over than available spots.
Oh, and 2 of my flats were at night. One on the Interstate bridge between Washington and Oregon. The other was on the middle of Nowhere, USA. 47 miles to civilization.
I am friends with the Discount Tire Store manager here in Lake Havasu. When I got my tire replacements a while back he asked me if I wanted to test the non runflat A/S plus Michelin and see how they handled and how noisy they were. I did. Went on 80 mile round trip with my wife who hears the hair drop off my face when I shave in the morning. She said there was no decipherable in noise, and the same for the ride quality
So in summation: Gamble up and go for the non runflats. Just kidding. Please don't.
Also if you buy any new tire with full tread depth it will be quieter and handle better. Thus you have the folks claiming the the tires they switch to ride better and quieter. If they replaced their tires with exactly what they had they would be quieter and ride better.
Good luck!

 

Run flat tires have improved immensely over time, and I believe are the far better choice for your Corvette. Perhaps I'm in the minority but I even like the OEM tires a lot.

 

I'd go for run flats for the reasons stated above. If you don't hit the track, you should consider the A/S 3+ Lots of grip for the street and more grip in cooler temps.

 

I do not believe it's true that current Michelin ZPs are harsher or noisier than their non-ZP counterparts. The sidewalls, tread blocks, and rubber compounds are the same. The only difference in construction is an extra band next to the inner sidewall that supports the car when the tire is deflated.

ZPs are the superior choice because you're not giving up anything, and you're gaining a lot of added security and convenience in case of a puncture.

A lot of people can't let go of the outdated info on ZPs, because they weren't as good more than a decade ago. Things do change.

 

Take a long hard look at this thread, them imagine your out in the middle of nowhere trying to get a runflat repaired.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...t-tires-3.html

 

I will take my chances......

Dave

 

CharlieOO7

If you are willing to make the swap, and take the risk of needing to call a tow truck or a flat bed, in the event of a flat tire? You will open up a lot more options at lower price point, that may be a better riding tire, lighter, less expensive etc. That is a decision you will have to make?

Having said that. Rayland only uses the OE Michelin's ZP run-flats.

Reasons: Michelin worked directly with the Corvette Team for 36 months to create tires for the base-model and the Z51 "package". Moreover, sport ZP's are among the worlds first to be engineered using the exact same computer model used to create tires for Le Mans and American Le Mans series racers, which incorporates many of the same rubber mixes in construction.


Many thanks.

Ray

"Save Harley Earl's front engine Corvette".

 

Avoid this at all costs. Took a tow truck to put it on a flat bed when my tranny cable broke and was stuck in park. I won't tell you how they got it OFF the truck but it was UGLY

 

You don’t see being able to drive on them for 50 miles being much of an advantage??? Whew...