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My 2014 base is riding hard with 2 yr old run flats with maybe 12k miles. Took the C5 out West for a few years travelling and it was on gravel a lot using non RFs and never a tire problem. I read here about guys getting flat tires but where I'm at the roads are clean. I have read here that the run flats are better now than two years ago, maybe. We don't drive much anymore but it's our only car.
Please re read my post before commenting. If you are running non RFs please tell me how it's going and what tires to get.
I am running the Continental DWS06 plus, non run flat. They are a great tire handle great and have a long wear life. This set is my 5th set on the Corvettes I have owned. Only had one incident in all the years. Somehow go exiting the interstate got a gash in the sidewall dont know how didnt hit anything no curbs maybe just a defect.
My 2014 base is riding hard with 2 yr old run flats with maybe 12k miles. Took the C5 out West for a few years travelling and it was on gravel a lot using non RFs and never a tire problem. I read here about guys getting flat tires but where I'm at the roads are clean. I have read here that the run flats are better now than two years ago, maybe. We don't drive much anymore but it's our only car.
Please re read my post before commenting. If you are running non RFs please tell me how it's going and what tires to get.
Thanks for your input.
I can't speak to "run flats are better now than two years ago", but I swapped out the OEM runflats on my '19 when it had only 9K miles on it, to get a smoother ride. I don't actively race anymore, but still wanted something decent for the twisties on longer road trips. I bought some C6 "Gumby's" in 18's/19's sizes to get a bigger sidewall and Continental Extreme Contact DWS 06 Plus SL tires. My C6 came with RF's and I swapped them out for non-RF's at 34K miles. I drove another 128K miles with only one problem that would have killed a RF too. I've been driving since 1957 and have no tire issue fears..
I can't speak to "run flats are better now than two years ago", but I swapped out the OEM runflats on my '19 when it had only 9K miles on it, to get a smoother ride. I don't actively race anymore, but still wanted something decent for the twisties on longer road trips. I bought some C6 "Gumby's" in 18's/19's sizes to get a bigger sidewall and Continental Extreme Contact DWS 06 Plus SL tires. My C6 came with RF's and I swapped them out for non-RF's at 34K miles. I drove another 128K miles with only one problem that would have killed a RF too. I've been driving since 1957 and have no tire issue fears..
Runflats are fine - much improved from what they used to be. Bigger sidewall? YES. I also swapped out my 19/20 setup to 18/19 and the bigger sidewall had a dramatic effect. Ride is excellent - real improvement - and my tire issues have gone away. (Kept getting pothole 'bubbles')
I wasn't a fan of the run-flats on my C7. Replaced with FIREHAWK INDY 500- 255/35/19 front and 295/30/20’s rear. These are slightly wider than stock and fit perfectly on Z51 rims. They were $808 on TireRack (local shop matched the price- SD Tire & Wheel Outlet). The OEM runflats always seemed a bit heavy to me. Feels much lighter and tossable. No more chattering at low speeds in the cold. Better ride quality and less noise as well. Highly recommend! I've put 16k miles on them, and still have a ton of tread left.
I wasn't a fan of the run-flats on my C7. Replaced with FIREHAWK INDY 500- 255/35/19 front and 295/30/20’s rear. These are slightly wider than stock and fit perfectly on Z51 rims. They were $808 on TireRack (local shop matched the price- SD Tire & Wheel Outlet). The OEM runflats always seemed a bit heavy to me. Feels much lighter and tossable. No more chattering at low speeds in the cold. Better ride quality and less noise as well. Highly recommend! I've put 16k miles on them, and still have a ton of tread left.
I was agnostic about RF/non RF tires till I had a sidewall blow out at 11PM one Saturday night on a two lane mountain road 40 miles from home with zero to one bar cel service.
Considering the headache I avoided that weekend, I have become a RF true believer. If I wanted a smoother ride, I'd look into RFs using the 19/20 inch wheels as my '17 with those had a better ride at the cost of some handling compared to my '19.
I agree with the others that the newer run flats have much improved over the years. However, keep in mind that the Michelin Pilot Super Sports are already a 10-year-old design.....and, they will ride more firm than the Pilot Sport 4S, which was the more recent non-run-flat replacement.
While my Z06 generally rides very smooth on the Super Sports, sharp road impacts can still be jarring & harsh. For that reason, I'm considering non-run-flats for my summer tire replacements this spring.
I'm 60 years old, and only had to change a flat tire 1 time in my life......and that, coincidentally, was in my garage. Abandoning the run-flats does not worry me in the least.
I've done 100k miles on runflats on my '16 Z51. Made 5 long cross country road trips over the years on Michelin all season runflats without a hitch.
Then last year at the end of a 3 week 8000 mile road trip I hit a pot hole and tire went almost immediately to zero pressure just 150 miles from home and the end of a great trip. I was able to drive the last 150 miles on the PA turnpike at 72 mph to avoid getting run over by all the trucks, and made it home safely, comfortably and on time.
Without the runflats, i would have had to lay over a day or two before i could find a tire and get it mounted. So close to home!
Like Jimmbbo, I became a believer in the michelin run flat technology. The best in the business IMO. Once home, I was able to have the tire replaced at my leisure and by my trusted local shop.
The new Michelin AS4 all season run flat is supposed to be even a bit quieter than the older AS3+ that I had been running.
Maybe a tiny bit noisier and a slightly less smooth ride than a none run flat, but I think most people would hardly notice the difference and the peace of mind is invaluable.
I wouldn't leave home without my runflats
My 2014 base is riding hard with 2 yr old run flats with maybe 12k miles. Took the C5 out West for a few years travelling and it was on gravel a lot using non RFs and never a tire problem. I read here about guys getting flat tires but where I'm at the roads are clean. I have read here that the run flats are better now than two years ago, maybe. We don't drive much anymore but it's our only car.
Please re read my post before commenting. If you are running non RFs please tell me how it's going and what tires to get.
Thanks for your input.
No tire should puncture just because the car is driving on a gravel road or with rocks on it so I don't see how driving your C5 on a gravel road has anything to do with the runflats. If you have the Michelin Run Flats they only have a stiffened side wall on the inside sidewall. The outside sidewall is the same as any Michelin non runflat tire. The EMTs that came on the C5s were designed back in the 90s to provide a 200 mile travel distance with no air in the tire. That was changed to 50 miles and runflats stopped being so stiff. The big advantage of a RunFlat is you can drive the car up to 50 miles with no air pressure without damaging an otherwise repairable tire and as far as you need if the tire isn't repairable or not worth repairing.
My 2014 base is riding hard with 2 yr old run flats with maybe 12k miles. Took the C5 out West for a few years travelling and it was on gravel a lot using non RFs and never a tire problem. I read here about guys getting flat tires but where I'm at the roads are clean. I have read here that the run flats are better now than two years ago, maybe. We don't drive much anymore but it's our only car.
Please re read my post before commenting. If you are running non RFs please tell me how it's going and what tires to get.
Thanks for your input.
This 2014 is your only car. This car has NO spare. You HAD a C5 on a gravel lot with "never a tire problem". Does that guarantee anything tomorrow? I think not. I drive on roads that are decent. I don't do gravel lots usually. I have gotten nails and other unidentified objects in my tires from clean areas. For my only car with tires that aren't common stock and no spare? No thank you.
Thanks for all the input but it looks split between the two kinds of tire. I don't drive much anymore and maybe I'll just get new RFs. One wheel has a little bend in it. Have been trying to trade to a newer car but haven't found one. I was looking for a 19 vert 2 yrs ago but the dealers were behaving stupid and I gave up.
I am running the Continental DWS06 plus, non run flat. They are a great tire handle great and have a long wear life. This set is my 5th set on the Corvettes I have owned. Only had one incident in all the years. Somehow go exiting the interstate got a gash in the sidewall don't know how didn't hit anything no curbs maybe just a defect.
100% I just switched from Michelin AS4 all season runflats to the Conti DWS 06 plus's and I absolutely love them so far. Much quieter and they handle amazing. Already had the chance to put them through their paces in some heavy rain the other day as well.
DWS Conti's here too. Very happy w/ them. But search here for more threads on RF tires. I believe the newer Michelin RFs ride significantly better and quieter than your existing ones so could be an option.
I've heard the same but I will speak with Tire Rack as they have been helpful in the past about choosing the right tires.
With my lifestyle now it wouldn't be a problem to experience a flat.
My experience is that you can have a flat anywhere and anytime but it is usually in the middle of BFE at midnight with bad weather. Even if you get a tow truck, what would you do? You are a beggar and can't be a chooser so if they come without a flatbed, you are screwed. If the guy is an idiot, well. Even if you get into town, what is the chance they will have a spare that isn't a couple days out?
I'm old and stick around town during the day and stay home at night. I don't go to BFE at midnight or during the day for that matter. I can get anything within a day, if it should take longer I can rent a car.
I'm old and stick around town during the day and stay home at night. I don't go to BFE at midnight or during the day for that matter. I can get anything within a day, if it should take longer I can rent a car.
Fair enough. If you are OK with the car on the side of the road or towed and don't mind waiting around, not a problem.
Tire question
