Tire Replacement
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,009
Likes: 2,707
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Yes. "ZP" is Michelin Talk for runflat. "ZP"= Zero Pressure.
Michelin tire designations are badly confusing, so when buying Michelin Tires say "All Season runflats", that way the dealer should know what you really want.
Michelin tire designations are badly confusing, so when buying Michelin Tires say "All Season runflats", that way the dealer should know what you really want.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 353
Likes: 161
Thanks Jim, i am leaning toward the pilot sport A/S 4 run flats, after much research i think these would meet my needs, I just purchased the car with 2700 miles on it and still has the factory run flats so needless to say it has a very rough ride even for a Z06 which I’m sure the new tires should vastly improve
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,009
Likes: 2,707
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Thanks Jim, i am leaning toward the pilot sport A/S 4 run flats, after much research i think these would meet my needs, I just purchased the car with 2700 miles on it and still has the factory run flats so needless to say it has a very rough ride even for a Z06 which I’m sure the new tires should vastly improve
Your Z06 came with Magnetic Ride shocks, just like our 2017 Z51 did.
GM came out with an updated computer program for C7 Mag Ride cars in about 2018, no new parts but reprogramming and installable on the older C7s. For me, that was the biggest ride improvement I've seen. Cost is several hundred dollars but worth it.
In theory, any GM dealer can connect to the mothership and download the updated program to your car. In practice, about half of them don't even know it exists and most of the others are incompetent to do the download. Spend an evening here in the C7 section using Advanced Search to learn more. A good dealer can check the GM records and find out if your car already has the update.
In the end, it's still a stiffly-sprung sports car. But new tires and the Mag Ride update will make a big difference.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,009
Likes: 2,707
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
^^^^^
If it has mag ride shocks and hasn't got the upgrade, that would be a nice improvement. If you don't have Mag Ride, then the upgrade doesn't apply.
If you open the hood, you can see the tops of the front shocks in there. If there is a wire coming out the top of each shock, then you have mag ride.
No wires = no Mag Ride.
A dealer can run the GM history of your car and should be able to tell if it has the Mag Ride update. Note- many dealers don't even know the upgrade exists, so verify here whatever they tell you. Personally, I don't know what the paperwork would look like.
If it has mag ride shocks and hasn't got the upgrade, that would be a nice improvement. If you don't have Mag Ride, then the upgrade doesn't apply.
If you open the hood, you can see the tops of the front shocks in there. If there is a wire coming out the top of each shock, then you have mag ride.
No wires = no Mag Ride.
A dealer can run the GM history of your car and should be able to tell if it has the Mag Ride update. Note- many dealers don't even know the upgrade exists, so verify here whatever they tell you. Personally, I don't know what the paperwork would look like.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,155
Likes: 154
From: The Arid Sunny Desert
What's the consensus on the best summer tire for a Stock Stingray with M7, Z51, FE3 suspension? I live in the Phoenix area of Arizona so this would be a year round tire. Also not looking for run-flats. I hear a lot of good things about the Continentals however the Pilot Sport Cup 2's have never let me down. Tough decision...........Front 19", Rear 20"
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 86
Likes: 85
From: Houston and Hong Kong
I just switched back to run flats (Michelin AS) after not having them for a long time and I'm very happy. They've gotten way better than they used to be and I feel a lot more secure knowing I've got that capability.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,009
Likes: 2,707
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Sometimes the stud will freeze (rust?) in the nut and using enough force on the stud will pop the nut loose from the spring and (AFAIK) the only solution is to replace the whole spring. Try using moderate force to adjust, then penetrating oil left sitting overnight, then some tapping as you try to adjust.
I wouldn't use oddball tire sizes just to get more clearance, unless I really had to.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 353
Likes: 161
Thanks for all the replys, very helpful advise. I am going with the PS/AS 4 runflats from Discount Tire, they installed a set on my Z51 a couple years ago and I'm very happy with them and I think the price they quoted for the Z06 was very reasonable (they also honor veteran discounts).The guy I talked to was really experienced with corvettes. Thanks again.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 746
Likes: 315
From: Grand Rapids, MN
What's the consensus on the best summer tire for a Stock Stingray with M7, Z51, FE3 suspension? I live in the Phoenix area of Arizona so this would be a year round tire. Also not looking for run-flats. I hear a lot of good things about the Continentals however the Pilot Sport Cup 2's have never let me down. Tough decision...........Front 19", Rear 20"
I have had good luck with PS4 on my C7 and Focus RS (but not a great autocross tire on the RS). On my new daily driver, a Acura TLX I decided to try something new for my summer wheel set and went with the Continental 02's. I have not put them on yet so no feedback, but have heard much good about them. I read the tire test comparisons on Tire Rack.com and study the graphs closely lots of good data in wet and dry conditions. Often there is no one tire that is best at all, always trade offs. Good luck!!
FYI, the Continentals will have less grip than your Cup 2's if that is important.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
I changed out my 8 year old tires for exactly the same type but less than 6 months old. There was plenty of thread but the tires rode way better.
I would definitely get run flats just for the fact that I can drive at 50 mph for 50 miles which should get me to some place with a tire shop that isn't in some backwater town. I don't have to carry an air compressor, tire patches and try to get it to work on the side of the road or call a tow truck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 939
From: Georgetown, Tx
My 2014/Z51 came equipped with the Michelin run-flat summer only tires but I did not like the stiff ride they provided.
While researching here I found a number of very positive comments for the all season Continental Extreme Contact tires. So I decided to trust the forum member comments and bought a set. Over the last few years I've found the Continentals to be an excellent tire. I am VERY happy with their performance and ride.
My choice of tires was for street use, not for track. So, discussing the all season street tire against a summer only run flat is an apple/orange comparison.
Continental builds a great product to compete with Michelin. They both offer fantastic street tires to the public. For Z51 track use, the OEM Michelin is the best choice.
While researching here I found a number of very positive comments for the all season Continental Extreme Contact tires. So I decided to trust the forum member comments and bought a set. Over the last few years I've found the Continentals to be an excellent tire. I am VERY happy with their performance and ride.
My choice of tires was for street use, not for track. So, discussing the all season street tire against a summer only run flat is an apple/orange comparison.
Continental builds a great product to compete with Michelin. They both offer fantastic street tires to the public. For Z51 track use, the OEM Michelin is the best choice.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 379
Likes: 85
Even after 4-5 years I can tell my garaged summer tires are losing grip. After 10 years will have even less. 10 year old tires that have been garaged might not blow up... but if outside in the sun they will dry rot and crack. I had a 12 year old trailer tire blow on me - lesson learned. At some point mfr's have to put a shelf life it may or may not be conservative but like food shelf lives they test so long, set the date, and move on.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
How are comparisons done? Any new tires are going to be better than say 5 or 6 years old tires. My new tires were summer run flats. Same as what came on the car but 8 years newer. Less NHV and more grip.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 10,415
Likes: 1,717
From: North Texas
What's the consensus on the best summer tire for a Stock Stingray with M7, Z51, FE3 suspension? I live in the Phoenix area of Arizona so this would be a year round tire. Also not looking for run-flats. I hear a lot of good things about the Continentals however the Pilot Sport Cup 2's have never let me down. Tough decision...........Front 19", Rear 20"
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 15
Likes: 4
From: Mt Juliet, TN
Went with Michelin Pilot Sport All Season Run Flats. Haven't noticed handling difference so much yet versus Super Sports. Tire noise is substantially less. NOTE: Michelin is running a promotion buy 3 get the 4th tire for $1. Thanks for the help.