Tire availability
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 165
Likes: 48
Tire availability
So I need new tires for the 18 Z. After research I’m going with Michelin PS A3 run flats. Go to America’s tire.Good shop in past. Multiple purchases.Go in in person.THEY SAY FRONTS AVAILABLE.NO REARS. I CHECK divert tire and one other online ...available but need local to install.America has RoadForce and do a lot of Vetters local.Service guy says order on line for a back order which I do for 1500. 4 weeks go by. The order shows up on my card and obligated to pay bill. Go back to America. They call Michelin. No word on availability. Guy basically says don’t call us we’ll call you. I say I’m suppose to pay without any idea when/if? He says can’t help. I call customer service and they can’t resolve.Says I should talk to local mgr.Which I plan on doing. I don’t cancel order or speak to anyone else. One day later I get an email notifying me the order has been canceled???! What a go round!Hate to pay a lot extra to install with a 3rd party purchase .Its significant. Anyone else having trouble with inventory with Covid.Seems like tires are out there. Not sure what gives with America’s Tire.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 800
Likes: 326
My tire dealer says Michelin runs these tires in batches, since they are low volume in the big picture of tire production. They try to guess the number they will need between the runs. Sounds like they miss-guessed this batch!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 633
From: Lake Bluff IL
I checked the Tire Rack website also and they say they do have 10 or 11 in stock in each size but it worries me to see that they are listed as "closeouts" with obvious limited availability. Does this mean Michelin is discontinuing them? They are great tires--very happy that I got mine in April--and by all the conversations on the various forums they seem well liked. Anyone know what's up? --Bob
Last edited by ZR1Bob; Jul 13, 2020 at 10:05 AM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 786
Likes: 514
From: Arizona, USA
So I need new tires for the 18 Z. After research I’m going with Michelin PS A3 run flats. Go to America’s tire.Good shop in past. Multiple purchases.Go in in person.THEY SAY FRONTS AVAILABLE.NO REARS. I CHECK divert tire and one other online ...available but need local to install.America has RoadForce and do a lot of Vetters local.Service guy says order on line for a back order which I do for 1500. 4 weeks go by. The order shows up on my card and obligated to pay bill. Go back to America. They call Michelin. No word on availability. Guy basically says don’t call us we’ll call you. I say I’m suppose to pay without any idea when/if? He says can’t help. I call customer service and they can’t resolve.Says I should talk to local mgr.Which I plan on doing. I don’t cancel order or speak to anyone else. One day later I get an email notifying me the order has been canceled???! What a go round!Hate to pay a lot extra to install with a 3rd party purchase .Its significant. Anyone else having trouble with inventory with Covid.Seems like tires are out there. Not sure what gives with America’s Tire.
We are sorry to learn of your experience with our store. We would like to gather more information. PM on the way.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 12,931
Likes: 783
From: Huntsville AL
I checked the Tire Rack website also and they say they do have 10 or 11 in stock in each size but it worries me to see that they are listed as "closeouts" with obvious limited availability. Does this mean Michelin is discontinuing them? They are great tires--very happy that I got mine in April--and by all the conversations on the various forums they seem well liked. Anyone know what's up? --Bob
Last edited by Tonylmiller; Jul 13, 2020 at 01:56 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 165
Likes: 48
So they are great tires. I need/want them.However I can’t find out anywhere if Michelin plans on continuing to produce them. I could literally pick up an edge screw reqiuring replacement Driving around the block and not be able to do so leaving me with 3 tires on the car.Frustrating! Not many choices. Want runflat,all season.Conti seem only other.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 12,931
Likes: 783
From: Huntsville AL
So they are great tires. I need/want them.However I can’t find out anywhere if Michelin plans on continuing to produce them. I could literally pick up an edge screw reqiuring replacement Driving around the block and not be able to do so leaving me with 3 tires on the car.Frustrating! Not many choices. Want runflat,all season.Conti seem only other.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 650
Likes: 219
From: Lake Worth FL
So they are great tires. I need/want them.However I can’t find out anywhere if Michelin plans on continuing to produce them. I could literally pick up an edge screw reqiuring replacement Driving around the block and not be able to do so leaving me with 3 tires on the car.Frustrating! Not many choices. Want runflat,all season.Conti seem only other.
Potenza
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 165
Likes: 48
FYI. According to Michelin “concierge” service( a young girl sitting in her home,who left me on line holding for ten minutes because she had to check up the chain of command)Michelin only looks forward 4 weeks for production and there are no plans to produce any 335s for that time but she had no info that they are discontinuing pilot sport as 3s. Experienced guy at tire rack said he didn’t know but 1.limited availability may mean Michelin May have plans to replace with new product or 2.simply need to comply with new dot specs. He would be surprised if Michelin discontinues such a popular well like tire for corvette.Nervous about future availability if unlucky enough to require a single replacement but bought a full set from tire rack today with next day delivery to NorCal from Sparks Nevada. My guy at America’s tire says they will mount for a reasonable price. Partnered tire rack shops locally do not have road force balancing or proper mounting equipment to protect rims. America’s tire says they do. We shall see.Never have I had such an issue for just TIRES!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 12,931
Likes: 783
From: Huntsville AL
FYI. According to Michelin “concierge” service( a young girl sitting in her home,who left me on line holding for ten minutes because she had to check up the chain of command)Michelin only looks forward 4 weeks for production and there are no plans to produce any 335s for that time but she had no info that they are discontinuing pilot sport as 3s. Experienced guy at tire rack said he didn’t know but 1.limited availability may mean Michelin May have plans to replace with new product or 2.simply need to comply with new dot specs. He would be surprised if Michelin discontinues such a popular well like tire for corvette.Nervous about future availability if unlucky enough to require a single replacement but bought a full set from tire rack today with next day delivery to NorCal from Sparks Nevada. My guy at America’s tire says they will mount for a reasonable price. Partnered tire rack shops locally do not have road force balancing or proper mounting equipment to protect rims. America’s tire says they do. We shall see.Never have I had such an issue for just TIRES!
Of course, other tires and brands are available, also. No need for drama.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 165
Likes: 48
All partnered local installers do not have equipment to handle the install.only America’s tire.tires are therefore coming to me.Others on here are also discussing the situation,confusion with Michelin,see general discussion.This was a unique and somewhat irritating experience for me. All the visits,calls etc with no one able to clarify.I was just relating my experiences.Thats what we do here.If you call that Drama well...........
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 12,931
Likes: 783
From: Huntsville AL
All partnered local installers do not have equipment to handle the install.only America’s tire.tires are therefore coming to me.Others on here are also discussing the situation,confusion with Michelin,see general discussion.This was a unique and somewhat irritating experience for me. All the visits,calls etc with no one able to clarify.I was just relating my experiences.Thats what we do here.If you call that Drama well...........
We can manufacture drama out of thin air!
By the way, normally you can have the Tire Rack ship your tires to the installer of your choice. However I am not sure that your preferred installer was even on their list so you can always have them shipped to your house. Easy as pie .
Last edited by Tonylmiller; Jul 14, 2020 at 11:51 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 165
Likes: 48
Yes America’s is not a preferred TR installer in Sacto . Only Firestone and a couple local dealers all of whom per their web sites purport to not having Road Force.Therefore America’s will mount.Impressed with tire rack. May have purchased from them years ago but can’t remember. It’s just a little hassle to split the purchase/install issue. Tires won’t fit in Vette so my wife’s involved in the deal too.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 12,931
Likes: 783
From: Huntsville AL
Yes America’s is not a preferred TR installer in Sacto . Only Firestone and a couple local dealers all of whom per their web sites purport to not having Road Force.Therefore America’s will mount.Impressed with tire rack. May have purchased from them years ago but can’t remember. It’s just a little hassle to split the purchase/install issue. Tires won’t fit in Vette so my wife’s involved in the deal too.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,055
Likes: 864
From: So Cal
It isn’t “drama.” It is quite obvious that something is going on with Michelin Corvette tires. It may simply be a temporary supplier shortage, or Covid related, or it may be that a couple of new unannounced replacement lines are coming out for PSS and AS3 tires.
Telling Forum members “No problem here”, is disingenuous when even the long trusted Tire Rack shows “closeout” beside one of Corvette tires. It doesnt say “nearly out of stock”, it says “closeout.” Other tire shops are having availability issues as well.
If it just a temporary glitch, Michelin should just say so. I can’t imagine that Michelin is going to abandon our sub market. But let’s ascertain whether or not something more serious is going on.
Telling Forum members “No problem here”, is disingenuous when even the long trusted Tire Rack shows “closeout” beside one of Corvette tires. It doesnt say “nearly out of stock”, it says “closeout.” Other tire shops are having availability issues as well.
If it just a temporary glitch, Michelin should just say so. I can’t imagine that Michelin is going to abandon our sub market. But let’s ascertain whether or not something more serious is going on.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,055
Likes: 864
From: So Cal
In another PSS/AS3 tire availability thread, one of our members said that Tire Rack told him/her that a new AS4 will be replacing the AS3s. We'll see what transpires in the near future.
It would be nice to see our cars supported with a new improved AS4 and maybe even the PS4s (or a new PS5?) this year. That might even be loosely considered as real proactive “drama.”
It would be nice to see our cars supported with a new improved AS4 and maybe even the PS4s (or a new PS5?) this year. That might even be loosely considered as real proactive “drama.”
Last edited by B747VET; Jul 16, 2020 at 03:37 PM.