Tire Recommendations
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Tire Recommendations
Any recommendations for decent wet/dry tires for the summer, currently running the pilot sport 4s ZP and have been hearing a lot of bad things about run flats. I am not terribly concerned with getting a tow or roadside tire change in the absolute worst case scenario so I am considering buying something that will be either a smoother ride or more performant ride but ideally both if possible.
Popular Reply
Feb 6, 2024, 11:41 AM
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 39,136
Likes: 17,986
From: DFW Area TX
The Michelin ZPs are light years ahead of the old Goodyear run flats from the C5/C6 days. When I need to replace my tires, I'll stick with what they came with.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,812
Likes: 10,229
From: Garden Valley CA
Modern runflat technology isn't like the old days. The main problem is tire selection in runflats. Here is a video where they did a comparison where they didn't change anything other than runflat vs non-runflat:
The Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 has a reputation of being a good all around performance tire but it isn't a runflat and you give up some performance.
The Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 has a reputation of being a good all around performance tire but it isn't a runflat and you give up some performance.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,898
Likes: 4,351
From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
To each his own. I have been using runflat tires for a long time. I don't have any issues with them - perhaps it is just I can't hear good. Most of the "tire" noise I hear is road noise. With or without runflats. Better roads = less noise.
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 343
Likes: 50
From: MA
2022 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I have been using the run flats for years and plan on continuing whey I need to replace the tires on my HTC. I have had several instances over the years where the run flat allowed me to get home without inconvenience and take care of the "flat" later rather than being stranded on the road.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 852
From: West NY
[QUOTE=RKCRLR;
The Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 has a reputation of being a good all around performance tire but it isn't a runflat and you give up some performance.[/QUOTE]
Just a note on performance, the Conti DWS06 front tires for a stingray is a whopping 5lbs lighter and the rear DWS06 tires are an even more impressive 7lbs lighter (EACH) than the Mich run flats. That loss of rotational weight will only provide better acceleration, braking and suspension performance. It has been said that you may loose some turn-in feel and of coarse the security of run flat feature. Flat tires don't scare me, 44 years of driving and riding motorcycle I have never been broke down with a flat, I have never put a spare tire on. As soon as these oem tires wear past 50% tread I'll be installing the DWS06's
The Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 has a reputation of being a good all around performance tire but it isn't a runflat and you give up some performance.[/QUOTE]
Just a note on performance, the Conti DWS06 front tires for a stingray is a whopping 5lbs lighter and the rear DWS06 tires are an even more impressive 7lbs lighter (EACH) than the Mich run flats. That loss of rotational weight will only provide better acceleration, braking and suspension performance. It has been said that you may loose some turn-in feel and of coarse the security of run flat feature. Flat tires don't scare me, 44 years of driving and riding motorcycle I have never been broke down with a flat, I have never put a spare tire on. As soon as these oem tires wear past 50% tread I'll be installing the DWS06's
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,302
Likes: 3,202
From: Oro Valley Arizona
Did I Miss Me?
Running non run flat tires is akin to pointing a loaded gun at your foot pulling the trigger and hoping you miss. Stick with the Michelin AS 4s. They were engineered specifically for your ride.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,812
Likes: 10,229
From: Garden Valley CA
Just a note on performance, the Conti DWS06 front tires for a stingray is a whopping 5lbs lighter and the rear DWS06 tires are an even more impressive 7lbs lighter (EACH) than the Mich run flats. That loss of rotational weight will only provide better acceleration, braking and suspension performance. It has been said that you may loose some turn-in feel and of coarse the security of run flat feature. Flat tires don't scare me, 44 years of driving and riding motorcycle I have never been broke down with a flat, I have never put a spare tire on. As soon as these oem tires wear past 50% tread I'll be installing the DWS06's
PS4S runflat tires on stock wheels
PS4S non-runflat tires on stock wheels
PS4S non-runflat tires on light wheels
I suspect the differences won't be that significant but I'm willing to be proven wrong.
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
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Thanks for the replies, I myself haven't experienced the car without the run flats so I am definitely not saying it would be better. From the experiences of everyone here I will stick with them as my all season tire, the only other consideration for me is whether switching to summer tires is worth it come warmer temps. I would love to be able to launch at full throttle but at the moment anything over 50% and the tires start to slip considerably in the rear which may be due to all seasons or (I suspect this is more likely) may be due to the 35-40F temps. Are others able to launch at 80-90% throttle from a stop using the stock run flat tires?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 13,180
Likes: 10,528
Even if the lighter tires drop a whole tenth off the 0-60 time (which would surprise me), only a professional drag racer might be able to detect that difference. And on the street, what actual benefit would that provide? The flip side of the performance benefit is that the suspension of the C8 is tuned to match the bespoke factory tires, which were developed by GM and Michelin together just for the C8. (The generic PS4 tires without the GM 'TPC' spec logo are very different.) Put tires with softer sidewalls on the car and any benefit you get from lighter weight might be lost to worse handling.
My wife and I travel in our C8, and the idea of a flat tire when the nearest tire store is 30 or 40 miles away, and they've never even seen, much less changed wide, low profile tires like the C8s is a situation I would prefer to insure against.
The noise of the Micheline tires is directly related to tread design and compound, not the runflat design. Put the non runflat version of the PS4 on the car and they'll be just as noisy.
Almost certainly due to the temps, I think. I've launched mine a couple of times in warm weather with the A/S tires. I get a little wheelspin, but no axle hop.
My wife and I travel in our C8, and the idea of a flat tire when the nearest tire store is 30 or 40 miles away, and they've never even seen, much less changed wide, low profile tires like the C8s is a situation I would prefer to insure against.
The noise of the Micheline tires is directly related to tread design and compound, not the runflat design. Put the non runflat version of the PS4 on the car and they'll be just as noisy.
I would love to be able to launch at full throttle but at the moment anything over 50% and the tires start to slip considerably in the rear which may be due to all seasons or (I suspect this is more likely) may be due to the 35-40F temps. Are others able to launch at 80-90% throttle from a stop using the stock run flat tires?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,812
Likes: 10,229
From: Garden Valley CA
Thanks for the replies, I myself haven't experienced the car without the run flats so I am definitely not saying it would be better. From the experiences of everyone here I will stick with them as my all season tire, the only other consideration for me is whether switching to summer tires is worth it come warmer temps. I would love to be able to launch at full throttle but at the moment anything over 50% and the tires start to slip considerably in the rear which may be due to all seasons or (I suspect this is more likely) may be due to the 35-40F temps. Are others able to launch at 80-90% throttle from a stop using the stock run flat tires?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,339
Likes: 2,613
From: Covington LA
Low temps have a huge affect on any tire to include all season. Stick with the run flats and forget what you hear about them being bad. Remember what you hear about what a bitch it is to tow or flatbed the C8. No way in hell do I ever want to do that. I've already had a flat with my C8 and it drove just fine to the tire repair shop and was properly repaired and no trouble since.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 852
From: West NY
GM and Michelin engineered the best run flat tire for the C8, not the best tire. The only reason there is run flats on this car is that the designers didn't want a spare tire or a repair kit in it. If run flats are so awesome, why aren't they on F1, Indy car, or NASCAR? Run flats detract form performance, not enhance performance. I have put on many sets of tires in my driving life,(never a heavy run flat) and I have felt the change in a cars ride when a heavier or lighter tire is installed....it's a thing.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Are you sure you are doing the launch correctly? The tires shouldn't be slipping much, the computer controls the launch. Your left foot should be hard on the brake with the throttle floored and the RPMs will settle in around 3500 RPM. I haven't tried it without flooring the throttle but it may not trigger launch control without the throttle being floored.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,812
Likes: 10,229
From: Garden Valley CA
This is without even doing launch control, just regular tour or sport or even Z mode and floor it. The tires slip out, I would say cold tires are responsible and they probably are but even if I've done 70-80 on the highway for a good 10-15 mins and it warms up they still struggle about the same.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Without launch control your tires will spin until Traction Control (and Stability Control if necessary) intervenes. With Launch Control the computer will control the power application and use appropriate power to limit wheel spin. Yes warm tires will hook up better than cold tires but Launch control should still limit wheel spin in cold conditions.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,741
Likes: 5,605
From: AZ
That said, I have been pleased with everything about the PS4S ZPs except how heavy they are.
Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66,409
Likes: 2,061
From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
The only change I made with my 2022 Stingray was to switch to all-season OEM from the Z51 tires (I don't wish to look up the exact nomenclature for the specific Michelin tires).
The run flat vs non-run flat tire debate is not relevant in this day and age as there is no performance penalty for sticking with the OEM tires for the C8. As pointed out above, this has been a non-issue since the C5/C6 days. I really wouldn't want to catch a flat on standard tires with no spare and no means to safely drive the car to a safe location to deal with a flat.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 864
Likes: 398
From: White
I have been using the run flats for years and plan on continuing whey I need to replace the tires on my HTC. I have had several instances over the years where the run flat allowed me to get home without inconvenience and take care of the "flat" later rather than being stranded on the road.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 1,200
From: DFW