Run flats
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 24,109
Likes: 1,329
From: Spring Texas
I made my doctor daughter put run flats on her F-Type Jaguar. Many times, she operates late, and I didn't want her getting stuck on the side of some back country road in Nashville. She did have to compromise because there were no run flats in that car's sizes. Eased my mind.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 2,294
Likes: 2,015
From: MA/NH Seacoast
The belief that you need run flats. Lately it seems like the crowd here feels like they're an absolute must have, which wasn't the case all that long ago.
I understand why some guys like them, as they can provide some peace of mind when traveling long distances, but they're certainly not the best tire to put under a performance oriented vehicle.
I can count on one hand the times I've suffered a puncture bad enough to stop me in my tracks. That isn't enough for me to justify running run flats. For some guys that's all the reason in the world to run them. It just depends on the guy driving the vehicle.
I understand why some guys like them, as they can provide some peace of mind when traveling long distances, but they're certainly not the best tire to put under a performance oriented vehicle.
I can count on one hand the times I've suffered a puncture bad enough to stop me in my tracks. That isn't enough for me to justify running run flats. For some guys that's all the reason in the world to run them. It just depends on the guy driving the vehicle.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 667
Likes: 547
The belief that you need run flats. Lately it seems like the crowd here feels like they're an absolute must have, which wasn't the case all that long ago.
I understand why some guys like them, as they can provide some peace of mind when traveling long distances, but they're certainly not the best tire to put under a performance oriented vehicle.
I can count on one hand the times I've suffered a puncture bad enough to stop me in my tracks. That isn't enough for me to justify running run flats. For some guys that's all the reason in the world to run them. It just depends on the guy driving the vehicle.
I understand why some guys like them, as they can provide some peace of mind when traveling long distances, but they're certainly not the best tire to put under a performance oriented vehicle.
I can count on one hand the times I've suffered a puncture bad enough to stop me in my tracks. That isn't enough for me to justify running run flats. For some guys that's all the reason in the world to run them. It just depends on the guy driving the vehicle.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,297
Likes: 24,776
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Switched from runflats to non-runflats on two of the three C5s that I owned. For the C7, went from regular runflats (OEM) to Michelin A/S 3+ ZP tires and love them. Still great handling for how I drive the car. Plus I have no worries about a puncture a ways from a service location. Obviously your risk tolerance may be different.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 12,759
Likes: 10,657
From: Prosper TX/Austin TX
2020 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
The belief that you need run flats. Lately it seems like the crowd here feels like they're an absolute must have, which wasn't the case all that long ago.
I understand why some guys like them, as they can provide some peace of mind when traveling long distances, but they're certainly not the best tire to put under a performance oriented vehicle.
I can count on one hand the times I've suffered a puncture bad enough to stop me in my tracks. That isn't enough for me to justify running run flats. For some guys that's all the reason in the world to run them. It just depends on the guy driving the vehicle.
I understand why some guys like them, as they can provide some peace of mind when traveling long distances, but they're certainly not the best tire to put under a performance oriented vehicle.
I can count on one hand the times I've suffered a puncture bad enough to stop me in my tracks. That isn't enough for me to justify running run flats. For some guys that's all the reason in the world to run them. It just depends on the guy driving the vehicle.
Re: performance, the high-performance rft tires perform just as well as non-rfts.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,039
Likes: 2,591
From: Del Boca Vista FL
Some people have never experienced a tire failure in their years of driving. I have. At all four corners at different times. Not in the Corvette, so far.
We drive all over the country, sometimes off roading on cut, dirt roads going to places like alpaca ranches and remote stargazing locations in Colorado and Nevada and other places as well.
My thought; If your concern is pure performance on a track you should be transporting your prepared car to the track or switching track tires to your driven vehicle at the track.
I am not traveling without the available run flats.
We drive all over the country, sometimes off roading on cut, dirt roads going to places like alpaca ranches and remote stargazing locations in Colorado and Nevada and other places as well.
My thought; If your concern is pure performance on a track you should be transporting your prepared car to the track or switching track tires to your driven vehicle at the track.
I am not traveling without the available run flats.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,912
Likes: 1,425
From: Any City USA
Question for the NON RUN FLAT folks: IF you (or wife, Daughter, son -whats a wife?) gets a flat at 9-10PM on I75 or major highway, its raining and cold. What will you do? What will you do?
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
Racer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 295
Likes: 109
From: Crockett Tx
I have a different reason for wanting run flat tires, my first car delivered with run fkats was a BMW with sport package. When it came time to get new tires I went with non run flats.
The sport suspension now felt soft and pretty much like a BMW without the sport package.
The car and its suspension are designed for run flat tires with stiffer sidewalls, not the softer sidewalls of non run flats tires.
Since that experience I’ve stuck with the type of tires the suspension was calibrated for.
Also the softer sidewalls of non run flat tires may contribute to a higher incidence of bent rims
The sport suspension now felt soft and pretty much like a BMW without the sport package.
The car and its suspension are designed for run flat tires with stiffer sidewalls, not the softer sidewalls of non run flats tires.
Since that experience I’ve stuck with the type of tires the suspension was calibrated for.
Also the softer sidewalls of non run flat tires may contribute to a higher incidence of bent rims
Racer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 295
Likes: 109
From: Crockett Tx
I have a tire continental kit (compressor with sealant built in ) for my wife and a string plug kit (if I am there) in all our vehs.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,039
Likes: 2,591
From: Del Boca Vista FL
Pro
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 667
Likes: 547
No way I want my wife or kid out on a highway shoulder late at night. Too dangerous.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 12,759
Likes: 10,657
From: Prosper TX/Austin TX
2020 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
I have a different reason for wanting run flat tires, my first car delivered with run fkats was a BMW with sport package. When it came time to get new tires I went with non run flats.
The sport suspension now felt soft and pretty much like a BMW without the sport package.
The car and its suspension are designed for run flat tires with stiffer sidewalls, not the softer sidewalls of non run flats tires.
Since that experience I’ve stuck with the type of tires the suspension was calibrated for.
Also the softer sidewalls of non run flat tires may contribute to a higher incidence of bent rims
The sport suspension now felt soft and pretty much like a BMW without the sport package.
The car and its suspension are designed for run flat tires with stiffer sidewalls, not the softer sidewalls of non run flats tires.
Since that experience I’ve stuck with the type of tires the suspension was calibrated for.
Also the softer sidewalls of non run flat tires may contribute to a higher incidence of bent rims
I've also owned several BMWs that came with both run flats & non-runflats and swapped them for the other. I've never felt a difference in the suspension tuning going from one to the other. Both non-M with sport pkg, and two M vehicles.
The change in feel could've been due to the tire itself vs any suspension tuning.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,912
Likes: 1,425
From: Any City USA
I like to see this operation on I75 rain and dark out. So you pull off side of road, lug wrench, jack, jack up car on pucks if lucky to get level surface, remove tire (very heavy) and then try to remove nail/object. Good luck trying to plug that run flat as its THICK, all at night with rain near the highway. GOOD LUCK !!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,834
Likes: 2,151
From: Kelso, Wa
I had a slow leak last week, now fixed. I was loosing about 2 lbs a week for a couple of weeks before the repair and wanted to be sure that it was indeed a leak and not just a change of weather. After the repair I talked to the guy who fixed (do we call them technicians now?) it. There was a nail about .soooooooooooo long that he took out. He said that 2 lbs a week was not much air to loose and we speculated that the slowness of the decrease was in part because the stiff sidewall of the run flat [reference to topic] didn't allow for the full weight of the car to push all the air out as would/could have happened otherwise.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 21,390
Likes: 1,011
From: Various places in Southern California.
For street use I am most definitely staying with the run-flats. Maybe I'd switch to conventional tires if I tracked the car, though.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,909
Likes: 2,701
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
Zormectean,
The rate a which a tire punture will leak air has nothing to do with whether the tire is a run flat or not. It's all about the nature of the puncture.
The rate a which a tire punture will leak air has nothing to do with whether the tire is a run flat or not. It's all about the nature of the puncture.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 620
Likes: 510
Other than some slow leaks in the C8 that I drove to the repair shop....I have had no flats in 70 years and several million miles of driving ...... the only vehicle I have with a spare is a 1999 Silverado with 200k miles on it and the spare is original and untouched ......
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,891
Likes: 4,344
From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
Other than some slow leaks in the C8 that I drove to the repair shop....I have had no flats in 70 years and several million miles of driving ...... the only vehicle I have with a spare is a 1999 Silverado with 200k miles on it and the spare is original and untouched ......
Racer
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 409
Likes: 240
From: Evansville(ish) Indiana
It is probably fair to say that there were several considerations involved in tire selection and they attempted to select the best compromise.
