Why go to non run flat tires?
 

If you went to non run flat tires, what was the reason? Any concerns about getting a flat - especially on a trip? If you have a GS, which tire did you choose?

Why go to non run flat tires?

IMHO - it's

because A. you are chasing the absolute best possible traction & grip available and will sacrifice the issues, costs and annoyances associated with flat tires.

because B. your car came equipped with the Goodyear run flats, which are awful tires in multiple ways, and you think that all run flats are bad tires as a result

because C. MONEY - non-run-flats are cheaper. Performance may or may not be comparable with today's best run-flats but it's interesting where folks choose to save money

because D. you demand some looney tunes size that is not available in run-flats.


I would submit that the order or reasoning is likely: C - B - A - D :thumbs:

I guess its NOT for everyone to use NON run flat tires, but for me here are my reasons ....not sure if I'm right or not..


1. Non RF tires are less expensive (cheaper)

2. Non RF tires ride batter, and you can get them in compounds that will out perform the RF

3. About flats... I'm 70 yrs old & I have Non RF tires on my 05 and I just bought two cans of "Fix-A-Flat..

4. I haven't had to use it on my car but used it on a neighbor who got a flat & had no spare.. I stopped the air leak, & he was able to drive to a gas station to get the tire pressure to 30 lb & he drove home (100 miles...

I personally have a compressor (forgot the name) but its a 12 volt compressor with a can of fix-a-flat hooked up to it, it will inflate my tire & seal the leak...

Also I have a tow co. that can be called from my car inc. company (Gecko)

Bottom line I have Top of The Line tires for about 1/2 the price of the OEM Run Flats!

Interesting, if you happen to find out the name please post it.

Damn !! quit being so reasonable. :thumbs:

It was a standard item for the C5 Z06.

I just went to the garage, and here is all I can find on it.. its called

"Continental" or ContiComfortkit

Continental Tire North America
1800 Continental Boulevard
Charlotte NC 28273

here is a phone # I found on the instruction sheet..1-800-847-3349 call Mon - Fri 8:30 am - 5:30 pm EST

It's made by Continental Tire in Charlotte NC

PS It is a QUALITY piece of equipment.. it can be use with the sealant (if you have a leak, or just as a compresser..it has a built in pressure gage & I think it cost about $50...

Here is the compressor I keep in the back of my C6. It fits beautifully in one of the rear storage compartments. Powerful too. It fills most car tires from flat in about 2 minutes...

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...ortby=ourPicks

P.S. You can find it cheaper than this at a certain on-line "book store"...:thumbs:

:iagree:

Do any of you have Michelin Pilot Super Sports on your car? If so, what do you think about them?

E. because you realize a can of fix-a-flat and a compressor will do the same. And you have a lighter tire. And you want a better tire.

Conti
 

I have ordered Continental Extreme Contact DW's.

Gonna pick up a small pump and a set of plugs.

I have Super Sports on my 11 GS Vert for about 4k miles right now. The car performs better in every category.

Blow outs are rare, extremely to be honest. Unless you hit something. One member here had run flats and hit something and still needed a toe truck eventually. 50 mile range is a joke out west anyway. You don't want to drive 50mph on the interstate out here. That is a good way to get killed.

Most leaks are slow leakers. I have a good air compressor in my car. I even carry it on long trips in my other cars. I also have a can of slime for the fast leaks and a repair kit. So generally I'm covered with the exception of a blowout.

The Super Sports are great in the rain, better overall performance, better ride, better than any run flat in the cold (probably because the side walls are not stiff), they are cheaper, quieter and I noticed a gas mileage increase of around 10%.

After 4k miles I lost about 1/32d of tread so I have another 6/32ds to I hit the bars, maybe 25-30k miles. Most max dry weather performance run flats won't last that long.

Grip is amazing with the Super Sports. Brand new I got them up to .87g on an onramp and I wasn't pushing them.

Michelin rates the Super Sport better in every category than the PS2 ZP on its website. Price difference is about $600. BStones run flats cost around the same as Super Sports.

I think it's called Fix a Flat Kit or something like that. Fix a Flat has the regular cans and the kit with compressor.

the reason i went with NON run flats.

1) noise , was just too noisy, non runflats Nitto Invo are much quieter. the last straw was when my brother and i were traveling, trying to use onstar , it couldnt understand the phone number i was saying, no matter how many times i tried! i was embarrassed!

2) ride, rough , very rough, again non runflats Nitton Invo are smoother , MUCH smoother

there are other NON runflats i might have picked, just thought i would try them first.

almost hated to switch, but with fast excellent compressor and green slime (i will only use in dire emergencies) and a plug kit, i feel safe.

oh, before i switched and called my insurance company (which has towing in it), i asked if they would assure me they would pay for a flatbed service. they checked and said, 'actually that would be all we would allow for your car, so absolutely YES'. :)
i too use... http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...+compressor.do Most small compressors put out about as much air as a panting squirrel.

OTOH, I recently had a 0 PSI flat with my RF's and I was very glad I had them. I might feel different once I get a tow hook, but I don't trust tow trucks. And had this happened at 80MPH, I might be typing this with my tongue like Stephen Hawking. :eek: After seeing a GT-R with Bridgestone RF's get a flat at 155MPH on Fifth Gear and not lose control really sold me.

I wonder how many non-RF's-are-better! types are really shaving a second off of their track times.

Because under 65 degrees and "attempting" any type of quick acceleration, 1st gear is worthless, 2nd gear is worthless, and 3rd gear is next to worthless. I'd rather have tires with enough grip I can actually accelerate without turning my $1500 investment into whitish-blue smoke and black lines on the road by barely tapping the accelerator.

I've also heard road noise decreases noticeably after a tire swap with non RF's.

I also like to go to the race tracks, and if I'm going to be going through a few sets of tires, $800 for a set of 4 Hankook V12 is a lot easier to swallow than $1500 a pop for a set of factory R/F's.

These are my reasons.

I've had great service out of my GoodYears. I'm over 38,000 miles now and have only bought one set of fronts. The rears are original and will probably do me another 3 or 4 thousand.

Run flats
 

Improvement depends on choosing a better tire not just non run flat
GM makes compressor/tire sealer kits for their non spare tire cars
Just bought brand new on Ebay for $60.00
Not telling you what to do but I've done Bridgestone RE11's twice and couldn't be happier. Downside is they are an extreme performance tires
which limits mileage and they have no warranty. I have never had a problem with the first set. Just put on a set on my C6. They are not overpriced either. Hold on to your hat they stick like glue on both launch and cornering.