1st Vette - tire question

[Tony MN]

We've just purchased my "50th Anniversary" Corvette. Actually, it's a 2000, Magnetic Red Coupe, 6-speed but it's for my 50th birthday (please forgive the play on words). My wife and I are very excited and can't wait for the snow to melt.

While we're waiting, I'll need to replace the OE Goodyears. My first impression of them is that they are incredibly noisy so I'd like to get something that will reduce the noise while providing the least sacrifice in performance. Over the past few days, I've been reading a lot about the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S, the Firestone Firehawk Runflats and the Bridgestone Potenza S-03's.

Any advice and/or experiences that you could provide is much appreciated. Thanks for reading my post!

Tony.

 

[dens56]

I replaced my OE Goodyear tires last summer, not knowing what I know now. I don't know if I made a mistake or not, but being new to the C-5 I may have made a mistake of installing new OE Goodyear tires. The new Goodyears were quiter, but still more noisey than I would have expected. There are plenty of folks here on the forum that will give you good advice. You will need to find someone that can change the tires with the C-5 wheels. It requires a special tire changer so as not to damage the tire pressure sensors. It they don't install them back to the same location, the sensors will have to be retrained. This is a fairly easy process you could do with a magnet and knowledge of your Drivers Information Center (DIC).
Good luck.

 

[MsSchroder]

Tony,
Welcome to the CAC
I don't have any advice about the tires since I haven't had to buy any new ones yet, but I'm sure the members will chime in with some advice.

 

[Ctfoodguy2000]

The first decision you need to make is keeping runflats or switching to non run flats. If you go non run flats, you need to pick up a small compressor, tire patch kit, etc... since there is no spare. DO NOT use tire sealer as that will ruin your sensors.

If you stay with runflats, ther are many opinions as to which are the "best". The most popular seem to be Michelein Pilot Sport Z/P, Firestone Firehawks, Yokohomo's. There are other choices...

I still have Goodyears, when I replace them I am going with Micheleine's.

Try this website to compare the tires:

http://www.tirerack.com/index.jsp

 

[wrrvette]

If you stick with run-flats realize that on the Goodyears you can drive 100 plus miles at 55 but on the others maybe 50 miles. What you gain in a quieter ride you lose in run-flat milage.

 

[WadeGa]

I just replaced the OEM Goodyears on my 2001 with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Zero Pressure tires and am amazed with the improvement. The tires are much quieter and smoother on rough pavement. I used the ratings at the Tire Rack website to help me pick this set.