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C5 non- Run flat tires?

T

Torchy2000

Guest
Howdy all, I bought a 2000' torch red coupe several months ago and am in the need of tires. I belong to our local corvette club and have asked and gotten opinions, but nothing authoritative.

Has anyone replaced their runflats with the Goodyear F1 non-runflats?

It's not just the cost, the runflats are loud and (with my Z51 suspension) are a bit stiff.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to "soften" the car up to much.

Opinions? Conjecture?

Thanks fellow Vetters (wave)

G Robin
 
Be Careful

Regarding replacing your RunFlats with non RunFlats, this is what happened to me.

I asked for Original Equipment replacement tires when I bought my current set. Unfortunately, I received OE rear tires only. The front tires were RunFlats, but not the Extended Mobility Tire (There is a raised EMT in the sidewall of the tire to ensure you have the original tires.) The tires themselves are fine, the problem comes with the tire monitor sensors. As you may or may not be aware (and I am not sure the 2000 is the same as my 1998), but the tire monitoring system operates by radio frequency. There is a battery in the valve stem that powers a sending unit in the tire to the car's receiver (i.e. computer chip).

The non-EMT runflat tires have an all-steel construction that interferes with the tire monitoring system and eventually shorts out one or more of the tire sensors.

That's when it get really fun! It's at that time that you realize NO ONE services these tires!!! The tire monitoring sensor is a GM product, but GM service centers don't have the equipment to unmount these tires. The tire dealer where you buy the tires can unmount the tires, and install the sensor, but probably don't have a strong enough magnet to "relearn" your tires for the monitoring system.

I personally would only put Original Equipment on this car, but of course that is up to you.

Good Luck!

:)
 
98BlackV ette
That was a very informative post. Never would have thought of that. Also, if the battery is in the valve stem do you have to unmount the tire to replace it? Thanks, Michael
 
Hi there,
Yes, 98 Black is absolutely correct. F1 Steel, is what they are called, and the steel belted sidewall is what does it, just as they have mentioned.
There is a preliminary document on this condition, as we have been experiencing this for a while.
The valve stem and the tire pressure sensor is all one piece, and you have to remove the nut holding the sensor, dropping it into the tire before removal.
And, Keith, no, you cannot turn off the tire pressure monitoring system.
Bestoall, c4c5:hb
 
C4C5,

I have a few questions --

1. What can a sensor be bought for?
(Not a bad thing to have along)

2. Is there and estimated life on the battery?

3. Have you heard of many problems?

4. I use a fairly small magnet to reset the sensors, what size is
needed? (not a fair question, I got mine at Lowe's)
Takes less than a minute and is always on afterwards.

5. Not a question but a recap - If your having a problem that may require a tire dismount, have a spare sensor. I also carry an extra o-ring for the sensor. The sensor does not have to be dropped out to remove the tire, but it's safer. Check with the tire changer before you go and make sure he can handle the EMT on a Corvette rim with pressure sensors. Check your rims often, the side walls are stiff enough to bend them if you hit a bump hard enough (teeth jarring hard). This is simple stuff, just being repaired, but some of it you need to experience first hand to make sure it doesn't happen again.

I run 3 sets of rims and 2 sets of tires and have had many tire changes with no problems (except a new rim that was bent).

Thanks,
 
Oh crap, spell checker changed, just being prepared, to, just being repaired --- sorry
 
Hi there,
97-00 sensors are about $120 from GM. I dont know if there is an aftermarket equivalent sensor.
As for the life, I have seen some that have not had a problem since 97. Others have had intermittant issues.
I replace them on occasion. The sensor will only power up with a magnet, or centrifical force, sliding a check ball to a contact, powering up the sensor. Once the wheel stops rotating, it will shut off in about 5 mins.
As for issues in service, I have done a bunch of them, but are they a problem, I dont think so. I would say that we replace a few.
Besttoyou, c4c5:hb
 
Thanks C4C5 Specialist

Thanks for all the replies to this post, you saved me a lot of writing :).

I joined this forum specifically to learn more technical information about the C5, and I have not been disappointed.

...perhaps, maybe, you can lend some insight to my other thread regarding suspension...:L

Thanks.

Maria aka 98BlackVette
 
I am still unclear if using another nonflat tire will effect the sensors? My 98 is now in need of tires and I was hoping to go with the BFGoodrich G-Force T/A KDW because of it's long life and price. When the new tires are mounted is it possible to change the batteries in the sensors or are they sealed?
Thanks,

-JOE
 
To ClubJoe

This discussion was continued on a new thread. There is a GM Bulletin out there that mentions specifically the GoodYear F1 tires, but it doesn't mean that other tires won't cause the same problem.

Personally, (and this is strictly a "gut feeling") I don't think sensor failure is "guaranteed" if you use a different tire. I say this because I drove on the "bad" tires for 20,000 miles before I had a problem with the tire sensor. You may go the entire life of your tires and never have a problem. It's one of the "Corvette thangs." That's why we love these cars...right? :)

Good Luck.
 

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