Goodyear to Michelin

[wwr]

I found out that the standard tires are "summer" tires only on my '04. We average 55 degrees here year round so they're Ok. My dealings with Goodyear(not good) go back years and have learned that companies go with who gives them the best deal for their fleet. On my Supras, Accords, Avalon, Wrx and my SVX I used OEM tires and they wee Michelin or Bridgestone.

I priced the Michelin run flats Saturday and found out they were the only" ALL SEASON" run flats out there. I think I will go with the "ZERO PERESSURE"(Run Flats) next go around. Fronts were $223/2 and rear $326/2 with 11.50 per for shipping. Of course with oil going up who knows. These tire pressure moniters on my car should work on these new tires right?

Thanks, wwr

 

[ZZRider]

Monitors should work fine, assuming they do currently. Tires themselves will not make a difference.

 

[ZZRider]

FWIW, I know many have the Michelin run-flats and like them.

I'm a BFG G-Force T/A KD person. Non-run flats. Carry a repair kit, AAA card, and cell phone. I've gone through 4 sets now, only one flat tire. I wont go back to the run-flats.

Also, BFG also makes an all season version of their ultra performance tires: T/A KDWS. I use these on my 98 Trans Am WS6, my daily driver. They are better than the summer performance tires I use on the vette for winter and wet driving, but I live in a hilly area, and high power rear wheel drive cars just do not cut it. That said, I only had like 4 or 5 days this past winter in Iowa I did not drive my WS6. Only time I had difficulty was really on my drive.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=g-Force+T%2FA+KDWS


Edit: doesn't look like they come in the usual vette tire sizes. Sorry.

 

[Bioscache2]

The KDW tires is available but not the KDWS, I was just pricing them as a replacement to the stock tires. The KDW is considered an ultra performance summer tire (as opposed to the max performance summer tire KD) but as longas you avoid the snow I think it would be all right. Since you have experiance with both KD, would you recommend fthat or a vette that is a daily driver. I'm in school right now so technically I don't "need" to drive anywhere but I wouldn't want to be stuck home just cause of the rain. Also how long does the tires last, thanks.

 

[ron]

For what it is worth: I moved from GY runflats to Michelin runflats a number of years ago. I would never go back to GY. The Michelins are much quieter and have great traction and control in rainy conditions. I realize that they are more expensive, but considering the advantages, I think they are worth the extra money. One observation: I think the wear longevity is quite comparable between the two. Good luck with your purchase.Ron

 

[Glenn W.]

I just put non-run-flat Pilot A/S on mine, and I have NEVER had tires transform a car as much as these did! With the (admittedly worn) GY run flats, you could not even hold a conversation in the car at any speed -- the highway was almost painful with tire noise. These new Michelins are SOOOOOO quiet -- you'll lose a little steering quickness off of center, but I gladly traded that away. The new Michelins just seem to float the car down the road.....I LOVE them....again, literally transformed the Corvette from a torture machine into something I'd drive anywhere on even the roughest of pavement..........even bumps are SO much softer when you hit them with these....get the idea that I like these tires???

 

[medicine man]

Iwas thinking of going back to GY for the warrenty, the original wore badley on inside front. Now I here about michlen. do they have a warrenty that is as good as GY. have been using Firstone last 21K With no problems but have always been close to home. I want security over the long haul. It would really be a bad day to have a flat in some drink water town between AZ and AR where we travel.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

I found out that the standard tires are "summer" tires only on my '04. We average 55 degrees here year round so they're Ok. My dealings with Goodyear(not good) go back years and have learned that companies go with who gives them the best deal for their fleet. On my Supras, Accords, Avalon, Wrx and my SVX I used OEM tires and they wee Michelin or Bridgestone.

I priced the Michelin run flats Saturday and found out they were the only" ALL SEASON" run flats out there. I think I will go with the "ZERO PERESSURE"(Run Flats) next go around. Fronts were $223/2 and rear $326/2 with 11.50 per for shipping. Of course with oil going up who knows. These tire pressure moniters on my car should work on these new tires right?

Thanks, wwr

Where did you find those prices? $223 for one is the price I'm seeing.

 

[wwr]

Tire prices

Where did you find those prices? $223 for one is the price I'm seeing.

should be 223X2

wwr

 

[rwpeders]

I had a similar experience with a Mazda Tribute SUV that had terrible noise from Firestone tires. So bad, we were going to sell the car. I decided to try changing the tires and bought some Michelin tires from National Tire and Battery. I had the same experience you describe - suddenly, the car was a pleasure to drive and conversations were possible. Quiet running makes a huge difference.

My 2000 convertible has new tires that are the GY Run Flats in the front and F1 GS non run flats in the rear. When I have to change them, I will also buy the Michelin tires.

 

[Flying Ace]

I ordered the Michelins last week. I've read enough to convince me!!

 

[ZZRider]

The KDW tires is available but not the KDWS, I was just pricing them as a replacement to the stock tires. The KDW is considered an ultra performance summer tire (as opposed to the max performance summer tire KD) but as longas you avoid the snow I think it would be all right. Since you have experiance with both KD, would you recommend fthat or a vette that is a daily driver. I'm in school right now so technically I don't "need" to drive anywhere but I wouldn't want to be stuck home just cause of the rain. Also how long does the tires last, thanks.

Hi Ryan, I run the KD (max performance) on the vette. I get along fine in the rain, but I take it easy when its wet. Wet traction is not exceptional though. The tires are totally worthless on any snow or ice. I use the KDWS on my WS6, and are noticably better in rain and snow/ice. For a daily driver where you might get caught by surprise with some snow, I'd go with an all-season tire myself.

My tire life is affected by driving habits, but if I see 20-25,000 on the vette's T/A KD I'm happy, usually means a set a year for the vette. The KDWS on the WS6 are lasting longer, already have ~25,000 and look quite good yet. I put on around 5000 mi/mo.

The Michelins are a great tire too, can't go wrong with them. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to get some. I'm just partial to the BFG g-Force T/A KD since I've had such great luck with them, I've just seen no reason to try something else.

 

[TheSearcher]

Good Post. I've had good luck with Frog tires on other vehicles.

 

[vetmaniac]

I do not work for Goodyear, but, in their defense, you can blame GM the runflats ride so hard. GM spec'ed the tire so that Joe Q. Public could drive 200 miles on a flat thus requiring the sidewalls to be super stiff to support the requirement. The requirement was reduced for the C6 to 100 miles, thereby providing much better ride quality. This is why non-runflat tires seem so superior to the original runflats on the C5s. I had the Goodyear non-runflat GS-D3s on my '99 and the difference was noticeable.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Yep, runflats are like driving on concrete blocks. I'm getting ready to ditch mine as soon as I get the alignment checked.

I'm torn between the Eagle F1's and the Kuhmo Ecxta MX's.
I know I will get a better ride with the Eagles and less life out of the Kuhmos, but can't justify paying the big bucks for Michelins. Never liked Michelins much anyway.
My runflats are scalloped on the inside front, and I think there is an alignment problem or something else going on with the front tires. But I will know this afternoon when I get the tires checked out and balanced.

 

[JBsC5]

I remember on my 1999 C5 I switched from gy runflats to Michelin pilot sport non runflats..


It was like the car shrunk around me...The car rode so much better...much smoother....If I were to guess what a small sports car like the S2000 drove like....

Thats what the C5 drove like when I swapped to non runflat tires..

It was a great improvement inclusive of the 25lb weight reduction.(unsprung weight) 25lbs of unsprung weight is like dropping a hundred lbs of sprung weight...worth about a tenth in the quarter miles....(I didn't like the michelin pilot sport non runflats at the drag strip though....Tough to get them to hook at the track for some reason...unless you really heated them up first...yet on the street..the michelins were great..

Now the downside....I thought afterward I probably should have changed to larger wheels and tires...not just changed to non runflats..

Just some 20/20 for you to consider..

Non runflats on C5 coupes and verts are an awesome mod...

Good liuck.

 

[MsSchroder]

I was pricing tires today on Tire Rack.

Does anyone have any thoughts, opinions, or info on the Michelin Pilot Sports vs the Pilot Sports PS2? :confused (non- run flats)

Why would you choose one over the other?

Tammy

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Yep, runflats are like driving on concrete blocks. I'm getting ready to ditch mine as soon as I get the alignment checked.

I'm torn between the Eagle F1's and the Kuhmo Ecxta MX's.
I know I will get a better ride with the Eagles and less life out of the Kuhmos, but can't justify paying the big bucks for Michelins. Never liked Michelins much anyway.
My runflats are scalloped on the inside front, and I think there is an alignment problem or something else going on with the front tires. But I will know this afternoon when I get the tires checked out and balanced.

Today is the first time my Vette has not shaked itself down the road since I bought it. I got my wheels balanced on a Hunter GSP9700 system and now I don't need to get rid of the tires just yet. It rides smooth as silk.

 

[wx briefer]

MsSchroder, look inside a michelin PS on the dealer's shelf. See if you detect unacceptably large ply overlap inside the tire. I had a set about 4 years ago on the LT4. I removed them at half tread life because of teeth jarring vibration over 75MPH. Those were non'runflats! I understand that michelin has improved the manufacturing technique. However, considering the dismal service afforded me by the local dealer on any kind of adjustment, I won't even stand next to the tire in a dealership ( I smell unpleasant odor from them - psychologically )

 

[MsSchroder]

wx briefer, thanks for the info. I would be pretty irate if I spent overy $1000 on them and discovered that.