Goodyear to Michelin

[Hotwing]

Geeez after reading this entire thread I'm more confused on what to buy. Some say this tire, and some say that tire, some say runflat, and some say non-runflat. My brain is fried ! Also wouldn't it be cheaper going to a one of the many LOCAL tire merchants (Mr. tire, Cosco, BJ's, Firestone, Goodyear etc.)to buy tires rather than buying them on-line paying for shipping to have them dropped at your door, and then hauling them to a tire store and be charged for the mounting and Balancing. Some local tire merchants advertsi the price is for "on the rim and out the door".

 

[wishuwerehere82]

In my recent experience, I find that the prices at Goodyear dealers Ect. are exorbitant compared to online prices at TireRack. And the place you have them mounted and balanced needs to have the right equipment. I haven't seen any tires that would fit a C5 in BJ's or Costco or Sam's club.
I think it's worth the extra effort to source the tires and find a good mounter/balancer.
I have had a real good experience with TireRack and have bought 2 full sets(8) from them so far, and had them delivered 48Hrs. after ordering.
Plus I just got Hosed at the local out the door Tire Dealer on balancing my C5 tires, and had to have them done again 3 weeks later at a competent shop.

 

[Hotwing]

In my recent experience, I find that the prices at Goodyear dealers Ect. are exorbitant compared to online prices at TireRack. And the place you have them mounted and balanced needs to have the right equipment. I haven't seen any tires that would fit a C5 in BJ's or Costco or Sam's club.
I think it's worth the extra effort to source the tires and find a good mounter/balancer.
I have had a real good experience with TireRack and have bought 2 full sets(8) from them so far, and had them delivered 48Hrs. after ordering.
Plus I just got Hosed at the local out the door Tire Dealer on balancing my C5 tires, and had to have them done again 3 weeks later at a competent shop.

Sorry you got hosed by a local....But I think I'll take your advice and order on line......I've been to 4 local tire stores and have talked to several of those pimpled faced greasy high school drop-out morons (one said he had never heard of a run-flat, another said run-flats CAN'T be repaired....((Thinking to myself....why pay almost $400 for a tire that can't be fix?...Duh!!!...I thanked him for his time and hit the road. Another shop wanted $1600 for GY runflats plus $27 per tire to mount them (I guess that included balancing?) I just have to make up my mind on which I want run-flat or not.

 

[ron]

Tire Choices

Run flats vs. non run flats is a decision that should be made depending on how confortable you are and what kind of road-side service you have should you become stranded with a flat in never-never land. One tow truck service could cost more than the difference that you pay for the run flat feature (depending on the towing distance, etc.) I would carefully factor that into the equation when making the choice. As far as tire brand is concerned; I believe that most manufacturers have a good product and there aren't great differences;however, the Michelin is used by many high-end cars and has an overall good reputation for longevity and ride quality. As far as purchasing, I suggest finding the shop where the custom cars and local Corvette get their tire work done and inquire what the charge would be to get your mail order or local purchase tires mounted and balanced. The local "car guys" in my area are a wealth of reliable information and know who performs the best work for the most reasonable rates. I would bet that would be true in your area as well.

Good luck with your purchase. Ron

 

[wishuwerehere82]

This is what I did for locating a mounter/balancer.

Go to the Hunter website.
http://www.gsp9700.com/
and click"Locate a GSP9700" on the top bar.
Then type in your zip code to find a dealer that has the system in their shop.

 

[wx briefer]

[QUOTE Also wouldn't it be cheaper going to a one of the many LOCAL tire merchants (Mr. tire, Cosco, BJ's, Firestone, Goodyear etc.)to buy tires rather than buying them on-line paying for shipping to have them dropped at your door, and then hauling them to a tire store and be charged for the mounting and Balancing. Some local tire merchants advertsi the price is for "on the rim and out the door".[/QUOTE]

Goodyear has instituted new dealership service/pricing/marketing policies. I will bet your next visit to a Goodyear dealer will be pleasant, courteous and price conscious. Try 'em before ordering. Can't hurt.

 

[Flying Ace]

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

And I'm still waiting...

Fronts came in last week, Rears are on backorder!!

 

[atmmac]

I'm sticking with goodyears. I'm sorry but i dont buy french products like Michelin Tires.

 

[Flying Ace]

Good point.

I guess the "cheese eating surrender monkeys" are on a vacation or something.

They don't seem to be making any tires.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Holy crud!

3 weeks to get a pair of tires?
Maybe Michelin should pull all of their TV ads if they can't actually deliver the goods.

 

[Flying Ace]

OK, Finally got them on today!


Good noise reduction and a bit smoother on the bumps.

So far, I'm impressed. One thing that I wasn't prepared for is that the lip on the sidewalls above the bead actually protrude about an 1/8" from the top of the stock wheels! The tech told me that they did that in their design as extra protection for the wheels....I wonder if that's true??

Anyway, not bad.

 

[tomtom72]

Flying Ace,Yes that is a "wheel protector" I think all the majors have that trait in their high end tires. I was quite surprised, as you were, to see that "stuff" on my GS-D3's when they arrived. Looks kind of out of the ordinary but after a week I got used to it being in my way when I polish my wheels.

 

[vett boy]

C5's are born with alignment problems.Once cuping starts as you well know so starts the noise.I've worked hard getting mine corrected to a point to minimize any abnormal wear.The point is that prior to the purchase of expensive replacements make sure your alignment -toe and camber are set for min. wear.(I try to avoid the french)

 

[Flying Ace]

Loose Nuts!!

OK all is well, I really like the Michelins. I got an alignment done yesterday (the old fronts were wearing bad on the inner shoulders). The tech came out and told me that most of my adjusting nuts were loose!!!!!:ugh ... ad


Anyway, he was also a bit surprised about the overlap that the Michelins have on the rims and had some difficulty attaching the alignment "jigs" on the wheels..

Anyway... WOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! after the alignment was done.

 

[mqqn]

OK all is well, I really like the Michelins. I got an alignment done yesterday (the old fronts were wearing bad on the inner shoulders). The tech came out and told me that most of my adjusting nuts were loose!!!!!:ugh ... ad


Anyway, he was also a bit surprised about the overlap that the Michelins have on the rims and had some difficulty attaching the alignment "jigs" on the wheels..

Anyway... WOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! after the alignment was done.

Hi Flying Ace -

I like the look of the Michs - They look "beefier" than the pirellis of a like diameter and aspect ratio, and the rim-saver ring is more pronounced on the Michs.

I have found over the years , going back the my Firebirds with GY Gatorbacks, that the Michelins ride more smoothly with less noise than the compareable GY tire.

The GY's have great cornering feel, and let go predictably and gradually in progressively higher-load cornering (on ramps etc....) whereas the Michs grip like gangbusters up to the limit and then just "let go" seemingly all at once.

I have not had Mich's on a vette, preferring the Pirellis instead. The Pirellis are more like the Michs I used to run on my Firebirds than the GY's in my opinion.

I took the runflats off of our 99 coupe the instant we got it home and installed the F1's that came on my Z (along with the Z's wheels...). what a ride improvement!

best regards -

mqqn

 

[Wyodude]

Michelins Better

I have about 1500 miles on my new Pilot Sport A/Ss (17,000 on originals, but changed before I needed to) and I am convinced it's a better tire than the GYs. The wet weather traction is not good on either tire, and I like the appearance of the GYs better, but the noise and dry weather traction and all around performance is much better with the Michelins. If I were in the US (now in Italy), I wouldn't buy runflats at all since you could buy a replacement tire almost anywhere, but being here, the Vette would sit for weeks before I could put it back on the road. Also, if you use non-runflats, when you repair a puncture with the kit, you can say goodbye to a $100 tire pressure monitor. Buy the Michelins...cheaper....better (BTW, mine are made in the USA).

 

[Patrick]

I just changed my tires, and went with the Goodyears. While the Michelins certainly look like a "beefier" tire (to use Mqqn's term,) they came in with a price higher than the Goodyears, and yet their ratings were fairly approximate. I also checked feedback from customers at TireRack.com, and while the Goodyears had generally postive comments, the Michelin's got knocked for being noisy.

And when it was pointed out to me that Michelin is a French company, well, that was the final nail in their coffin. :L


-Patrick

 

[mqqn]

Hi Patrick -

The country of origin of Michelin was a consideration for me as well....

I just had to buy a mich rear for my motorcycle, but it was the only compatible radial that I could get before Saturday.

I am leaving for my ride around Lake Superior Saturday morning, and I wore out a brand new dunlop on the rear of my connie on the ride to Reno last month...that doggone tire was only a few weeks old!

Oh well - $170 later I am back in business - I just got the tire re-installed on the bike and came in to take a "CAC" break before getting cleaned up and going to bed.

BTW - The CAC CruiseFest vid is in the works, I am working on getting a larger hard drive as justin has a few GIGABYTES of video from the event....

It'll be after I get back from Ontario now, though....

best regards -

mqqn

 

[DRTH VTR]

In view of the proximity to Independence day, I want to point out something about the French. We would not have won the revolutionary war without the French. We would not have the Statue of Liberty without the French.

 

[maxrevs85]

I'm looking at buying the GY F1 GS D3's. Any feed back on those?