Help with Tires?!

[C6Corvette]

I have heard that the OE run flats suck compared to other tires and they cost a butt load. Can anyone tell me what brand of tires to get that will perform well for regular driving "sometimes fast driving" and tires that won't brake the bank on me.

Coastie with a 2001 Silver Corvette

 

[Craig-o]

I wouldn't go so far as to say the OEMs "suck"; they do what they were intended to do pretty well. See Hib Halverson't article on runflats for details. Also, there have been numerous threads on this topic - try searching this forum.

They do have some downsides, mostly cost and noise as they age. I got nearly 50,000 miles out of my original tires, so I won't complain. But as they aged, it seemed like they just got louder and louder. While other run-flats are supposedly quieter, I think the nature of the stiff sidewall will always result in more noise than a conventional tire.

I decided to take my chances on a non-run-flat tire (carry a puncture repair kit, a compressor and a cell phone) and purchased a set of Goodyear F1 GS D3s and have been very happy with them. They were cheaper at the local Goodyear Tire Center (~$860 for all 4, installed) than at Tire Rack, so don't assume Tire Rack is the best way to go. I have over 15k miles on them and they are still good and sticky and haven't gotten louder. Downside is the potential to become stranded.

Good luck.

 

[Glenn W.]

Although I just recently purchased a set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S for mine, I was considering the Pirelli P Zero Nero M+S, realizing that I was going to give up a bit of ultra performance at the hairy end of the G meter on both tires.....I wanted a quiet cruising tire, with good to great performance in ALL conditions. I think that is exactly what I have with the Pilot Sports. They are extremely quiet, have reasonable steering response in both wet and dry weather, and they don't say "Zero Nero Mud and Snow" on the sidewall (even though the Pirelli's were considerably less expensive.)
Tire Rack has great reviews and statistics an almost any tire you are considering....consider the treadwear rating when you buy a tire too. Many of the most expensive are around 200 to 220........stick like glue, for about 8K to 10K miles. the Pilot Sport A/S's are a 400 tire......expensive, but I hope to get 30 to 40 K out of them instead.

 

[C6Corvette]

Thank you both, I'm now looking at Kumho Runflats. What do you think?

 

[donnyonee]

fyi
treadwear ratings are specific only to the same brand tire, comparing goodyear with kumhos wont happen. their rated by each manufacture not the tireman club.

 

[Glenn W.]

kumho runflats

Thank you both, I'm now looking at Kumho Runflats. What do you think?

I've heard that the Kumho is a good tire..."for the price". I've heard from a couple of people that the Nitto's (555 extreme) are better tries, but they are not run flats...they balance easier, more often with fewer weights than the Kumho's....just stuff I've heard from a guy in the tire business for 15 years............