New tires

[PAULIE B]

Thinking of getting new tires. They make a lot of road noise. Right now on the car are;
Front-245/45zr17 95y
Rear-245/45zr18 99y

I do not know if they are run flats or not. I think the name on them kumo not sure if thats the right spelling.
Should I go with the OEM which are run flats and the same size except for the last two digits and letter i.e 99y and 95y.

BTW What do they mean?

Hope I explained myself correctly.

Thanks,
paul

 

[GS Diva]

We did a lot of research on tires when we were replacing the originals on my husband's '02. We bought Michelin Pilot Sports A/S and have found them to be wonderful. They offer runflat protection which is one thing we wanted. This past summer, I bought the same tires for my '05 Z51 convertible and found them to be just as good as the ones on the C5. I highly recommend them.

Elaine

P.S. I don't think the Kumho's you now have are runflats.

 

[PAULIE B]

We did a lot of research on tires when we were replacing the originals on my husband's '02. We bought Michelin Pilot Sports A/S and have found them to be wonderful. They offer runflat protection which is one thing we wanted. This past summer, I bought the same tires for my '05 Z51 convertible and found them to be just as good as the ones on the C5. I highly recommend them.

Elaine

P.S. I don't think the Kumho's you now have are runflats.

Thanks Elaine,

Some say yes to runflats & some say no to them. Why?

 

[Toms007]

Well, Kumho does make a run-flat. I don't know if yours are or not. My 01 had Kumho runflats when I bought it, they were noisy and kind of rough riding. We too, put the Michelin AS plus ZP's and love the ride, the handling, the low noise and the peace of mind with runflats.

I think you ought to go with stock sizes 245/45 x 17 fronts and 275/40 x 18 rears

 

[Toms007]

I missed your other question. The reason some don't like runflats is they believe that the stiff sidewall reduces ride quality...I would probably not argue that point. But I haven't ridden in a C5 without runflats so I can't say.

They also say that the handling is reduced...stiffer sidewalls won't flex like a non runflat. I don't autoX or track mine, so I don't really notice it.

One fact, is that the runflats will cost more up front...I don't think there is any argument there.

But without a jack or spare I like the peace of mind the runflats give me. Some say that's why they have a cell phone and a AAA card. And that is fine if you live in an area where cell service is consistent. Where I live cell service can be iffy at times and non-existent at other.

To each his/her own.

 

[PAULIE B]

Thanks Tom, Runflats is probably the way to go. We have good cell communication here and we have AAA. (You never know) But you don't want just anybody to come and flatbed your vette. The road noise really bothers me. I will wait for the spring to change them.

Keep it com'n!

Thanks,
Paul

 

[Tuna]

I'm with Elaine on C5 tires - Michelin PS AS ZPs.

 

[LLC5]

Thinking of getting new tires. They make a lot of road noise. Right now on the car are;
Front-245/45zr17 95y
Rear-245/45zr18 99y

I do not know if they are run flats or not. I think the name on them kumo not sure if thats the right spelling.
Should I go with the OEM which are run flats and the same size except for the last two digits and letter i.e 99y and 95y.

BTW What do they mean?

Hope I explained myself correctly.

Thanks,
paul

The numbers 99 and 95 refer to load ratings of each tire, the higher the number the higher the load rating. The letter (y in this case) indicates the speed rating of the tire. Tire Rack.com has excellent descriptions on all the tire ratings. Good luck with your choice.

 

[Red Vette]

I missed your other question. The reason some don't like runflats is they believe that the stiff sidewall reduces ride quality...I would probably not argue that point. But I haven't ridden in a C5 without runflats so I can't say.

They also say that the handling is reduced...stiffer sidewalls won't flex like a non runflat. I don't autoX or track mine, so I don't really notice it.

One fact, is that the runflats will cost more up front...I don't think there is any argument there.

But without a jack or spare I like the peace of mind the runflats give me. Some say that's why they have a cell phone and a AAA card. And that is fine if you live in an area where cell service is consistent. Where I live cell service can be iffy at times and non-existent at other.

To each his/her own.

Yes, the run flats are the way to go, I have them on two of the Corvettes, but had to go to non-run flats (Bridgestones) on the Z06 since they are not made in the C5 Z06 size. I have GYs on the 08 and Michelin A/S Sports on the 2002 Coupe. They are not as noisy as the original GY run flats on the 2002 Coupe.

What Tom did not tell you, was he has first hand experience on the advantage of run flats - last year outside of St Louis on the way to Cruise Fest 10. Without the run flats, even with a cell phone and road side assistance, he probably would have lost more than several hours of down time. As it was, Rosie and Tom survived with minimal inconvenience.
Barrett

 

[Toms007]

Yes, I did not mention that, Barrett. But it is absolutely a fact, I would have been dead in the water for a long time. As it was, it was only an inconvenience of about an hour and a half. BTW don't let those tire shops you can't repair runflats........that's just Firestones' way of screwing you.

 

[PAULIE B]

Yes, I did not mention that, Barrett. But it is absolutely a fact, I would have been dead in the water for a long time. As it was, it was only an inconvenience of about an hour and a half. BTW don't let those tire shops you can't repair runflats........that's just Firestones' way of screwing you.

You just made up my mind. Run flats are the way to go!
We are covered in snow here in the N.East SUCKS! Will have to wait for Spring.

 

[Tuna]

I'm a run-flat believer also. I carry a plugging kit in both my Vettes along with a 12v air compressor so I can 'repair' nail holes and press on but last year my wife hit a chunk of concrete on the turnpike in a construction zone and cut the side wall of the run-flats on my old CTS V. A plugging kit will not fix that. Anyway, she was en route to a meeting where she was a speaker and drove on another 20 or so miles into the city and gave her speech. With a regular tire, at best, she would have been stuck on the side of the turnpike and would have missed the meeting. At worse, she could have been in a ditch.

 

[hfddirty30]

Paulie B,
I lived on Long Island for 60 years,moved to N.C.four years ago bought a '04 Corvette used and put tires on it.After researching I found the Michelin'sRF were the best to replace the Bridgestones RF.I love the way the Michelins ride,hope you like the tires you chose.GOOD LUCK.
Ed

 

[WB6HRO]

Whatever you do don't use the Goodyear run flats, the side walls are way to stiff. My wife's 02 coupe was changed from stock run flats to Kuhmo Mx tires and it made it a completely different car.

Ride was softer, transistions were better and car handled 100% better. That said Michilen run flats are finally the way they should be. I got them on my ZR1 and they are fantastic, pricey but you will not be disappointed with the PS2 ZP Michilen tires.

 

[6 Shooter]

I went with 18" & 19" Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval RFT's, more rubber on da road!

​

Firestone Firehawk Wideoval RFT's
> Fronts: P245/40R18
> Rears: P285/35R19

Cray Scorpion Chrome Wheels

​

 

[BlueMan]

New Tires

Thinking of getting new tires. They make a lot of road noise. Right now on the car are;
Front-245/45zr17 95y
Rear-245/45zr18 99y

I do not know if they are run flats or not. I think the name on them kumo not sure if thats the right spelling.
Should I go with the OEM which are run flats and the same size except for the last two digits and letter i.e 99y and 95y.

BTW What do they mean?

Hope I explained myself correctly.

Thanks,
paul

Go with the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP's (ZP = Zero Pressure Run Flats) same tire that is on the C6 ZR1 but in C5 sizes 17 & 18" Great handling and look much better on the car than the Michelin pilot A/S but not reccommended for cold or snowy conditions

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP=

 

[Pinky]

not reccommended for cold or snowy conditions

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP=

Heh, I drove my Vette in snow twice (definitely not intended both times) and I don't recommend THAT...

I'm another Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 convert. SOOOOO much better than the stock Goodyears!

 

[killain]

Tires most voted best overall tire for a C5 !

We did a lot of research on tires when we were replacing the originals on my husband's '02. We bought Michelin Pilot Sports A/S and have found them to be wonderful. They offer runflat protection which is one thing we wanted. This past summer, I bought the same tires for my '05 Z51 convertible and found them to be just as good as the ones on the C5. I highly recommend them.

Elaine

P.S. I don't think the Kumho's you now have are runflats.

I agree, in all of the threads I've read over the years on replacing the original Goodyear runflats, no holds is the Michelin pilot sports PS2 ZP Runflats which I'm think of going to put on, but I only have 14K miles on my 2003 50th Anniversary coupe. However I think I'll wait till 2013 so the tires are ten years old and get four brand new tire pressure sensors as well, and head up to my favorite Dealership and have all four wheel and tires mounted and balanced. What I'll do with four ten year old runflats I have no idea.

 

[PAULIE B]

Question;

I will be going with Michelin PS AS ZPs. I live in NY where temps get low in the teens. With the runflats, what is lowest outside temp i should drive on these tires?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[LLC5]

Question;

I will be going with Michelin PS AS ZPs. I live in NY where temps get low in the teens. With the runflats, what is lowest outside temp i should drive on these tires?

Thanks,

Paul

There isn't really a lowest outside temp rating, just tires that are designed not to used below about 40*F which are normally considered summer tires. The AS (all season) tires that you posted can be used in any temps, just be aware that 10*F equals about a 1lbs of tire pressure differential. If you set your tire pressures at an ambient 50*F, then you drove that same setting at 10*F, you would be about 4lbs low on air pressure. Good luck with them.