Help! Outside tire wear excessive on all fours.

[LexionC6]

Have a quick question for all. I have a 2009 Z51 c6 coupe. She has 14000 mi on her and all four tires are wearing on the outside 3/4 of the tires. No track driving, just normal driving. I will need to put new tires on shortly. What are the correct alignment specs for the car? If there is too much leway in the specs what should they be? Also, what tires would you guys recommend I put on her?

 

[NORTY]

How did you get Z51 tires to last 14,000 miles? I've never heard of such an accomplishment.

If your tires are wearing on the outside (or inside) then that's a camber issue.

There is tons of "leway" in the GM alignment spec. Since you don't do any "performance" driving, you might as well save your money and just leave the alignment where it is.

Since you don't do any performance driving, I would suggest you look at Firestone Wide Oval tires. (They're cheaper and last a lot longer.) They'll last many more miles than the sticky stock Goodyears. They're runflats too. Expect to pay about $1000/set.

 

[catbert]

I agree - It's a Supercar thing. Fifteen thousand miles is an accomplishment. The Goodyears on the standard suspension Vettes give longer service, and can be driven in the rain without "puckering."

 

[Hib Halverson]

The F1 Supercars on Z51s and base Z06s are a soft-compound tire intended for performance driving.

News flash: soft compound tires wear quicker.

If you don't want tires that wear out in 15,000 miles, then maybe you shouldn't have bought Z51. At your next tire purchase, you can buy something that's cheaper, lesser-performing, but with longer tread life then...accept the modest handing compromise.

Second news flash: The reason a Z51 handles so well is, in part, those softer-compound F1 Supercars. If you want better tread life, you have to trade some of the car's lateral grip for "harder-compound" tires.


As for tires whch wear more on the outer 3/4 of the tread, try going 1/4° more negative on each wheels' camber on your next visit to the alignment shop.

 

[LexionC6]

Hey guys thanks for the info. I was thinking of getting the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP. Would that be a good all around tire? Looks like it would be around $1200 for the set. It has a 500 for treadwear unlike the 220 on the stock GYs. Traction and heat rating the same as GYs. Also has anyone or can you put the same size tires in the front that are on the rears. Might look a little gooky I suppose. Just a thought. That way I could rotate them to get better life.

 

[Tuna]

I have the Michelin PS AS ZP's on my 08 and they definitely last a lot longer even compared to the non-Z51 Goodyears that came on my car. They do not have the same traction levels as the Supercars tires however.

As for same size tires all around, you'll need to change wheels since the C6 comes with different diameter wheels front and rear. Then you'd need to reprogram the ABS, Traction Control and Active Handling systems to recognize that the tires are the same size.

If I were to buy tires for my C6 today, I'd lean toward the Goodyear F1 D3 in run-flat. Not cheap but they last longer than the Supercar tires, have nearly as much dry traction and they work great in the rain.

 

[catbert]

I have ZPs on my 03, and I had them on my 98. They wear well, handle MUCH better in poor conditions such as rain or light snow, but they are noisy IMHO and they don't ride any better than the OEMs. In fact, the Supercars might ride a bit better.

 

[NORTY]

Hey guys thanks for the info. I was thinking of getting the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP. Would that be a good all around tire?

Excellent tire (since you're in Minnesoooota.):L

Also has anyone or can you put the same size tires in the front that are on the rears.

You could but it would create a big bunch of headaches, and you'd gain nothing.

Might look a little gooky I suppose. Just a thought.

This would be the least of your problems.

That way I could rotate them to get better life.

Would this be worth sacrificing your warranty?

 

[Red Vette]

The tire issue will never go away as the companies keep upgrading their product. I just returned from the National Corvette Museum's Hall of Fame activity and drove 2600 miles in my 02 Coupe. I had previously driven it to the NCM on the Goodyear OEM tires and also the CF in Cleveland and got between 32 and 34 mpg. Last year I put Michelin All Season tires on the coupe; Michelin warrants the tire for 40K miles. My mileage dropped to 26 to 28 mpg at the recommended pressure of 30 psi cold. On the return trip, I aired up the tires to 33 psi on the Kansas Turnpike just outside of Topeka. Got 29+ mpg, still not what I expected. So as this thread suggests, if you want performance, go with GY Super tires. Otherwise choose the tire on the way you expect to use them, then set the price you want to pay. I am pleased with the Michelin A/S run flat tires, but next year I will drive my 08 vert that got 32 mpg on the round trip from CF in Effingham this year on the OEM GY tires. Tires and pressure do make a difference especially on long trips where mpg is important.
Barrett

 

[strokin383-c4]

I know I dont have a c5 or c6, however I am running the 02 z06 wheels, which came with the GY Eagle f1's. After about 15k my passenger rear went out. Ive been running Nitto Invo's for about 16k and am still at 80%. My car definitely is not stock anymore and I am using the old c4 z-51 set up. but even so these babies seem to work quite great, and I do 30% auto-crossing with em. Check em out.

 

[DDLS3]

Here's yet another tire view/opinion. My 08 Z51 made it nearly to the magical 14,000 miles before I had to ditch the Supercars on the front. The wear was very even all across the tire. I have 17,000 miles on the beast now and my rear Supercars will go the rest of the summer, maybe another 2,000 miles. I drive very agressively on winding Kentucky roads so don't ask me why they are are still hanging in but they are. When I replaced the front I chose the Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval runflat. I've been very happy with the performance and really don't feel like I gave up anything except a ton of road noise from the GY Supercar's. When I replace the rears it will be with more Firestone Firehawk's. The wear rating is 320 so it's a mid point between the Michelin A/S at 500 and the GY. Also a whole lot less in price than the Michelin Pilot Sport.

A co-worker has an 07 Z51 he replaced Supercar's at 12,000 with the softer Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP with the 220 rating. Not sure they will go any further than the Supercar's but he is very pleased with the performance.

I had the Michelin A/S plus ZP's on my C5 and didn;t like them. They don't look that good, they are narrower, you do give up some grip, and the agressive tread is always throwing crap against the fenders. just my .02 worth hope it helps you with your decision on tires.