Where to buy new Tyres
Discussion
Just picked up a puncture in a front tyre, a screw had caused the puncture.
I have searched but can not find anyone who has Goodyear F1 Eagle Supercar tyres in the front wheel size i.e. 245/40R/18.
I know from reading the posts on this and other forums that they are not universally liked but I thought I would try and keep them all the same, as this set of tyres only have a about 6K miles on them.
Could anybody suggest a likely source.
I have searched but can not find anyone who has Goodyear F1 Eagle Supercar tyres in the front wheel size i.e. 245/40R/18.
I know from reading the posts on this and other forums that they are not universally liked but I thought I would try and keep them all the same, as this set of tyres only have a about 6K miles on them.
Could anybody suggest a likely source.
These people are as good as any (and better than most) for high performance tyres. Amongst other things they do actually keep them in stock most of the time,
http://www.micheldever.co.uk/
http://www.micheldever.co.uk/
The tyre is unique to Corvette, so you're not going to find anyone stocking them outside of the Corvette service centres.
Both Bauer Millett and Stratstone Wavendon used to keep a couple of complete sets in stock, if not it will probably be as quick to get one shipped from the States.
Both Bauer Millett and Stratstone Wavendon used to keep a couple of complete sets in stock, if not it will probably be as quick to get one shipped from the States.
5 USA said:
These people are as good as any (and better than most) for high performance tyres. Amongst other things they do actually keep them in stock most of the time,
http://www.micheldever.co.uk/
Steve, I used to be a fan of Micheldever until they told me that nobody (including Goodyear) did a runflat in C6 sizes! As James says, nobody stocks them in the UK but the smarter vendors know that Goodyear can bring them in from Germany in a day or so.http://www.micheldever.co.uk/
Gone for Pirelli P Zeros, going to fit two to front at only slightly more cost than shipping a Goodyear from the states.
Then at least if I get another puncture sourcing a replacement is not a problem.
Trouble with run flats of course is that if you run them flat the walls are totaled.
Could be a problem if your somewhere remote, eg the Highlands, could be stranded for a week by a puncture awaiting a tyre from the States.
A crazy position to be in.
Then at least if I get another puncture sourcing a replacement is not a problem.
Trouble with run flats of course is that if you run them flat the walls are totaled.
Could be a problem if your somewhere remote, eg the Highlands, could be stranded for a week by a puncture awaiting a tyre from the States.
A crazy position to be in.
I've got P Zeros (Assimetrico - sp?) fitted all round on my C5, as the first owner felt that they offer better handling than the R/Fs that were fiited as standard.
I'm no expert on a good or bad tyre, so I can't really comment about their handling. However, they've never given me any scares and are just about worn out after circa 30k miles (maybe says something about my driving habits) but this does include a half day on track.
About using a non R/F tyre, I carry around a can of Tyre Weld and a small 12v compressor. There is school of thought that says that using Tyre Weld will damage the TPSs, but I've also read that others have used this stuff with causing any problems. Ultimately, my view is that I'd rather gamble on possibly shagging a TPS (@ £120) than getting ripped off on when I'm out and about. ATEOTD, I'm in the AA, so if I'm really stuck, then I've got an option
mitch_ said:
For what it's worth we always carry these in stock.....
That may be so but when I enquired at your service department on Friday, I was informed that you had non available, but you could get some Dunlop's. The other alternative being order the Goodyears from the USA and delivery would take about a week.
If you had one available I would have course have had that fitted.
Hi Guys,
I am very lucky and I have a C6 Z06. I have to say that I really did not like the lack of feel in the wet and in the cold (tyre pressure drops) when using Goodyear runflats.
I changed to Michelin Pilot Sport Cups on my standard alloys this April on the advice of the Stig (no, really - and not the one that came out recently !). As Stig said: "It's a Supercar Chas, so don't F about with anthing but the best tyres - get Michelin Pilot Sports".
So I did. Ordered them from Martin's Tyres in Lightwater, Surrey, who had them in the next day. Fitted and balanced on a Saturday
morning at a cost of about a Grand incl VAT. (And they were properly balanced too and they used shiny stick on weights without being asked).
Just for info, I drive the car with Traction Control and Active Handling selected - 95% of the time. I get that setting by switching from "Traction Control On" to "Traction Control Off" to "Competitive Driving Mode" to "Traction Control and Active Handling On". (And you have to do that every time you restart the engine). Everyone will probably tell me that "Traction Control On" and "Traction Control and Active Handling On" are one and the same. However, I like to think I am a sensitive old git and in the latter setting the steering feels about 5% heavier - and the car is definitely more directionally stable. If you want the car to flow in the corners, select "Competitive Driving Mode" - but I wouldn't recommend that in heavy rain unless your name is Schumacher ! I put this paragraph in because 2 UK-based Z06s were "killed" this year in the rain running on Goodyear Run Flats. (That may have had little to do with the Goodyear Run Flats, which are generally very good tyres, but they just did not inspire me with any confidence in the wet and I didn't fancy aquaplaning on them in a downpour).
If you really want Goodyear Run Flats, they were widely available in German Tyre Fitting Centres when I was there a couple of years ago - presumably because there are more Corvettes in Germany than anywhere else in Europe. But they will also hold stocks of Corvette-sized European Sports car tyres and you may be better going that route. I have a second set of 20" split rims for the Z06 and these run on Pirell P-Zeros, because that was what was available when I bought them a few years back. And they are lovely in the wet !
And, by the way, Hello Mitch. I was really pleased to see that you are importing Z06s next year at about £76K . Hopefully that will stop my 2006 model depreciating too much further !!
Best Regards to all.
Chas
I am very lucky and I have a C6 Z06. I have to say that I really did not like the lack of feel in the wet and in the cold (tyre pressure drops) when using Goodyear runflats.
I changed to Michelin Pilot Sport Cups on my standard alloys this April on the advice of the Stig (no, really - and not the one that came out recently !). As Stig said: "It's a Supercar Chas, so don't F about with anthing but the best tyres - get Michelin Pilot Sports".
So I did. Ordered them from Martin's Tyres in Lightwater, Surrey, who had them in the next day. Fitted and balanced on a Saturday
morning at a cost of about a Grand incl VAT. (And they were properly balanced too and they used shiny stick on weights without being asked).
Just for info, I drive the car with Traction Control and Active Handling selected - 95% of the time. I get that setting by switching from "Traction Control On" to "Traction Control Off" to "Competitive Driving Mode" to "Traction Control and Active Handling On". (And you have to do that every time you restart the engine). Everyone will probably tell me that "Traction Control On" and "Traction Control and Active Handling On" are one and the same. However, I like to think I am a sensitive old git and in the latter setting the steering feels about 5% heavier - and the car is definitely more directionally stable. If you want the car to flow in the corners, select "Competitive Driving Mode" - but I wouldn't recommend that in heavy rain unless your name is Schumacher ! I put this paragraph in because 2 UK-based Z06s were "killed" this year in the rain running on Goodyear Run Flats. (That may have had little to do with the Goodyear Run Flats, which are generally very good tyres, but they just did not inspire me with any confidence in the wet and I didn't fancy aquaplaning on them in a downpour).
If you really want Goodyear Run Flats, they were widely available in German Tyre Fitting Centres when I was there a couple of years ago - presumably because there are more Corvettes in Germany than anywhere else in Europe. But they will also hold stocks of Corvette-sized European Sports car tyres and you may be better going that route. I have a second set of 20" split rims for the Z06 and these run on Pirell P-Zeros, because that was what was available when I bought them a few years back. And they are lovely in the wet !
And, by the way, Hello Mitch. I was really pleased to see that you are importing Z06s next year at about £76K . Hopefully that will stop my 2006 model depreciating too much further !!
Best Regards to all.
Chas
RGChas said:
Just for info, I drive the car with Traction Control and Active Handling selected - 95% of the time. I get that setting by switching from "Traction Control On" to "Traction Control Off" to "Competitive Driving Mode" to "Traction Control and Active Handling On". (And you have to do that every time you restart the engine). Everyone will probably tell me that "Traction Control On" and "Traction Control and Active Handling On" are one and the same. However, I like to think I am a sensitive old git and in the latter setting the steering feels about 5% heavier - and the car is definitely more directionally stable.
Chas,Good news - you don't need to bother pressing the button when you start up....both traction control and active handling are on by default. Your button presses are getting you back to where you started!
Gary
Hi Gary,
Your advice duly noted.
Don't want to hijack this "New Tyres" thread, but traction control and tyres are closely associated.
I am sure you are right, Gary, but it is interesting that the steering feel does - on my car anyway - seem to firm up when I physically select "Traction Control with Active Handling On".
I can only assume that the Z06's "Active Handling" system is trying to hold the car straight (like a Jaguar's systems do when the car is using "Dynamic Stability Control").
As an observation, I don't think that the Driver's Handbook explains the Traction Control or the Active Handling system particularly well. Is there anyone here who can explain these systems' functions, and how they operate, concisely and accurately ?
Best Regards
Chas
Your advice duly noted.
Don't want to hijack this "New Tyres" thread, but traction control and tyres are closely associated.
I am sure you are right, Gary, but it is interesting that the steering feel does - on my car anyway - seem to firm up when I physically select "Traction Control with Active Handling On".
I can only assume that the Z06's "Active Handling" system is trying to hold the car straight (like a Jaguar's systems do when the car is using "Dynamic Stability Control").
As an observation, I don't think that the Driver's Handbook explains the Traction Control or the Active Handling system particularly well. Is there anyone here who can explain these systems' functions, and how they operate, concisely and accurately ?
Best Regards
Chas
It is a bit off topic, but here's how TC and AH work:
TC looks at front and rear wheel speeds via the ABS sensors. If it detects a speed difference which exceeds a programmed amount, either front to back or side to side, it signals the ECM to reduce power and signals the ABS system to brake the spinning wheel. (Hint: that's why you can have problems when changing wheel/tyre sizes)
AH takes input from the lateral G sensors, the steering angle sensor, and the wheel speed sensors. It calculates whether the car is tracking as it is being commanded. If it isn't, it tries to correct by modulating the ABS brakes on individual wheels, it may also command the ECM to reduce power.
Default is TC on and AH on. Hitting the TC button once disables TC but leaves AH on. Hitting it twice goes into Competitive Driving mode which is basically TC off and AH in a more relaxed mode... Holding it down disables both TC and AH - just like the good old days
TC looks at front and rear wheel speeds via the ABS sensors. If it detects a speed difference which exceeds a programmed amount, either front to back or side to side, it signals the ECM to reduce power and signals the ABS system to brake the spinning wheel. (Hint: that's why you can have problems when changing wheel/tyre sizes)
AH takes input from the lateral G sensors, the steering angle sensor, and the wheel speed sensors. It calculates whether the car is tracking as it is being commanded. If it isn't, it tries to correct by modulating the ABS brakes on individual wheels, it may also command the ECM to reduce power.
Default is TC on and AH on. Hitting the TC button once disables TC but leaves AH on. Hitting it twice goes into Competitive Driving mode which is basically TC off and AH in a more relaxed mode... Holding it down disables both TC and AH - just like the good old days
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