To Runflat or not to Runflat that is the question!

[b3any]

I'm due for a new set of rubber on the vette shortly, the rears are getting a little low, and everybody says ditch the runflats and get normal tyres, they are more responsive and as a result better, however after looking on various tyre sites i've found these,
http://www2.sicherbestellen.de/reifentests/10/Bridgestone_PotenzaRE050ARFT_Reifentestcom.html

Their grip in the dry is the best i have seen! And the wet grip is amazing too.

These the best non- runflats i've found

http://www2.sicherbestellen.de/reifentests/10/Bridgestone_PotenzaS03PolePosition_Reifentestcom.html

Dont offer he same performance...

So should i get more runflats or are normal tyres the way to go, i'm sure this has beeen brought up before, what has everyone else done?

Oh almost forgot, is it sensible to change the rears, then change the fronts at a later date or is mixing tyre brand a no no?

>>> Edited by b3any on Tuesday 18th May 15:45

[LuS1fer]

The new C6 is having some vastly improved runflats with an asymmetric design more like the Z06's but it doesn't say what they are though it stands to reason they're probably Goodyears.

[anonymous-user]

Te51cle is using Falkens (non run flat) and seems pleased with them. I'm still on Goodyear EMT and will be interested to know what you decide.

[Dee Gee]

Dumb question but what do you guys do at MOT time without a spare?

[LuS1fer]

You can only fail an MOT on something that is fitted and is defective (if the spare is covered at all) so you can fail on a bald spare (if it's part of the test) but if you leave it in your garage, it will pass. Mind you, there's a plug in my spacesaver which I've always wondered about - I mean how unlucky is having a puncture in your spacesaver? However, I'm equally sure they have never ever inspected it as it involves dismantling half the interior to get at.

I learnt this when my Gold Wing rear brake switch failed. The MOT examiner told me to remove it or it would fail (the front brake actuated the brake light separately).

>> Edited by LuS1fer on Wednesday 19th May 14:00

[b3any]

Hmm no definite answer, surely someone has made the change?

[yellowshark454]

I swapped my runflats for Michelin Sports. The main reason was to try and cut down on the tyre noise. IMHO I think they perform better in the wet but I probably don't have the balls to work out which is better in the dry! I think they were SP2s, I can check if you want. My tyre guy had just been to a demo of the new SP3's (if I have got the "model" designation right) and he said they were even better - this was last year some time so I guess the SP3s are on the market now. I was interested in the Bridgestones but I could not find anywhere in the UK that sold the sizes to fit the Vette - think the front was OK but not the rear. There is also 3 typse of the SP3 homolgated to various cars. Aagin off hand I cannot recall which one was recommeded for me but I can check - the choices were Ferrari, Merc and something else

[yellowshark454]

...oh and I saw a thread, think it was on VetteNet that was delving into the point that GM woul dhave setup the Vettes handking for the runflat sidewalls and going to run non runflats might cause you a penalty - didnt follow it up but smething to consider I guess. And of course you will need some goo and a compressor in the boot

[b3any]

Interesting, thanks.

[Dee Gee]

Lots of threads on the Corvette Forum on this one. Run a search and you'll uncover lots of discussions. One of the main favourites seems to be Michelin Pilots

[yellowshark454]

No doubt obvious, but just in case, when I said Michelin Sport, that is Michelin Pilot Sport

[anonymous-user]

Tyre dealers I've asked recommend the Michelins although I haven't met anyone who uses them on C5. Te51cle has the Falkens and is reputed to drive in a "sporting" style so should have found out whether the handling is affected. I've not heard any complaints from him. The tyre has quite a low profile so there isn't much sidewall to flex in any event.

[te51cle]

Just back from my hols and 6,000 miles of driving in both spirited and cruising styles in Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium and France.

I had 2 punctures in 1 year (18,500 miles) of driving on Goodyear runflats and only 1 puncture in 18 months of driving (22,500 miles) on normal tyres. In all cases they were slow punctures caused by nails and screws. From my experience and from reading US websites I feel that the runflats are more likely to get punctures than normal tyres !

The Kwik fit monkey that I was forced to use when one of the runflats punctured mangled one of my rims due to the difficulty of removing a runflat tyre because of its hard sidewalls. That probably wouldn't have happened if using real tyres.

I had a play with an enthusiastic driver of a V8 Lotus on an Autostrada in Italy. After 15 minutes he bought me a coffee and asked what I had done to my suspension to make it so quick around corners. He was really surprised that I was able to stay with him. The only thing I have done other than swap to normal tyres is to make sure the alignment was correct.

I had a brief play with a Ferrari 348 on a dual carriageway but he gave up at about 165kph on a fast corner with a few transverse ripples on it. I passed him on the outside and he was history. I think the runflats would have been skipping around a bit and activating the active handling at that point, but the normal tyres worked well with the suspension and allowed me to press on.

Looking back on my track day experiences last year I found that the Corvette was superior to anything on normal road tyres on the faster corners (75mph+). Naturally the little Lotuses and Caterhams were quicker on the tight corners but then I didn't have to put my car on a trailer to take it home !

As a final point to remember, the Z06 comes with normal tyres.

[vetteheadracer]

Welcome back Mr. T!

I drove my car for the first time in a month last night and although the setup still needs a lot of tweeking, it felt so good to be back behind the wheel of my baby. I now have the T1 swaybars and the coilovers fitted and I also bought a set of 6-pot Wilwoods for the front, only drove it a few miles but it feels brilliant on this new setup, so firm and precise and I can't wait to get the turbos spooled up and give the car a good thrashing! (Only after running it in honest Geoff!!)

[b3any]

te51cle said:

Just back from my hols and 6,000 miles of driving in both spirited and cruising styles in Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium and France. I had 2 punctures in 1 year (18,500 miles) of driving on Goodyear runflats and only 1 puncture in 18 months of driving (22,500 miles) on normal tyres. In all cases they were slow punctures caused by nails and screws. From my experience and from reading US websites I feel that the runflats are more likely to get punctures than normal tyres ! The Kwik fit monkey that I was forced to use when one of the runflats punctured mangled one of my rims due to the difficulty of removing a runflat tyre because of its hard sidewalls. That probably wouldn't have happened if using real tyres. I had a play with an enthusiastic driver of a V8 Lotus on an Autostrada in Italy. After 15 minutes he bought me a coffee and asked what I had done to my suspension to make it so quick around corners. He was really surprised that I was able to stay with him. The only thing I have done other than swap to normal tyres is to make sure the alignment was correct. I had a brief play with a Ferrari 348 on a dual carriageway but he gave up at about 165kph on a fast corner with a few transverse ripples on it. I passed him on the outside and he was history. I think the runflats would have been skipping around a bit and activating the active handling at that point, but the normal tyres worked well with the suspension and allowed me to press on. Looking back on my track day experiences last year I found that the Corvette was superior to anything on normal road tyres on the faster corners (75mph+). Naturally the little Lotuses and Caterhams were quicker on the tight corners but then I didn't have to put my car on a trailer to take it home ! As a final point to remember, the Z06 comes with normal tyres.

That settles it then, normal tyres it is, thats exactly the information i was after.

[LuS1fer]

I could almost hear the US National Anthem playing behind that post. Thank God there are people who appreciate Corvettes in this world. the rest of them can go dunk themselves.