Discussion
Assuming my 98 6 speed comes back from BM next week with a full bag of beans I'm going to need some new rear tyres pretty shortly.
Anyone got any advice on which replacements to go for? (no way am I getting run-craps again!)
Let's hear your experiences in terms of ride comfort, grip, road noise (although they'll have to be very bad to be heard over my SLP loudmouth...) etc etc.
Also, recommendations as to places to source them from would be much appreciated.
One question which I kind of know the answer to already.... if I change the rears to a different tyre, do I have to change the fronts too? I'm guessing I will....
Cheers,
Chris
Anyone got any advice on which replacements to go for? (no way am I getting run-craps again!)
Let's hear your experiences in terms of ride comfort, grip, road noise (although they'll have to be very bad to be heard over my SLP loudmouth...) etc etc.
Also, recommendations as to places to source them from would be much appreciated.
One question which I kind of know the answer to already.... if I change the rears to a different tyre, do I have to change the fronts too? I'm guessing I will....
Cheers,
Chris
Just replaced my rears, with Bridgestone Potenza RE050 Runflats. didnt want to throw normal tyres on with not needing to replace the fronts for a few months.
Inital reports are good, certainly softer than the standards and provide more feel and better traction from the off, but havent got them up to serious temps yet though. They werent cheap though :P
Inital reports are good, certainly softer than the standards and provide more feel and better traction from the off, but havent got them up to serious temps yet though. They werent cheap though :P
Have a read of this...
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=78087&f=100&h=0
I was looking for RunFlats, but on my search found a couple of alternates.. I saw that Costco to Michelin Rears for 242+VAT each fitted if they take your fancy..
You can have two seperate makes front and back. I even saw BM have one with Michelin and Goodyear on he same axle!
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=78087&f=100&h=0
I was looking for RunFlats, but on my search found a couple of alternates.. I saw that Costco to Michelin Rears for 242+VAT each fitted if they take your fancy..
You can have two seperate makes front and back. I even saw BM have one with Michelin and Goodyear on he same axle!
I am fed up with the road noise on mine and am seriously considering changing them. As regards alternatives the US forums will give you loads of choices as this is a subject they regularly discuss and as there are so many on the forums you get several views and alternatives. Not sure how readily available their tyre choices are over here, but anything can be shipped (at a cost of course).
Try www.corvetteforum.com and look at the C5 General section.
Try www.corvetteforum.com and look at the C5 General section.
I fitted Michelin Pilot Sports. About a year ago. At the time there were 3 types, homologated to Ferrari, Mercedes and someone else. Michelin advised my dealer to use the Mercedes ones for the Vette. They seemed noticebly quieter up to about 50mph than the OE run flats but I cannot honestly say they were quieter after that. And/but new tyres will always be quieter than worn tyres, so who knows.
They defintely handled better in the wet; ie you could boot the car earlier coming of a roundabout, but cannot comment on the dry. Not sure I have the balls to take the Vette to a point in the dry where you lose it.
The downside is of course that I now have an inflator and tin of sealant goo permanently on board in case I get a puncture.
And there was a long thread on one of the USA forums a couple of years back. Definite view by some people that as the Goodyears/C5 were designed for each other, changing tyres for street use was not necessarily beneficial.
On balance, next time around, I may go back to the runflats for the security. Bottom line for me is that without comparing the tyres back to back, the differences are so small that is not easy to tell if there really are differences, or you just want there to be because you have shelled out for a new set of tyres.
I was interested in the Potenza's (forget which one) but the one I wanted was the one they rave about in the states. But I could not find a supplier in UK or Europe that did the tyres for both front and rear. Maybe that has changed now.
They defintely handled better in the wet; ie you could boot the car earlier coming of a roundabout, but cannot comment on the dry. Not sure I have the balls to take the Vette to a point in the dry where you lose it.
The downside is of course that I now have an inflator and tin of sealant goo permanently on board in case I get a puncture.
And there was a long thread on one of the USA forums a couple of years back. Definite view by some people that as the Goodyears/C5 were designed for each other, changing tyres for street use was not necessarily beneficial.
On balance, next time around, I may go back to the runflats for the security. Bottom line for me is that without comparing the tyres back to back, the differences are so small that is not easy to tell if there really are differences, or you just want there to be because you have shelled out for a new set of tyres.
I was interested in the Potenza's (forget which one) but the one I wanted was the one they rave about in the states. But I could not find a supplier in UK or Europe that did the tyres for both front and rear. Maybe that has changed now.
http://www2.sicherbestellen.de/cgi-bin/reifendirekt.pl?details=Ordern&cart_id=164380.3830&P-ID=&language=&typ=R-103839&ranzahl=4&Breite=275&Herst=&Quer=40&Felge=18&Load=&Speed=ZR&weiter=10&last_sort=&kategorie=&Ang_pro_Seite=&sort_by=&gesanzeige=&rf=&Transport=P&dsco=10&sowigan=So
http://www2.sicherbestellen.de/reifentests/10/Bridgestone_PotenzaRE050ARFT_Reifentestcom.html
http://www2.sicherbestellen.de/reifentests/10/Bridgestone_PotenzaRE050ARFT_Reifentestcom.html
I can personally recommend the Kumho Ecstra tyres, I have them on the Z06 and they are excellent.....very cheap and great grip, also look good too.
Got mine from North Hants Tyres (well I would wouldn't I), don't know if they C5 sizes as opposed to Z06 sizes but I would have thought so.
01252 613261 and speak to either John or Paul.
Got mine from North Hants Tyres (well I would wouldn't I), don't know if they C5 sizes as opposed to Z06 sizes but I would have thought so.
01252 613261 and speak to either John or Paul.
cheers guys!
I know what you are saying about all the options discussed on the US forums. For every recommendation there's a contradiction three posts later.
One reason i don't want to go with whatever is recommended in the US though (even if the tyres are available), is because their driving and road surfaces are so different to ours. What might be great on a flat, smooth, wide interstate might not be so great on a bumpy B road on a wet November night.
I slide my car around alot (wet or dry) but it's only fun when I've planned to do it! My favourite impromptu slide is the greasy road 3rd gear accelerating onto a motorway from a sliproad one! I love entering 3 lanes of fast moving traffic sideways!
I reckon i'll give North Hants Tyres a call first off to see if they've got some of those Kumho's you recommend VHR. As long as they're not hideously expensive!
I know what you are saying about all the options discussed on the US forums. For every recommendation there's a contradiction three posts later.
One reason i don't want to go with whatever is recommended in the US though (even if the tyres are available), is because their driving and road surfaces are so different to ours. What might be great on a flat, smooth, wide interstate might not be so great on a bumpy B road on a wet November night.
I slide my car around alot (wet or dry) but it's only fun when I've planned to do it! My favourite impromptu slide is the greasy road 3rd gear accelerating onto a motorway from a sliproad one! I love entering 3 lanes of fast moving traffic sideways!
I reckon i'll give North Hants Tyres a call first off to see if they've got some of those Kumho's you recommend VHR. As long as they're not hideously expensive!
vetteheadracer said:
Spoke to NHT on your behalf Chris!
Front 245/45-17 Kumhos at £71 + VAT each
Front 245/45-17 Falken at £85 + VAT each
Rear 275/40-17 Falken at £111 + VAT each
Kumho don't currently do the rears for a C5, but Falken do.
Blimey Nigel that is incredibly cheap. No offence but are they any good, I think retreads were banned a number of years ago? Seriously I paid mega bucks more for my tyres and that was with a special promotion. I know NHT are meant to be good but they can't be that good, there must be a reflection on the tyre here too
Nothing much wrong with the Falkens. Grip well wet and dry and ride well too. Probably won't last as long as Michelins, but I've exercised my Falkens quite hard over the last 18 months and still achieved 75% of the life of the EMTs. They hold together well at speed www.corvetteclips.co.uk/VideoClips.html 
I paid £475 for a set of 4 balanced and fitted.
I paid £475 for a set of 4 balanced and fitted.
Corvette Z06's come with Goodyear Eagle F1's as stock except they're called Supercars in the States. I fitted a set of the GS-D3 Eagle F1's to my Camaro and they're pretty unstickable in dry or wet. I use the cheaper Kumhos in the winter on the stock wheels and they're not as good, not by a long chalk.
I run the Kumho's on the Z06 both front and rear as they are available in my sizes. I accept that they will not last as long as the Goodyear's but I can buy at least 2 sets of Kumho's for the price of 1 set of Goodyear's so they only have to last half as long!!
They are extremely sticky and as Viper points out they do attract sand and grit, but that is what I want rather than a hard compound tyre that last for a long time but does not provide grip.
Tyre choice is just that and it is always a trade off between grip and duration.
They are extremely sticky and as Viper points out they do attract sand and grit, but that is what I want rather than a hard compound tyre that last for a long time but does not provide grip.
Tyre choice is just that and it is always a trade off between grip and duration.
Take a look at www.tirerack.com for your model of Vette - lots of independent reviews from owners. Confirms that standard Goodyear EMT is a good all-round tyre with Michelin as a similarly upmarket alternative. Kumhos come out well at lower cost and with different wear characteristics. Lots to read about noise and ride varying with extent of wear and many warnings about using grippy summer tyres (including Goodyears) in the wet.
You pays your money and you takes your choice.
You pays your money and you takes your choice.
Hmmm... thanks!
Understood but I need to know if they are a certified, whatever it is, Goodyear dealer as one of my buddies over here is a Goodyear MD and he'll give one of his valuable voucher type thingies which'll get me a set tyres on the cheap. But it can only be used at an official dealer.
Understood but I need to know if they are a certified, whatever it is, Goodyear dealer as one of my buddies over here is a Goodyear MD and he'll give one of his valuable voucher type thingies which'll get me a set tyres on the cheap. But it can only be used at an official dealer.
Gassing Station | Corvettes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff