JeffWarren

I appologize ahead of time for a TIRE posting, I do realize there have been many in the past and I have read them. Never hurts to ask because new tires are coming on the market all the time, for example the new GY Run Flats that are suppose to be available this summer, cannot wait that long. Here's the bottom line on pricing for the three most popular Z06 tire choices. Would like to know if anyone did better on pricing and if so please reply with details. These are out the door prices from my local Discount Tire Shop in North Carolina near Raleigh.

$1,197 Nitto INVO's
$1,691 Goodyear original tires (Eagle F1 EMT)
$2,106 Michelin PS2 ZP (run flats)

Again the question is can I do better on price and did I miss a tire option (brand or same brand above but different tire for typical street driving, no tracking the Z).

Vito.A

I bought Michelin PS2 tires. They are more expensive (Tire Rack is $1900/set), but they also last almost twice as long as the OEM Goodyear EMT tires.
A way to lessen the pain is to do the front (or rear) first and then do the other pair.

surgg

Invos $1200 out the door

GS-Zero

Everyone knows the INVOs are the least expensive, but a lot of Z06 owners are complaining that their performance is substandard in contrast. I'm sure they're fine for everyday street driving, but what if you actually use the car for that which it was designed for? After doing some research here on the forums and observing other threads, I encountered at least three members that said the INVOs don't inspire confidence in turn-in. One member even went so far as to say "They made my Z06 feel like a minivan."

The OEM Goodyears are good, but has anyone had any experience with the Kumho Ecsta XS KU36?

http://www.kumhousa.com/Tire.aspx?id...466bd5c&cat=24

They're available in 345/30/19, just like the INVOs are, but take a look at this recent test conducted by C&D.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...mparison_tests

The INVO scored eighth, whereas the Ecsta XS scored third. Interestingly, the PS2s scored even worse.

What're your opinions?

My dad's got an '06 Z06 and he's coming with me to EMRA events when the summer comes around, but the tires haven't much tread left and I'd like to get him situated with some new rubber before he gets out on the track. So far, I'm leaning toward the Kumhos. They seem like they're much more hardcore than the INVOs.

I'm also inclined to consider the Kumhos because when I had my 350Z, I switched from Nitto NT555s to Kumho Ecsta SPTs and I noticed a considerable difference in handling capabilities.

97Black

General Exclaim UHP from the TireRack. They are a street tire (non runflat) that are the lowest prices I have seen. Some members on the forum have them and really like them.

doc-o-pharm

Dont forget the new Toyo's
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z...ternative.html

PeteZO6

I have the PS2 PZs on my Z. Love 'em.
To me buying cheap tires is like buying a $10 motorcycle helmet. If you have a $10 head, I guess that's fine, but if you value your brain, you buy the best helmet you can. Same with tires. The Z deserves the best, and it's the Michelins.

Pete

HyperX

Which ones would be good in cold weather? Now I know why I got rid of the OEM tires on my regular c6. Are there any Z rated all weather tires in our sizes?

ZPO

[QUOTE=FRIVOLOU-Z;1573237424]Everyone knows the INVOs are the least expensive, but a lot of Z06 owners are complaining that their performance is substandard in contrast. I'm sure they're fine for everyday street driving, but what if you actually use the car for that which it was designed for? After doing some research here on the forums and observing other threads, I encountered at least three members that said the INVOs don't inspire confidence in turn-in. One member even went so far as to say "They made my Z06 feel like a minivan."

How about the Nitto NT05's? They're reasonably sticky with a 200 treadwear rating. $1380 installed at Discount Tire in GA. The reviews on the NT05's are very favorable, dry and wet.

Although not Z rated, (NT05's are "W"),are you going over 168 mph fairly often????

ZPO

All I know is that the Goodyears are real slippery when cold and this doesn't seem to be the case with the Nitto's.

Speed ratings for reference from the Tire Rack site:

Beginning in 1991, the speed symbol denoting a fixed maximum speed capability of new tires must be shown only in the speed rating portion of the tire's service description, such as 225/50R16 89S. The most common tire speed rating symbols, maximum speeds and typical applications are shown below:

L 75 mph 120 km/h Off-Road & Light Truck Tires
M 81 mph 130 km/h
N 87 mph 140km/h Temporary Spare Tires
P 93 mph 150 km/h
Q 99 mph 160 km/h Studless & Studdable Winter Tires
R 106 mph 170 km/h H.D. Light Truck Tires
S 112 mph 180 km/h Family Sedans & Vans
T 118 mph 190 km/h Family Sedans & Vans
U 124 mph 200 km/h
H 130 mph 210 km/h Sport Sedans & Coupes
V 149 mph 240 km/h Sport Sedans, Coupes & Sports Cars


When Z-speed rated tires were first introduced, they were thought to reflect the highest tire speed rating that would ever be required, in excess of 240 km/h or 149 mph. While Z-speed rated tires are capable of speeds in excess of 149 mph, how far above 149 mph was not identified. That ultimately caused the automotive industry to add W- and Y-speed ratings to identify the tires that meet the needs of new vehicles that have extremely high top-speed capabilities.

W 168 mph 270 km/h Exotic Sports Cars
Y 186 mph 300 km/h Exotic Sports Cars


While a Z-speed rating still often appears in the tire size designation of these tires, such as 225/50ZR16 91W, the Z in the size signifies a maximum speed capability in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h; the W in the service description indicates the tire's 168 mph, 270 km/h maximum speed.

225/50ZR16 in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h
205/45ZR17 88W 168 mph, 270 km/h
285/35ZR19 99Y 186 mph, 300 km/h


Most recently, when the Y-speed rating indicated in a service description is enclosed in parentheses, such as 285/35ZR19 (99Y), the top speed of the tire has been tested in excess of 186 mph, 300 km/h indicated by the service description as shown below:

285/35ZR19 99Y 186 mph, 300 km/h
285/35ZR19 (99Y) in excess of 186 mph, 300 km/h


As vehicles have increased their top speeds into Autobahn-only ranges, the tire speed ratings have evolved to better identify the tires capability, allowing drivers to match the speed of their tires with the top speed of their vehicle.

JeffWarren

I went with the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP's.

A local Discount Tires shop gave me the best deal at $2,022 out the door; tires are shipping directly from manufacture. In the Raleigh, NC area I did not come across any tire shops that stock these tires.

Deciding factors on spending more for Michelin Run Flats:
* If you want to Play your have to Pay!
* It costs to be Cool!
* What the heck these are just another $425 over the GY OEM tires!
* Lots of good feedback from forum members on this selection of tires.

Hope to get a little more than 10,000 miles out of this set of tires, funny thing the original GY OEM back tires are completely bald but the fronts have some tread left, must have something to do with 505HP?

logan1080

How about these:

Bridgestone Protenza RE050A Pole position RFT

Goodyear Eagle F1 supercar EMT

General Exclaim UHP


Those were the other choices on tirerack. Anyone have experience with any of those? They really should make a sticky thread about tires haha.

C5 Hardtop

I paid a little more for the Michelin PS2 ZP (run flats) at Discount Tire out the door with mount, balance and tax (no additional warranty). Your price on the PS2's is fair enough for a local buy.

I strongly suggest either the original GY Supercars or the Michelin's if you can afford them. These two are the best, the Michelins being better than Supercars in corner holding and tread wear, but have wheel hop (at least on my car) in the wet.

The Supercars are better than PS2's on turn in and doing burnouts and supercars worse on tirewear because after 10K miles, your done with them.

The guy at Discount tire was saying there is different tread compound closer to the wear lines on the Supercars and this is why I had very little grip, but had tread left (above the wear lines).

If you make a bad choice on tires, you'll limit the cars capabilities more so then from the factory.

MChicado

My vote is anyone of these:

- Bridgestone Protenza RE050A Pole position RFT
- Nitto NT-05s
- Michelin PS2s ZP (the 335 rear doesn't fill the Z06 wheel correctly though--rear tire looks like a ~305 on our wheels)

MC

logan1080

How about the stock size, 325, how does it fit?

Romulus

I have the General UHP's on my C5 Z06 which is stock.. they will spin at the top of first if it's not really warm out. With another 100hp, I'd go with a more sticky tire.

MarkRx

I'm trying to stay with OEM sizes. If I go NT05 it'll be 285/35 335/30 it's the next closest thing to OEM since they don't offer NT05's in OEM size as they do Invos.

logan1080

I am looking at the michelins over the Nitto's now. Best price I have so far is $2580.00 installed after tax. That is if I order them from Tirerack. Kaltire quotes at $3200. ridiculous.

Radguy

I have experience with the OEM GY and the RE050A

IMHO, the Bridgestones are a better street tire--significantly quieter and less tramlining than the GY's.

The Bridgestones are, however, a much worse track tire--longer warm up (at least 2 full laps), overall much less grip than the GY's, narrower temp range (10-15 mins after warm-up and they start to go off--BIG TIME!), a lot louder (screech like crazy around corners), and longer braking distances due to decreased grip(much easier to engage ABS--can put you into a cold sweat in an instant when braking for a hard turn after a long straight). Much less confidence inspiring than the GY's.

If you track your car, don't stop at the Bridgestones--keep looking.

I haven't tried the Michelins yet.

Jonathan

MChicado

Not sure, I would assume worse though seeing that the 335s are too narrow so 325 is even more narrow. The 335s look like a 10.5" wide tire and a 12" wide wheel.

MC