murtro

When is everyone changing tires? There are several threads on this but now that everyone has had more time with the cars I'm looking for experienced advice. My OEM Michelin run flats have a 40-16 date on them meaning they are approaching 7 years and just over 30,000km (18,500 miles). There is a little tread but I'm sure we don't go by tread depth here?

What are the best replacement options? Are non run-flats significantly quieter?? We go on a road trip once a year - is it worth the risk?

Thanks in advance!

CorvetteMike2024

Just my opinion.
I like the Michelin all season run flats. 7 years old is time to change.

Vetteman Jack

I change tires on my DD when it gets down to 3-4/32nds of tread depth. On the Vette which does not get anywhere near the mileage on the tires, I change them when they are 5-6 years old.

76-Vetteman

I really agree with CorvetteMike2000 here.

For Canada, I would choose safety over comfort.

Given greater distances in Canada between services while traveling, I would recommend AS run-flats. Should a tire loose pressure, the run-flats could get you to a place where the tire could be serviced instead of being stranded on the side of the road.

Just my opinion as well. Safe travels

CPB

When is everyone changing tires? When they are dead, by age or tread.

There is a little tread but I'm sure we don't go by tread depth here? Tread depth usually wears out first, but on something getting low miles the tire will age out faster.

What are the best replacement options? Depends on your goals. I like the continental extremecontact sport for street use. The extremecontact force for track days.

Are non run-flats significantly quieter?? Yes, and more compliant.

We go on a road trip once a year - is it worth the risk? No.

GOLD72

Corvette front tires almost always require replacement before wear out due inside shoulder cord breakthrough due factory aggressive alignment. Rears can have inner shoulder cord breakthrough as did one of my Z06 rears did earlier this year.

dvilin

Exactly.

FireRoc

I would say it is time to change them. As a comparison, I have a 2016 Z51 (bought in 2015) and I changed the tires last spring, even though there was probably another summer of tread left. I was getting concerned with the age and I noticed there was reduced traction. It was way too easy to spin the tires when accelerating.

I got Michelin pilot sport a/S 4 run flat tires and I am very happy with them. In your case, it depends what you want to do with the car. If you are an aggressive driver, do solo events or track days, a good choice would be Michelin pilot sport 4s. If you are just street driving, Michelin pilot sport a/S 4 would be a good choice. Given you drive long distances on occasion, run flats would be good idea as well.

c5arlen

Yes.. If you gotta ask, yes and use the grippie kind.. You don't want your foot sliding off that brake pedal!... Especially if raining.

squirrelchew

You absolutely should go by tread depth. In most places it's illegal to run on a tire with less than a certain amount of tread, typically 2/32".

Also age.

Rule of thumb is 8-10 years and regardless of tread depth, replace them. The rubber hardens and cracks, both internally and externally, which can lead to a higher chance of delaminating as well as the overall decrease in available traction due to the aging process.

2/32" tread depth, which is what your wear bar indicator is at, is also "completely dead tire" territory. It's wise to replace the tire before this point. I try to replace around 4/32" on tires this wide. The handling and safety of the tire is significantly compromised with such low tread.

Alski Indy

My Michelin PSS have a date code of 2016 (2017 GS) with 4600 miles. I recently switched over to Michelin All Season tires at Discount Tire. They inspected my PSS when they took them off and stated they were still in good enough shape to use them, so I bought a second set of wheels and had them remounted. I'll use them for fun days at the track.

dbirdhouse1

Mine are the original (same) from my 2014, only 18.3K miles but age is age................

murtro

Thanks everyone! I guess I was hoping for more responses voting for the non run flats. I'd really like to reduce road noise. I've installed the foam in the trunk area and behind the seats but most of the noise comes from the tires. I'm not sure I want to do the full carpet rip out and insulate method.

However given the responses and good advice - Michelin pilot sport a/S 4 run flat tires it will be.

A significant reason I've kept my C7 in favor of a C8 is the ability to do longer road trips and while being stranded would be inconvenient, being stranded with my wife for hours on the side of the road may be a near death experience.

C7Dave2019

Just had a similar dilemna. Purchased 2019 GS late last Summer with 2019 Z06 tires/wheels that the dealer was kind enough to swap for me from another vette he had for sale. I just had Michelin A/S 4 run flats installed last week. The take off's only had approximately 6K miles on them with plenty of tread depth left however, I will never track the car and don't typically drive overly aggressive on the street so I wanted a more rain friendly/longer wearing tire. Also had the factory alignment adjusted to a more street appropriate setting to extend tread life as well. No regrets other than I winced at the cost of the tires.

squirrelchew

oh, wrt runflats.. eh. I don't run them. keep a can of fixaflat and/or have a AAA membership, you'll be fine.

Gearhead Jim

You may be fine, or not.

The one flat we've had on a 'vette was in a remote location where getting a replacement tire or flatbed would have totaled a day of delay, and a lot of money.
It had a sidewall cut that couldn't be plugged or Slimed.
With the runflats, we called ahead to a DT store and drove 30 miles up the Tail of the Dragon to get there. No extra cost, delay time about 2 hours.

In our 23 years of experience doing long road trips with our local Corvette club or by ourselves; runflats will always get you to a repair place and non-runflats will get you there about 1/3 of the time (plug, inflator, Slime, etc).

If your driving conditions are such that being stuck with a flat are not a big deal (close to home or in safe areas with lots of services), non-runflats are a reasonable choice. Since we take long road trips into distant areas, we stick with the runflats. Life is full of choices.

squirrelchew

Yeah, 50/50 chance really.

449er

When deciding whether to buy run flats or not, ask yourself this question "Do you feel lucky? Well do ya?"

Carvin

Just got back from DT. Had 4 new new MPSS installed. This is a classic case of not knowing how worn out something is until you replace it. Feels like a different car! Old set was original (2016) with 50K miles.