run flats for road racing and every day driver

[Schroeder]

I am looking into tires for my car. It will see a little road racing 2-3 times a yr and the same for autocrossing. It will mainly be a street driven car.

Looking at 285/35-19 and 345/30-19 michelin super sports. They don't make the 345s in run flats. I don't really want to mix them, but if I did at least they'd be isolated to each axle. I have heard the run flats ate noisy and really don't see anyone with too many good remarks on them. I did did a search on here. Forgive me if I missed an old topic that addressed this issue.

[Schroeder]

Anyone have opinions here?

[parsonsj]

Run flats are heavier than ordinary tires. I have one customer that runs them, and is happy with them, but he doesn't do any motorsports.

[V8240Z]

I ran the Dunlop Sp runflats and was happy with them. Then changed to a Bridgestone RE71R and the car dropped 8 seconds a lap at the local autocross! I would not go back to a runflat for driving events. Hope that helps.....

[hotrodneb]

I know little about the fun-flat other than.....some models of BMW had a lot of customer complaints about ride quality. Swapping to regular tires solved the issue.

[Schroeder]

So does no one here run them for their motor ports? If u do Internet searches the BMW complaints are 98% of what u find and then the remainder is a couple of guys who say the run flats are worth having for the safety factor of a blowout.

The other concern is that the tires I'll be using on the rear are not made in run flats so I'd be mixing them . Front would be RF and the rears would be normal tires. The stiff RF sidewalls roll differently than the normal tires in the back, but no one can real quantify any real differences and it all seemed to be speculation from what I saw on the net.

Why does this matter? The run flats r easy to come by and are cheap on ebay.....Prolly cause everyone is taking them off their cars. But GM also used the run flat (zero pressure) super sports on the new stingrays and we know those are good quality cars through and through. I'm trying this used tired deal out, and the run flat thing has thrown a wrench in the mix

V8240z's testimony is an interesting take

[parsonsj]

GM also used the run flat (zero pressure) super sports on the new stingrays and we know those are good quality cars through and through. I'd agree with the quality bit, but not for Motorsports use. Not many C6 or C7 guys are out there on OEM tires.

[Schroeder]

I am leaning towards just getting them and trying em since they are available for like $200. I just spoke with a guy on the phone about them. Here is a link to the reviews on the michelin ZPs (run flats- zp=zero pressure). http://www.tirerack.com/survey/SurveyComments.jsp?&category=tire&additionalComments=y&commentStatus=P&tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Pilot+Super+Sport+ZP&fromTireDetail=true&tirePageLocQty=#

There is only 1 guy who specifically mentions that he does track days with the car on the 2nd page, so I don't know how applicable the reviews are here. They are good reviews, but again, they do not discuss track use.

[analyte]

I'm running Good year EMT's on my Chevelle, and I have little traction when autocrossing. I'll use them until next spring, and then they will be tossed for RE71s.

Not a good Autocross tire as you really have to be light on the throttle which costs time, and their corner bite is weak as well. It is nice not having to worry about flats, but not enough of a benefit if you want to do well in driving events.

Kerry

[Schroeder]

Very good info analyte. Good to know. I just looked up reviews for the EMT and they sucked. Could it possible be that that run flats can not be all thrown into the same group of tire? Maybe some r superior to others and they don't all suck.? The Michelin ones have good reviews, but again are.not for track guys.


Does anyone have experience mixing then so long as u do not mix them on the same axle? I hear conflicting reports on this too, but I would say the general consensus is to NOT mix them.

[Schroeder]

More comments or experiences?

[dirty rick]

No true road racer would consider putting run-flats on any car (but his opponents).

[V8240Z]

Just to chime in again, when I ran the run-flats, I was happy with them. "Ignorance is bliss" Yes you can get them cheap. But since when has anything cheap turned into anything but a gigantic compromise. If you want to drive with the 'also-rans', come on out with your cheap take-off run-flats. I would not mix tires!

[CamaroMike]

Run flats on a road course are not good especially when they get hot. I don't recommend them from my experience

[BMR Sales]

I would not recommend Run-Flats on a Road Course. And I certainly would not run Run-Flats and non Run-Flats together on the same car - your sidewall stiffness will be totally different

[dontlifttoshift]

There are two 5th gen camaros that are regulars on the USCA circuit that are pretty fast on the road course on the aforementioned SuperSport ZPs.

[nokones]

Pretty expensive tire to chew up autocrossing.

[Schroeder]

Run flats on a road course are not good especially when they get hot. I don't recommend them from my experience

What happens when they get hot? Get really greasy as opposed to normal super sports? I was guessing u shouldn't mix them on the same car since the front and back would roll completely different, but I thought I'd ask. I guess I'll return this one that I got off ebay and look for some normal michelin super sport 285/35-19s. Anyone here peddle used tires?

[CamaroMike]

What happens when they get hot? Get really greasy as opposed to normal super sports? I was guessing u shouldn't mix them on the same car since the front and back would roll completely different, but I thought I'd ask. I guess I'll return this one that I got off ebay and look for some normal michelin super sport 285/35-19s. Anyone here peddle used tires?

Greasy and not very predicable. They have no give to them on the sidewall either

[Schroeder]

Good enough. Seems to be enough controversy on them. I'm going with the normal versions