In 1953, Chevrolet introduced America's first true sports car with the revolutionary sleek look of the Corvette. American's have been enamored with this vehicle ever since its humble beginnings when there was no manual transmission made that could handle its unbelievable 150hp. Things have changed since every model came with a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission to the roaring 430hp V8 used in today's C6 models. Most current C6 Corvette (2005-2013) models are equipped with run-flat tires.
Frequently I hear from C6 Corvette owners: "What are the longest lasting run-flat tires?" Switching to an all-season rubber compound can significantly increase treadlife. For instance, the Max Performance Summer Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP has a UTQG rating of 220, while the Ultra High Performance All-Season Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP has a much higher UTQG rating of 500. Many C6 Corvette owners are willing to give up a bit of ultimate grip in order to switch to run-flat tires that can wear upwards of 30% longer. The two most popular Ultra High Performance All-Season run-flat replacement tires are the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP and Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT.
The Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP (Zero Pressure) is the Ultra High Performance All-Season run-flat tire member of Michelin's Pilot family of low profile, high-speed tires. Developed in the Original Equipment sizes for Chevrolet Corvette C-5 and C-6 coupe and convertible sports cars, the Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP is designed to temporarily support the weight of the car even after a loss of air pressure, as well as combine enhanced all-weather performance, wet grip and treadwear along with year-round traction, including in light snow.
Bridgestone's Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT tire is developed for drivers looking for enhanced ride quality and all-season traction for sports cars, sports coupes and performance sedans originally equipped with O.E. run-flat tires. It features Bridgestone 3G RFT Technology designed to offer almost the same riding comfort as conventional tires while providing temporary extended mobility for a distance of 50 miles at up to 50 mph even after a puncture has allowed complete air pressure loss. Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT tires provide year-round driving flexibility by offering predictable handling, traction and control on dry and wet roads.
When it's time to replace the tires on your Chevrolet C6 Corvette, be sure to shop by vehicle and view the list of longer wearing all-season run-flat tires.
Are you looking for the ultimate performance street tire? Do you need to get as much grip as you can to handle all the horsepower and torque your vehicle puts out? Are you the driver that'll take nothing but the best for your sports car? Here at Tire Rack we know what serious drivers demand out of their tires and know what they want - and that includes Max Performance Summer tires.
These technologically advanced low profile, high speed tires combine computer developed designs and unique materials with precision manufacturing techniques to provide an unsurpassed blend of dry and wet traction and handling. Currently, two tires stand out in the category and are ranked first and second in our Tire Survey Results.
The tire at the top of the list is the Michelin Pilot Super Sport. No tire offers as good a combination of wet and dry traction as this one. Initially introduced as Original Equipment on several of the world's most sophisticated performance vehicles, including the exclusive Ferrari 599 GTO, Ferrari's fastest road car ever, this tire delivers durability, handling and traction while increasing tread life. Pilot Super Sport tires are what you would expect from Michelin, and is designed to allow sports cars, sporty coupes, performance sedans and supercars to achieve their full potential in dry and wet conditions.
Bridgestone's Potenza S-04 Pole Position is ranked behind the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, but is a great alternative and is often available more often than the Michelin and is usually at a lower price point. The tire provides drivers of ultra high performance sports cars, coupes and sedans the rush of driving their vehicle. Designed to perform in warm, wet and dry conditions, Potenza S-04 Pole Position tires aren't intended to be driven in near freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.
We tested these two tires this summer and both performed very well. Read "Testing Max Performance Summer Tires" to see how each option can improve your driving!
For Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Packages, it's often beneficial to use a smaller diameter wheel (combined with a taller profile tire) compared to your stock wheels. In many cases, an expensive, low profile tire size and wheel combination can be substituted with a more cost-effective tire and wheel set that'll also afford added sidewall height to minimize pothole damage. With more and more vehicles coming standard with 19" and 20" wheels and tires, "minus sizing" has become very popular.
How do we know which wheels will fit your vehicle? By measuring your vehicle's critical components with sophisticated electronic tools that allows our fitment engineers to create accurate drawings of these parts. This also helps us check for any interferences. Items we measure or verify during the process include:
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Bolt Pattern
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Centerbore
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Hub Interference
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Load Capacity
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Lug Hardware
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Suspension Components
Once a wheel is guaranteed, we can develop the corresponding tire size that will both maintain proper load capacity and overall diameter for accuracy of the vehicle's electronic instrumentation and safety systems. Proper fitment engineering allows us to offer Tire & Wheel Packages that are specifically designed for your vehicle. Our attention to detail prevents vibration, wheel/tire interference and unbalanced handling that can result from improperly designed packages.
For further information on how we verify what wheels are a match for your vehicle, read "How We Know What Fits."
Tires found in the Studless Ice & Snow performance category are best designed to work under the harshest of conditions. Their super soft compounds and aggressive tread patterns do an excellent job of evacuating large volumes of snow and slush and adhering to glare ice. They're often low speed rated and place all of their focus on that one important task of providing the highest amount of traction possible. Two popular options in this class are the Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 and Michelin X-Ice Xi3. Both tires have received praise from our customers, too:
"My home is at 7,000 feet elevation in a subdivision with steep, narrow, curved roads. Winter tires are essential for my family since snow removal is inconsistent and a normal overnight snowfall is about 12". Blizzaks always get me through deep snow with control and confidence. The WS70 is significantly improved for both snow, ice and dry traction." Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2006 Subaru Outback Wagon 2.5 XT Limited (Bridgestone Blizzak WS70)
"Just drove through a major snow storm and the vehicle handled like the storm wasn't happening. Awesome!" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2013 Ford Focus 5-Door (Michelin X-Ice Xi3)
While all this may sound appealing, Studless Ice & Snow tires aren't for everyone. While some drivers prefer a basic approach to winter / snow tires, others prefer to preserve some of the handling traits their vehicles came with from the factory. In general, Performance Winter / Snow tires are not as aggressive as Studless Ice & Snow tires. They do an excellent job of blending a dedicated snow compound with a high speed rating that preserves dry road handling and turn-in response. Such tires may also feature a tread pattern that is more tied together to provide a reduction in tread noise. An example of this can be seen in the photo above of the new Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4.
If you are looking to run a dedicated winter tire without making many handling sacrifices, take a look at the growing number of tires in this popular class. Performance Winter / Snow tires are low profile, H- or V-speed rated tires designed to suit winter driving on European highways. They are available in many of the low profile sizes used as Original Equipment on sporty imported and domestic cars. Shop by vehicle to see if a Performance Winter / Snow tire is right for your application.
2004 Honda Civic Si Hatchback
