$2,250 for a set of tires, alignment and a $100 oil change, oh boy..................

Been trying to get Grand Nasty sorted out for the trip to Ohio for the Salem Event June 14-15. Still have some issues so that will stay in the garage for now.

My back up plan was to take Biggest Red and then I noticed anti freeze on the driveway. Damn water pump is leaking and needs to be replaced. So Biggest will keep Nasty company in the garage.

Then I figured, Moon' loves driving the ZR1 Corvette and the wife won't be going so I can drive that damn thing like a man up to Ohio.

So up on my lift goes the Bad Ass 'Vette for a 10 quart Mobile 1 oil and filter change. (dry sump systems are a beautiful thing) Was I in for a BIG surprise !

My Corvette has the original 9 year old Michelin Pilot Super Sport ZRs (not cheap) that always looked good. I know they were due for a change because of age and I have kept an eye on them. Well the right front tire is down to the cords on the inside and the left rear tire has a split in between the treads. After much research I went with Tire Rack. These are very big, hard to find tires, designed by Michelin specifically for the ZR1 that can go 205mph.

So old Moon' reached deeeeeeeeeeeeeep into his piggy bank and found some paper route money and ordered a new set of sneakers and a full set of new Tire Pressure Monitors. After I bitched and moaned for a couple of days the wife said.....
"SHUT UP BIG SHOT, YA WANNA PLAY, YA GOTTA PAY" ! (tuff woman)

The only one down here in the deep south who can handle mounting and dismounting these BIG MOMMA RUN FLATS is my local Chevy Dealer. They have a brand new high tech wheel machine and a new laser alignment machine.
I've already been in the owners office relating to him the consequences of anyone doing a sub standard job or screwing anything up on my Corvette. (probably thinks I'm a nut job) Car goes in tomorrow, Friday, so we'll see.

If you happen to see MOON' outside the Home Depot in Ohio PANHANDLING, throw me some loose change.

 

If you get through another set, Moon, shoot me a pm next time. I've got a few sets in my basement with about 90% tread I run on a few my cars that are take-offs from guys going to Pirellis or Sport Cup 2s on their ZR-1s and Z06s. They do look awesome sitting on the floor, don't they? Damnear as wide as they are tall

 

Thats the quintessential corvette owner behavior.

 

Nope, just a concerned customer who has dealt with the incompetence of today's work force who don't seem to give a damn about other peoples property !

Case in point: https://consumerist.com/2006/12/28/dealership-wrecks-customers-corvette-wont-compensate-him/

 

Wow, good thing you caught that tire wear before it caused a real problem!

 

Yep. This is exactly my point. You proved me 100% correct.

 

I'd have changed the water pump and took the BIG one. No better way to find the cars weakness than a road trip.

 

Would've been cheaper to buy a water pump for Biggest Red.

 

But just think of fun you will hitting the hills and corner on the west Virginia turnpike in that thing. Just watch for a few pot holes...

Oh and be prepared the price on the turn pike there went up alot. When we just came through to topsail from ohio it was 4 buck every stop for the minivan.......so almost 25 bucks round trip.

I was through in Nov coming back from Georgia with my new 28ft enclosed trailer and the truck and trailer wasnt that much at each stop

 

Can run flat tires blow out from age?

 

Well I believe they only flat so far b4 more issues start to come up. I think the intended purpose is not leave stuck with 3 little kids on the side of a strange ass road at 2am.........to allow you 50 or so miles to get you to a safer spot for service.........not to be a forever tire that never needs replacement.

 

Personally I don't like the run flat tires. They are very stiff and give you a harsher ride than a conventional tubeless tire.
In the Corvettes case, there is no room for a spare tire anywhere on that car. They are a Beeotch to mount and dismount on a rim.

Here is what they are all about.........

https://www.bridgestonetire.com/tread-and-trend/drivers-ed/run-flat-tires

 

Exactly, and as Moon said they are stiff as he!!. Most of the cars that run them have 19"+ wheels so they ride fairly harsh any way, so tough to tell for most people when they get a flat without a tpms system. I check the Riviera's tires before every road trip and after I get back. You don't get the normal "ballooning" sidewall effect when there's a flat, so hard to see from a visual standpoint. The ZR1 and Z06 Corvettes run very negative camber specs from the factory for road course duty, so wear out the inside of the tires super quick. Just one of the prices to pay to run a big dog and not a normal Corvette.

 

Tires are mounted and balanced, 4 wheel alignment done, the ZR1 is ready to roll...........

 

I'll burn the rears off for you Moon hahaha

 

One question, how did someone wear tires to the cord with only 3,200 miles? Odo been turned?

 

Alinement wrong from the factory.......I changed tie rods on a grand prix. Counted turn on and off everything line up perfect, wheel was perfectly straight, no pulling, wore out tires that were new in about 1500 miles

 

Odo been rolled back. Typical used car dealer stuff.

 

oh wow, nice car, nice tires, Ive always loved that one year of vette, especially in that blue,hopefully youll earn your money back!

 

The sad thing about run-flat's is if you drive on them with no air pressure, you usually have to replace them. They can only be repaired in very limited situations. My daily driver came with them but I don't have them anymore. I carry a small 12v tire pump and a tire plugging kit in my trunk. And I have had to use it and it worked fine.