What are run-flat tyres?
Run-flat tyres are manufactured to keep working for a short amount of time even after you have suffered a puncture. So there’s no need to panic if you happen to suffer from a puncture on a cold, dark night, as you should be able to safely drive home or to the nearest garage to get your tyre changed. Due to their unique construction, run-flat tyres significantly reduce the dangers of a tyre blowout.
How do they work?
Built with reinforced sidewalls, run-flat tyres guarantee road users a stable, more effective transmission of the vehicle’s power to the road surface, with better handling on corners and faster reaction to turns. Normally, a car is supported by the air in the tyres, and as soon as you get a puncture, the tyre begins to collapse. However, run-flat tyres are designed with tough rubber inserts which temporarily withstand the weight of your vehicle even after a puncture.
How far can you get with a punctured run-flat tyre?
Once your run-flat tyre has suffered a puncture, you can’t keep driving on it forever – usually, you will be able to drive at 50mph for another 50 miles. The exact range you can expect from your punctured run-flat tyre depends on your driving speed, how much weight your vehicle is carrying and the conditions you’re driving in.
Vehicles fitted with run-flat as ‘Original Equipment’ (OE)
It’s becoming increasingly popular with vehicle manufacturers opting to fit new cars with run-flat tyres, this means that the vehicle won’t come with a spare tyre or tyre changing equipment that’s usually included.
Fitting ‘conventional’ tyres to a run-flat equipped vehicle
If your vehicle was fitted with run-flat tyres, then it is possible for you to be able to change to ‘conventional tyres.’ However, if the vehicle was designed with run-flat tyres in mind, you will have to consider buying a new spare tyre and tyre changing equipment as this won’t have been included before.
Can run-flat tyres be repaired?
It’s advised by most manufacturers that run-flat tyres should not be repaired. If the damaged tyre has been driven on, the strength of the tyre will be compromised. It is then impossible for a fitter to know how long the tyre was driven on, and if it was driven at a speed recommended after a puncture. Keeping the correct air pressure in your tyres and taking care whilst driving will ensure a longer life from your tyres.