What Are Run-Flat Tires? Are They Right for You? | Auto Dealer

After a stressful day at work, few things are as relaxing or enjoyable as getting away from it all and going for a drive. There’s something about losing yourself on the road and focusing on the task at hand, letting other worries and stresses slip away as you roll down the pavement. Of course, few things are worse than when this tranquil situation is interrupted by your tire shredding apart or being punctured by an unseen piece of debris on the road. At best, you’re looking at a moment of severe panic, followed by the need to change your tire or call a tow truck—at worst, you might have a dangerous collision.

Anyone who’s experienced a sudden loss of tire pressure or a blow-out knows how scary it is, and we can all agree that’s something we want to avoid. This is where run-flat tires come into play by presenting a seemingly simple solution. Yet, most vehicles on the road these days don’t have run-flat tires despite the obvious advantages they present. Whether you’re looking to get some run-flat tires here at our tire shop near Greece or you’re simply curious about how well they work, you’ve come to the right place because we have answers.

Run-flat tires are tires that are able to keep running once they go flat. The idea behind a run-flat tire is that it can still function even after sustaining damage and a loss of pressure that would make it impossible for conventional tires to keep moving. More to the point, they don’t actually get “flat” when this happens and instead can continue to support themselves, letting you drive for a while before you need to replace them. It’s important to note that you still need to replace them after they’re damaged.

Let’s say you’re driving around Greece, maybe running errands on the weekend, and you run over a particularly unpleasant object on the road that punctures your tire. If you have conventional tires, you now have a flat, and you’ll need to pull over to the side of the road quickly. At that point, it’s time to put a spare on and limp to a service center for a new tire or call a tow truck to haul you somewhere. But if you have run-flat tires, you can keep driving almost like normal for a while. Different tires have different life spans, but a Bridgestone run-flat tire, for example, can typically go up to 50 miles, and you can drive up to 50 mph on it safely; that’s much better than needing to stop immediately.

Great question, and there are actually two answers because two different designs are typically used in making run-flat tires. Self-supporting tires are the most common design you’ll encounter as an option for your car. Less common but still quite effective are support ring tires. Both of these solutions work well in creating tires that can keep going safely after sustaining damage, but they approach the problem in two different ways.

Self-supporting tires typically have a reinforced sidewall that can support your vehicle if your tire loses pressure due to a puncture or similar damage. The sidewall of your tires is the side that faces you when you look at your vehicle from the side, as opposed to the tread along the surface of the tires that comes in contact with the road. This reinforced construction gives these tires the strength to keep their shape and support your vehicle if air pressure is lost.

A rarer type of run-flat tire, support ring tires actually have a unique support ring within the tire that comes into contact with your wheel rims when these tires are on your vehicle. Should you lose tire pressure or your tires be damaged, the support ring—usually made of hard rubber—will actually support your vehicle, and you’ll run on that within the tire. This type of run-flat tire is more common on military vehicles or heavy-duty commercial trucks since they are costly to make and ideal in a catastrophic incident.

The major advantage of run-flat tires is exactly what you’d expect: the ability to keep driving on them after sustaining damage or a puncture that would make other tires unsuitable for the road. This way, if you hit a large nail or some other debris that slashes into your tire and causes you to lose air while driving around Greece, you don’t have to pull over immediately. Having run-flat tires can also make driving safer since you won’t experience a disastrous blow-out in the same way while driving if your tire hits an obstacle.

One of the biggest advantages of this sort of tire is that it means you don’t have to worry about a spare tire. If you lose pressure, you can keep going until you get to the tire shop here at our service center. This is particularly advantageous for electric vehicles since it means they can eliminate the weight and space used by a spare tire. Finally, having run-flat tires can help avoid damage to your wheels or suspension that can be caused by suddenly getting a flat while driving.

The biggest disadvantage to run-flat tires is simple: they cost more than conventional tires without a run-flat design. For one thing, they require more rubber and other materials, so they naturally cost more, and there’s the added expense of developing them. A run-flat tire can easily cost $50 more than a standard tire; multiply that by four every time you need new tires, and the extra price can add up. Their design, particularly self-supporting run-flat tires with reinforced sidewalls, is also typically quite a bit stiffer than conventional tires, providing you with ride quality that some drivers find unpleasant.

It’s also worth noting that they’re not entirely indestructible; while they can sustain damage that would render a standard tire inoperable and keep going, enough damage can make them unusable. A large enough piece of debris in the road, hitting a brutal pothole, or striking a curb with enough force can damage a run-flat tire enough to require immediate replacement. If you’re driving without a spare because you have run-flat tires, then a tow truck is your only choice. Plus, not every shop carries run-flat tires like we do, so if you want to replace one with the same type or want a new set, you might need to call around to find what you need.

The answer to that question depends entirely on what you prefer while driving and the conditions you tend to deal with during your travels. We know plenty of people with work trucks who spend a lot of time at construction sites and swear by run-flat tires as the best way to avoid issues due to running over something at a job site. On the other hand, there is added expense and a loss of ride quality from choosing run-flat tires over conventional ones, both of which are not insignificant factors. Ultimately, you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of run-flat tires and decide whether or not they’re right for you. Just remember that it’s best to keep all four of your tires the same type to ensure the best ride, and know that we’re always ready to answer all of your questions and keep your vehicle in great shape.