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Run Flat Tyres Let You Wave Goodbye To Punctures and Blowouts

- Outstanding Run Flat Tyres for All Budgets -


Run Flat Tyres - A Step to Take Towards Safer Driving

Does the statistic that every driver experiences a flat tyre between 62 000 and 93 000 miles on the road worry you? The run flat tyres available at Tyres Guru vanish such worries by greatly enhancing safety for drivers. These are not your everyday conventional tyres.

Run flat tyres are exclusively designed tyres that provide safety in case of an emergency - air loss or puncture. In an event of a puncture, the run flat nature enables you to continue driving up to 50 miles with a maximum speed of 50 miles per hour so you don’t need to wait for a tyre fitting service to come to your aid.

This is especially important in the colder season when you need to rely on your tyres' performance the most. Please remember that, regardless of the speed rating of your tyre, you shouldn't drive faster than 50 mph. A wide range of cheap run flat tyres by various tyre manufacturers in almost any tyre size are available at tyres-guru.co.uk .

Exclusive Design Of Run Flat Tyres

There are two types of run flat tyres: self-supported and ring-supported. Both design types consist of the following two elements:

  • Special "Extended Hump" rims (shorter EH2) that ensure tyres will not be detached from the rims and enable the use of the following feature.
  • Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that detects if the air pressure has dropped and alerts the driver about the situation. This quick display of information about the tyre’s pressure helps you being alert of the vehicle’s situation because a punctured run-flat tyre isn't easily recognizable without the computers' aid.

The difference between the two designs is in the way these tyres keep the vehicle on the road safely even when punctured:

  • Self-supporting systems have reinforced sidewalls that keep the wheels spinning safely after the loss of air pressure.
  • Support ring systems have rubber rings pulled around the rims so that, once air loss is significant, they rest on the thread, enabling the undisturbed driving.

It's very important to remember that this innovative design comes at a price. These tyres are definitely more expensive because of it. Don't forget that, once punctured, you can't drive them over the 50 mile limit (regarding both the speed and distance), otherwise, you're risking damage to the wheel.

Also, one must take into consideration that a tyre with run-flat technology can't be repaired once damaged. So, even though you'll definitely get safer from A to B in an event of a puncture, you'll have to replace the punctured tyre(s) before your next trip in your automobile.

What are Run-flat Tyres?

Whether or not a tyre has the run flat technology can be determined by looking at the tyre sidewall. The two most common ones are RSC and RTF, but a tricky thing is that different manufacturers have different abbreviations. Please consult the list to see the correct tyre markings:

  • DSST - Dunlop
  • RFT - Bridgestone
  • EMT - Goodyear
  • HRFS - Hankook
  • PAX - Michelin
  • SSRF - Pirelli
  • SSR - Continental
  • TRF - Toyo
  • XRP - Kumho
  • ZP - Michelin (models from the mid-90s)
  • ZPS - Yokohama

Cars Fitted With Run Flats as 'Original Equipment' (OE)

Many car manufacturers are continually deciding to include run flat tyres in their vehicles' original equipment to add that final bit of extra safety to their offer. Such vehicles are BMW 5 series or Mini.

So, if your new car doesn't have a spare wheel, most likely it's equipped with four run-flats. If that's the case, please contact the vehicle manufacturer if, for some reason, you want to replace them with regular tyres. One of the reasons could be that you can't repair run flat tyres once they're damaged.

Benefits of Run flat Tyres

There's no need to change the tyres on the spot: you are not forced to stop your vehicle in an inopportune moment or a place. This type of tyre gives you more than enough time to drive your car to safety. Plus, there's absolutely no need for a tow truck no more. 

Punctured run-flats give you way more stability and driving comfort than conventional tyres. As they're designed to withstand air loss, driving with run flat tyres removes the danger of damaging your rim and gives you more handling comfort.

Also, driving with the run-flat technology translates to more trunk space, as there's no need for a spare tyre. Even though the tyre pricing does go higher with these models, it's a small price to pay for an overall increase in your driving safety.

Can I Fit Run Flat Tyres to My Car Myself?

For the most part, no. They should only be fitted on cars with the TPMS installed. So, if your car isn't equipped with this system, there's no point in equipping it with a set of tyres dependent on that system. Basically, without the TPMS, you wouldn't know whether or not your tyre is punctured, thus rendering all the benefits of the run-flat tyres useless.

Can You Repair Run Flat Tyres?

Repairing run flats is generally frowned upon by both the tyre manufacturers and car manufacturers. In the case of BMW run flat tyres, the manual clearly states that repairing these tyres is not recommended. However, there are manufacturers that do allow run flat tyre repair.

Tyre manufacturers that permit repairs:

  • BF Goodrich (one repair max.)
  • Bridgestone (Only if 15 psi maintained)
  • Dunlop (No more than one repair for H- and greater speed ratings)
  • Firestone (Only if 15 psi maintained)
  • Goodyear (No more than one repair for H- and greater speed ratings)
  • Hankook
  • Kumho
  • Michelin (one repair max.)

Tyre manufacturers that don't recommend, don't endorse, or flat out disallow repairs:

  • Continental (replacements available under their Road Hazard Program*)
  • Pirelli (replacements available under their Road Hazard Program*)
  • Yokohama (strongly against repairs)

*Complimentary replacement first year or first 2/32" of wear (regardless of which happens first). Continental warns that a repair to one of its tyres discredits all other manufacturer's warranties.

**Complimentary replacement first year or first 2/32" of wear (regardless of which happens first), then administered until wear reaches 2/32" of remaining tread depth.

Fun Facts About Run Flat Tyres

It might interest you to learn that the first type of tyre that resembled what the Run Flat tyres are today, was designed by Michelin in 1934 for the use of military vehicles. It will have been well over 20 years until this invention went public. The first commercial attempt was made by Chrysler and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in 1958 with the model called the Goodyear Double Eagle and it was advertised as "a tyre in a tyre".

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