{"id":812,"date":"2020-04-09T03:59:33","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T03:59:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/easterntyres.com.au\/?p=812"},"modified":"2021-01-29T04:30:48","modified_gmt":"2021-01-29T04:30:48","slug":"run-flat-tyres-how-do-they-work-and-are-they-worth-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/easterntyres.com.au\/run-flat-tyres-how-do-they-work-and-are-they-worth-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Run Flat Tyres: How do they work and are they worth it?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
You may have heard\nthe news that Michelin is working on designs for an airless tyre. The\npossibility of never having to change a flat is tantalising, but the concept is\nstill several years away. Until then, we have run flat tyres. So, what are they\nand how do they work?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You guessed it:\nrun flat tyres are so named because they can be driven even if they\u2019re\npunctured. They achieve this through the use of reinforced rubber that prevents\nthe tyre from collapsing upon a sudden loss of pressure. Self-supporting tyres (SSRs)\nhave a tougher, thicker sidewall that holds its shape upon deflation, while\nanother type of run flat tyre has a supporting ring of hardened rubber that\nprevents a collapse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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What are the\nadvantages of run flat tyres?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Firstly, the most\nobvious advantage: you don\u2019t have to pull over and change the tyre straight\naway. Run flats are designed so that you can continue driving to a service\ncentre and have the tyre changed safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second\nadvantage is a follow on from the first: you don\u2019t have to change a tyre on the\nside of the road. Not only is this always a huge inconvenience, but it can be\nunsafe if there\u2019s no wide shoulder or carpark to pull into. Run flat tyres also\nsave you from hanging around for roadside assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thirdly, if you\nexperience a puncture, the toughened nature of run flats lends the car greater\nstability. In other words, the driver will maintain greater control over car\u2019s\nhandling, and more able to negotiate obstacles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another important\nadvantage is the reduced risk of blowouts. A blowout can occur for several\nreasons, including underinflated or worn tyres, too heavy a load, or a\nparticularly nasty pothole. Whatever the cause, blowouts are sudden,\nfrightening and dangerous. Fortunately, the reinforced sidewall of run flat tyres\ngreatly reduces the chance of your tyre rupturing and rapidly deflating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fourth reason\nis more about convenience than safety. Because a run flat allows you to\ncontinue driving to a service centre \u2013 you guessed it \u2013 there\u2019s no need to\ncarry a spare tyre! Hooray for extra boot space. Plus, the reduced weight helps\nwith fuel economy (albeit marginally). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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How far can you\ntravel on run flat tyres with a puncture?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It depends on the\ntyre. Manufacturers will always have guidelines for you to follow. As an\nexample, though, the Continental Self Supporting Run flat (SSR) allows you to\ncontinue driving for up to 80 kilometres at a top speed of 80km\/h. Unless\nyou\u2019re in the middle of nowhere, that gives you a very good chance of reaching\na service centre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Can I have both\nrun flats and regular tyres on my car?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
No, we strongly\nrecommend that you don\u2019t. Not all tyres behave in the same way; they have\ndifferent characteristics and different handling. If you mix and match on your\ncar, you\u2019ll end up with unpredictable dynamics. Plus, it actually makes the car\nunroadworthy. So it\u2019s all or nothing;\nyou either have four run-flats or four normal tyres, but you cannot have a\nmixture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Can I fit run\nflat tyres myself?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Not really. The\nthicker, stiffer side-walls make it almost impossible to remove and refit the\ntyre without a good quality tyre changing machine. Tyres such as the Continental Self Supporting\nRun flat are technologically advanced products which should be mounted by a\ncertified Continental trained tyre specialist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The walls on run\nflat tyres are very rigid, and so you may not even notice a puncture; for this\nreason, we recommend the use of a tyre pressure monitoring system (TRMS), which\nwill alert you when there\u2019s a loss of tyre pressure in the tyre. If a\nprofessional fits the tyre and the monitor, you\u2019ll know all components are\nfunctioning correctly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Can my vehicle\nbe fitted with run flat tyres?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Depends on the\nmake and model. Some cars have been approved by the manufacturer for SSR tyre\nuse, some not. Bring your car in to Eastern Tyres and we\u2019ll tell you if run\nflats are appropriate for you, and what type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n