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Want to avoid changing your flat tire in not-so-desirable weather conditions like pouring down rain or that awful snow storm? Want to have peace of mind on the open road? Then Run Flat Tires are for you! The benefits are numerous and the safety standards high with Run Flat Tires, which have had a resurgence and increase in popularity as of late. As the name makes clear, they run flat, and are standard on nearly every BMW sold in America and on 12 percent of new vehicles. They are the solution for more and more drivers who place safety at the forefront….
Here’s what they are all about!
Flat tires can happen anywhere, often at the most inopportune time or place, leaving many people to call for roadside assistance. Changing a tire is an option, but what if there is no spare or you are uncertain how to use the tire repair kit? These are situations that occur more times than not. Here’s where Run Flat, or zero-pressure, tires come into play. Not only can they support the weight of a vehicle for a short time, providing the driver with approximately 100 miles of range until they reach a repair shop, but they offer better stability after a blow out and a lower vehicle weight overall.
The primary benefit of Run Flat Tires are that you can drive on them. They allow you to continue on your course, driving on a flat 100 miles after all the air is gone. Drivers need not exit their vehicle on busy roadways or not-so-desirable parts of town, but instead safely reduce their speed until they arrive at the location they need. Because this tire can support the vehicle for miles without air, a sudden deflation results in less weight transfer and tread destabilization. Above all, the steering and handling will remain near normal. The benefits don’t stop there. With the spare wheel and tire repair tools eliminated, your vehicle weight should also go down.
While driving on the Run Flat is its main benefit, there is a limit to this perk. You cannot drive on them indefinitely, and should check out your manufacturer’s specifications to find out both how fast and how far you can go.
There are two types of run flat tire systems, the self-supporting system and the support ring system. In the majority of self-supporting systems, the tire features reinforced sidewall construction that will continue supporting the vehicle in the event of air loss. With support ring systems, they employ a ring of hard rubber or another structure that can support the vehicle’s weight in an air loss condition. Only vehicles equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) can perform with Run Flat Tires. The TPMS lets drivers know as soon as a pressure loss occurs. Without this alert, which is often the only indication, drivers may not know they are driving on an under-inflated tire. It is critical for safety that attention is paid to warnings of low tire pressure which all vehicles using Run Flat Tires must have.
In general, Run Flat Tires are pneumatic vehicle tires that resist the effects of deflation when punctured. They also ensure the vehicle and its steering control do not become immobile. They are meant to support the vehicle enough to maintain operable speeds in order to get out of the area or to a repair facility nearby.
Typically, Run Flat Tires cost about $200-$500 per tire for a passenger vehicle, or about 50-200 percent more than standard tires. The best benefit when it comes to cost comes from the fact that these tires can outlast several tire changes. It remains affixed to the wheel within the tire. It is peace of mind.
Consumers, who continue to rate safety high on their list of expected features, should still consider both the pros and cons of Run Flat Tires when weighing their decision and making that next purchase. Cost is often considered a “con” when it comes to this technology. In fact, drivers who rely on run-flats tend to replace their tires an average of 6,000 miles faster than standard tires. In addition, vehicles riding on run-flats are twice as likely to need to replace their tires after a flat or a blow out. That is because after they do their job, run-flats cannot be repaired.
Other downsides include reduced fuel economy by about 1-2 percent; availability, as they are often hard to find and require specific configuration standards; and a decrease experienced by some in overall ride quality.
Despite these downsides, many manufacturers and drivers indicate that the safety and convenience of run-flats far outweigh both the cost and replacement issues. With increases in technology come an increase in run-flats usability. Most major manufacturers attach run-flat technology to their leading tires, thus reaffirming their trust in this technology.
While early generations of run-flats were too heavy, too noisy and not durable, new run-feasts are tailored for a better ride. When compared to a regular tire, they are better equipped to handle tricky turns while deflated and when it comes to noise, fare much better. Drivers will not hear the “flap, flap, flap” of a typical flat with a run-flat.
For many, run-flat tires rule, giving drivers an option they never had before. They are not only a good fit for the BMW experience, but becoming standard on many other vehicles. When something goes wrong, and it often does on the road, this is just one more way to ensure safety, comfort and overall customer service. While they are tried true in many aspects, there is still room for advancement. Performance-Oriented run-flat tires, options designed for electric and hybrid vehicles and fitments for the larger wheel sizes are just some of what lies ahead. See if run-flat tires are the option for you. Solid, secure and stable, they are ensuring that changing that pesky flat will be a thing of the past.