On conventional tyres, you’d have to pull over immediately. Often, the only indication that something is amiss is when your car’s tyre-pressure monitoring system indicates a problem. They have a reinforced sidewall that’s stiff enough to support the weight of the car without compromising safety or damaging the wheels. The idea behind run-flat tyres is simple. It’s worth noting that while run-flat tyres can be retrofitted to cars, they’re not recommended for cars without a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), as your car will give little or no indication that the tyre’s pressure is dropping. The idea is that you can come to a safe, controlled stop. That doesn’t mean you can drive normally, though – once the air has escaped, you can only drive on a ‘flat’ run-flat tyre for a limited number of miles and at a lower speed. The clue is in the name run-flat tyres allow you to continue driving even when they are flat. However, there is another option - the run-flat tyre. Unfortunately, fewer cars are now fitted with full spare wheels as standard and not all motorists know how to change a tyre. Old tyres, damage from a poor road surface or pothole, a rogue sharp object, or a faulty inflation valve are just some of the potential causes. There are many reasons why someone may experience a puncture. Remember that OEM run-flat vehicles do not have tire-changing tools and a spare tire in the trunk, so keep this in mind before making the switch.Along with flat batteries, flat tyres are one of the biggest causes of roadside breakdown callouts in the UK. Besides having a standard TPMS, new cars with standard run-flats have particular changes to the suspension and chassis to accommodate those special tires - otherwise, Family Handyman notes, the tires may unexpectedly separate from the wheel bead. If your vehicle originally came with run-flat tires, it is possible to replace them and mount conventional tires instead, as Firestone explains.

Run-flat tires are not compatible with any vehicle. Only vehicles that came with run-flats from the factory can use run-flat tires. Depending on the brand, run-flat tires will have RFT (Run-Flat Tire), SSR (Self-Supporting Run-Flat), EMT (Extended Mobility Tire), or ZP (Zero Pressure) markings, according to Toee Tire. The Drive explains that the most common run-flat tire you can buy is the self-supporting tire, although manufacturers like Pirelli and Continental are now offering self-sealing run-flat tires. You can identify a run-flat tire by visually inspecting the sidewall.

Run flat tires meaning