Occasionally, South African motorists may suddenly discover that one car tyre has a puncture. Hopefully, this happens while refuelling as then you have enough time to get to the nearest tyre dealer. It would be unfortunate if it happened during a long trip in the middle of nowhere. Whatever the situation, having a flat tyre is inconvenient. This is where run-flat tyres come to the rescue. But should we buy them? Read on to find out more about this innovative type of vehicle tyre and whether you should buy them or not for your car.1
What are run-flat tyres? 1
As the name suggests, run-flat tyres are tyres that you can still drive with while they have no air in them.
Run-flat tyres are not for every car1
Run-flat tyres can only be fitted to cars equipped with a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Without this system, you will have no idea if the pressure of a run-flat tyre is steadily dropping. This means you could unknowingly continue driving at high speed while your run-flat tyre has had a puncture.
How does a run-flat tyre function? 1
A run-flat tyre is a tyre made of reinforced sidewalls, which are sufficiently strong to support the car’s weight. As a result, a run-flat tyre won’t change shape even though it no longer contains any air. The beauty of this principle is that the car won’t suddenly get a burst tyre and crash at high speed.
When will you notice there is a puncture? 1
The design of run-flat tyres is so efficient that the only way a driver will notice a tyre is experiencing a puncture is via the tyre pressure monitoring system. With ordinary tyres, you would not be able to continue, but with run-flat tyres, you should continue driving to the nearest garage at a slower speed. But we still need to check the run-flat tyre for any damage before continuing our journey to the garage.
What speed should one travel at with a punctured run-flat tyre? 1
Audi recommends that speeds between 30 and 50 km/hr be adhered to when run-flat tyres get a puncture. BMW suggests that speeds of up to 80 km/hr for a distance of up to 150 km will be fine. However, seeing these are maximum restrictions, it is not wise to test them to the very limit.
Are run-flat tyres more expensive? 1
Because of the technological design, run-flat tyres will cost more than conventional ones, ranging from 50% to 200% more. Costs depend on the brand selected, and the size tyre required.
Can you mix run-flat tyres with normal tyres? 1
The answer is a definite ‘no’ as the two tyres have different functions and handling characteristics.
Run-flat tyres protect the car from crashing due to a blow-out, but is your car protected with adequate car insurance cover for additional peace of mind? Contact PMD to find out more about their affordable car insurance with unique benefits like fixed premiums* and a reduce to zero excess* together with world-class service. T’s and C’s apply.
Source:
1https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/tips-and-advice/155304/what-are-run-flat-tyres
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.