| Run flat tyres are a relatively new innovation that | | | | after the event. |
| allows you to keep motoring even if one or more of | | | | Because of the technology involved and the demands |
| your tyres develops a puncture. However whilst they | | | | placed upon them a run flat tyre cannot be repaired |
| do prevent the inconvenience of being stranded at the | | | | after it has been damaged by a puncture. When fitting |
| side of the road they do still have their limits, which | | | | a replacement you must make sure that the same |
| need to be followed in order to continue your journey | | | | brand of tyre is fitted across an axel and must not mix |
| safely. | | | | them with standard tyres, except in an extreme |
| Run flat tyres normally have a significantly reinforced | | | | emergency. |
| sidewall, which is thicker and stronger than that of a | | | | There is no doubt that having run flat tyres fitted will |
| conventional tyre. This means that even if air pressure | | | | prevent a driver from being stuck at the side of the |
| is lost from the tyre due to a puncture, the sidewall still | | | | road because of a puncture. It will also prevent a |
| has significant rigidity to allow the tyre to maintain its | | | | driver's worse nightmare of losing control of their |
| shape and stay in full contact with the road. | | | | vehicle at high speed because of a tyre blow. |
| Because these strengthened tyres are so good at | | | | Puncture resistant tyres form part of a growing range |
| controlling the effects of a puncture, a driver may not | | | | of passive vehicle safety systems, which also includes |
| even be aware that they have a problem. Therefore | | | | stability control, anti-lock brakes and adaptive headlight |
| an onboard monitoring system will be fitted as | | | | bulbs. |
| standard to alert the driver to any loss of tyre | | | | Run flat tyres do however still have some drawbacks. |
| pressure, and so you must only fit this type of tyres to | | | | The stiffened sidewall means that they give a much |
| a vehicle that has a tyre pressure monitoring system. | | | | harsher ride than normal tyres, which can affect driver |
| Once a puncture has occurred you can still continue | | | | and passenger comfort. In addition, because they |
| motoring but you must adjust your driving style | | | | cannot be repaired they can work out overall more |
| accordingly. Limit your maximum speed to just 50 mph | | | | expensive than standard tyres, and if you cannot find |
| and travel no more than 50 miles from the point that | | | | a dealer that stocks a correct replacement you could |
| the puncture was first identified. You should therefore | | | | be in for a lengthy wait whilst they order it in for you. |
| arrange to have the tyre replaced as soon as possible | | | | |