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WHAT ARE RUN FLAT TIRES? Run flat tires are tires on which you can continue driving after a puncture so you can take time get to an auto shop or find a safe, level area to change your tire. You can’t drive on them indefinitely, though.
What are the disadvantages of run-flat tires?
Cons: No spare: Vehicles equipped with run-flats do not carry a spare wheel and tire, which means they don’t have a jack or tools either. Reduced tread wear: A 2013 study by J.D. Power found that people replaced their run-flat tires an average of 6,000 miles sooner than owners using conventional tires.
What is a benefit of run-flat tires?
The main benefit of using run flat tyres is that you don’t have to change your tyre at the side of the road should you get a flat tyre. This means you can drive your car to a safe location where you can change your wheel or drive to a garage where they can change your tyre.
What is the difference between run-flat tires and regular tires?
Compared to a standard tire, a run-flat tire has a thicker, more reinforced sidewall made of special heat-resistant rubber to support the weight of the vehicle and passengers for a limited distance, even if the tire has little to no air pressure.
Can I drive on run flat Tyres?
Run flats tyres have specially reinforced sidewalls that mean – even when you have a puncture – you can continue driving on them at a limited speed and for a limited period (a maximum speed of 50 mph for a maximum of 50 miles). This is typically within easy reach of a Kwik Fit centre.
Can you repair a nail in a run-flat tire?
Run flat tyres are OEM equipment on many new cars and they’re an important safety feature. But they can give a stiff and bumpy ride, they’re more expensive than conventional tyres and they can’t be repaired meaning you will have to replace them after a puncture.
Can I replace run flats with normal tires?
If you decide you want to replace the run-flats that came on your car with standard tires, it’s perfectly fine to mount them on your existing wheels. They’ll fit properly so as long as they’re the same size.
Why are run-flat tires so noisy?
In order to be able to keep driving with no air pressure, the sidewalls of run flats are very stiff – so the tire doesn’t deform as much with no air inside. But this has the effect of transmitting a lot more vibration, noise and harshness to the cabin.
How many years do run-flat tires last?
Run flat tyres are designed to remain safe and functional for a limited time with no air pressure. That means, in the event of a puncture, you can continue driving for around fifty miles without having to change the tyre — which could be enough to get you home, or to a garage.
Can run-flat tires explode?
If your tires are punctured and it is a cold, raining night then there is no need to change the tire on the road. You have the option to drive home or to a garage without any trouble. Run Flat tires also reduce the risks of potentially dangerous explosions due to their unique design and construction.
Are run-flats necessary on BMW?
“We feel strongly that the run-flat solution for many of our drivers makes sense.” And that’s why run-flat tires are the standard on nearly every BMW vehicle sold in America. The only exceptions are the automaker’s electric vehicle line, the BMW i, and its motorsport line, the BMW M.
Do run-flat tires need special rims?
Modern run flat tires don’t need special rims, but they are only functional on cars that are equipped with a working air pressure control system.
Do I have to have run-flats on my BMW?
One cautious bit of advice, though, if you’re considering changing your BMW’s run-flat tires to regular tires, you must do so on all four tires because of the handling and performance differences between the types of tires. As a way to reduce overall weight of new BMWs, they no longer come with spare tires.
Do all BMWS have run flat tyres?
In 2009, BMW decided to fit all of its models with run flat tyres as standard. The brand’s collaboration with Bridgestone provided customers with improved fuel economy and a safer method of punctured tyre replacement.
Why are run-flat tires so expensive?
Run flats are more expensive than regular tires. Partially because they are ‘performance’ tires designed for high end or performance cars, and partially because they are a smaller part of the market, they tend to be more expensive.
How do I know if my run flat tyre is punctured?
Once run flat the structure is compromised enough they can never be safely re-inflated and used. It’s a ‘get you home’ feature, like a space saver tyre, not a recipe for indestructibility. If it has gone flat while parked, Pump it up. If you hear a hissing noise, it has a puncture.
How much do run-flat tires cost?
How much do they cost? 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.
