Flat tires often occur at the most inappropriate time and place. Most people may be assisting the roadside, but I will wait about 45 minutes to one hour. If you know how to replace a spare it is a dirty job and you may not have worn it properly. To make matters worse, your car may not afford, and I do not know how to use the tire repair kit.

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Enter the run flat tire. Run flat tires or zero pressure tires can support the weight of the vehicle briefly and will provide the driver with a range of approximately 100 miles to find a repair shop. It may sound like a perfect solution, but car owners and car buyers should know about tradeoffs.


According to Edmunds' data, runflat tires are equipped as standard on 12% of new cars. Traditionally, automobile manufacturers have used it for sports cars, but in recent years it has started to be used for other cars as well. For example, Cadillac and BMW made runflat the original tire with a number of sedans.


Independent tire


The most common type of run flat technology currently in use is a self-contained tire. Tire sidewalls are greatly reinforced to support the vehicle, even when the air pressure is low or when the tire loses all the pressure.

Pros:

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You can drive with flat tires: The main advantage of a self-contained tire is that you can continue to drive around 100 miles flat after all the air runs out. You do not have to leave the car in the cold or rain. Also, you do not have to leave the highway in the downtown area or the streets in the city's key places. Drivers usually need to slow down to about 50 mph to get the maximum range. The owner's manual contains exact numerical values ​​for each tire / vehicle application.


Improved stability after blow out: Since this tire can support a vehicle for miles without air, sudden deflation will reduce weight shifting and instability of the tread. Steering and handling remain in normal condition.


Reduce car body weight: Removing spare tire and tire repair tool, vehicle weight should theoretically drop. Since run-flat is added to sidewall reinforcement, it is heavier than normal tire, so it is not what you expected.

Cons:

drivingtips_723142_717.jpgWith no spare: Since vehicles equipped with run flat are not equipped with spare wheels and tires, there is no jack or tool. Indeed, eliminating spare tires and repositioning the space in other purposes (styling, third row seating, interior room, etc.) is a major reason automaker provides run flat.


Reduced tread wear: According to a survey by JD Power, people exchanged runflat tires an average of 6,000 miles earlier than owners using regular tires. The reason is different for opinion, but the tire manufacturer has the theory that a soft tread compound is attached to a run flat tire to counter the hard ride. The side effects of softer compounds are shorter tread lifespan.


Blowout is possible: If the driver neglects attention or exceeds the zero pressure range or exceeds the speed limit and does not notice the warning and the drive, the tire may start to decompose with the same unstable effect. Furthermore, if a puncture occurs on the side wall, or if the tire strikes a large object, the driver must call the towing vehicle. According to J. D. Power's survey, "Customers with passenger cars equipped with run-flat tires have about twice the potential of vehicles equipped with conventional tires that have to replace tires for flat or blowout.


It is difficult to know if the air is low: If the air pressure is low, it is a side effect of a harder structure that the side walls are not inflated. In other words, it is important to check the tire pressure frequently using the tire pressure monitoring system. Otherwise, you never knew the flat.


Rigorous ride: Rigid sidewalls that do run-flat work can also make it a more difficult ride. When an automobile brings a run flat tire from a factory, the car manufacturer usually adjusts the suspension to offset the more severe ride.


Cost: Run flat tires cost expensive to replace. The 205 / 55R16 run flat tire sold at local shops in Santa Monica, California is $ 239. The standard tire equivalent cost is about $ 174 and the tire has a difference of $ 65. Also, many runflats can not be repaired and often need to be replaced in pairs.


Low availability of commercial products: Since run flat is not a large tire, it is not desirable for the driver to roll to a simple tire shop and purchase. In big cities it may be easy to do, but if you are a run flat user running on the road and you get a flat near a small town, a detour was made to find the appropriate new tire You will have to do. Or you may have to stay there all night, waiting for the tire to ship.


Self-sealing tires are not run-flat tires in that they can operate without air. Instead, it has a layer of sealant inside the tire that can maintain air pressure during puncture. When removing the nail on the tire, the sealant is less than 5 mm and fills the puncture as long as it is near the center of the tread.


The biggest advantage of a self-sealing tire is that it resembles a traditional tire. It can be mixed with standard tires to match and the life of the tread is the same. Disadvantages are higher cost and lower availability.


This type of tire is not standard equipment for new models, but it is worth mentioning because it can be used as a replacement tire. Continental and Pirelli are two tire manufacturers producing self-sealing tires.


Although run-flat tires seem to have more negative side than upside, many people swear it. Before you make your decision, please take a moment to read the customer's reviews and spend time learning which tires are equipped as standard on the car.