More room in the trunk: Most spare tires are located on the floor of the cargo area. But it won't be as much as you might expect since run-flats weigh more than regular tires due to the added sidewall reinforcement. Lower vehicle weight: With the spare wheel and tire repair tools eliminated, vehicle weight should theoretically go down. Steering and handling will remain near normal. The owner's manual will have exact figures for each tire/vehicle application.īetter stability after a blowout: Because this tire can support the vehicle for miles without air, a sudden deflation results in less weight transfer and tread destabilization. Drivers will usually have to reduce speed to about 50 mph to get the maximum range. You don't have to get out of the car in the cold, or the rain, or onto a busy highway or on the street in a sketchy part of town. You can drive on a flat tire: The primary benefit of a self-supporting tire is that it allows you to keep driving on a flat up to 50 miles after all the air has gone. The tire's sidewalls are heavily reinforced to support the vehicle when the air pressure is low or even when the tire has lost all its pressure. The most common type of run-flat technology in use today is the self-supporting tire.

A number of Cadillac models also employ run-flat tires. You'll now find run-flats on the majority of vehicles from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Mini. The overall percentage of vehicles available with run-flats has plateaued at 14%-15% for the last five years. While the number of vehicles available with run-flat tires has doubled in the last decade, they seem to have hit a plateau. Run-flat tires are standard on 15% of new vehicles, according to Edmunds data. While it may sound like the perfect solution, car owners and car shoppers should know about the trade-offs. Run-flat or zero-pressure tires can support the weight of a vehicle for a short time, providing the driver with about 50 miles of range to find a repair shop. Worse yet, your car may have no spare tire, and you might not know how to use the tire repair kit.Įnter the run-flat tire.

If you know how to change the spare, it's a dirty job and chances are you're not properly dressed for it. Most people may call roadside assistance, but they'll likely be waiting about 45 minutes to an hour. A flat tire often happens at the most inopportune time or place.

Run flat tire repair