Runflat Tires

A flat tire usually happens at the most inappropriate time or place. Many people call for roadside assistance but end up waiting for more than 45 minutes to an hour to change the tires. Even if you know how to change the spare, it’s a dirty job, and the chances are that you aren’t properly dressed for it. In the worst-case scenario, your car may not have spare tires. Well, the runflat tires are the sole solution to all these problems. How?

The runflat or zero pressure tire supports the weight of your vehicle for a short period. This, in turn, allows you – the driver, to drive the vehicle up to 100 miles of range to find a repair shop. Of course, this sounds like a perfect solution. However, car owners and shoppers must be aware of their trade-offs. Generally, the runflat tires are standard on 14 per cent of the new vehicles. While the number of vehicles with runflat tires has doubled in the past decade. In other words, you’ll now find the majority of vehicles from brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Mini with these runflat tires. You see, they’ve become more of a necessity than just a doodah. In this article, we shall know and understand everything about these tires and ponder on a few tips to make your buying process a breeze.

Everything you need to know about the runflat tires

The runflat tires are a broad term. They encompass a range of tire technologies that keep you on the road and out of any harm on the way. Of course, these tires seem like a superhero in several situations; they aren’t invincible. To fully understand the product, you need to understand the pros and cons, how they work, and when do you need to have them. Understanding all this will help you pick your best runflat tires online. Keeping this in mind, we’ve gathered a few essential points you need to know about these tires that’ll make your buying process easy. Moreover, you’ll have enough information to make an informed decision. So continue reading.

The runflat tires and potholes

The hazards of driving in the winter are well-known. However, the point to note here is that the season of ice and snow not just delivers slippery roads but also brings in a whole lot of salt and rust to your vehicle. Well, the same ice that cracks your windshields also damages the roads. And you’re left with gaping craters of destruction perfectly designed to damage your tires. But you can minimise the dangers of potholes with a little commonsense. Well, one of the best solutions to prevent this damage is to dodge a pothole when you encounter it. But, quite often, that isn’t possible. Well, that’s when the runflat tires are your saviour. Why? Because they have strong sidewalls that help you drive on them without any air pressure.

How do runflat tires work?

These tires come in designs that help you to remain safe and functional for a limited time with no pressure. This implies that in case of a puncture, you can drive continuously for approximately 100 miles until you find a repair shop without having to change the tires. But how exactly do they work? Well, unlike the regular tires that require air to stay hard, the flat tires have a reinforced sidewall. This means they stay rigid without any air pressure. The reinforced sidewall or the outer shell helps to keep the rubber in place without any air. This, in turn, supports your car throughout your journey. But, the sidewall isn’t a permanent feature. That is, it only supports a drive of up to 100 miles after you’ve deflated your tire.

The runflat tires for bikes

Can you get runflat tires for bikes? Well, that’s a million-dollar question. The first runflat tires first appeared around 10 years back. And they achieved the design by making the sidewall double or triple the thickness of the standard tire. This design makes the tires much stiffer. They feel dead with a little feedback. Moreover, they were also a lot heavier than the standard rubber. Of course, the weight isn’t an issue on a two-ton car where the ratio of unsprung to sprung weight is low. However, on a bike, any increase in the unsprung weight adversely affects the handling. Furthermore, the bike tires also have some flex designed into them as the demands on their performance change from upright to 45-degree lean angles.

The run-flat tires vs regular tires

Indeed runflat tires offer obvious benefits. However, there has been some backlash recently. Drivers have cited faster and uneven wear and stiffer rides. Moreover, often they have limited replacement choices when compared to regular tires. And then there’s this: though many upscale and sports vehicles come equipped with run-flat technology, drivers have cited a noticeable decrease in overall ride quality. But, many automakers counter this claim by stating that the free weight from eliminating a spare produces better handling and improved economy. That said, while you do not need to deal with a roadside tire change when you have runflat tires in hand, certain disadvantages can certainly flatten your mood.