You might have experienced a situation where your tyre is punctured, and you are stuck in the middle of nowhere and attempting to replace the tyre with a spare one. You would have either tried replacing it yourself or seek for help from a mobile service repair company. Both these options, however, would consume a lot of time before you hit the road again. To save from these kinds of dilemmas, manufacturers invented run-flat car tyres. These help you drive for those extra kilometres even after a puncture providing you with the chance of reaching a safer destination. A safer destination could be a better and more lighted place for you to change the tyre yourself or taking your car to a nearby garage.
What are run-flat car tyres?
Tyre changing is a skill which many don’t possess, and for that run-flat car, tyres sound like an interesting idea. You could save on the efficiency of the fuel and get rid of the extra spare tyre weight as well. There are mainly two types of run-flat car tyres:
a. Self-Supporting: These tyres comprise a tougher and stiffer rubber that could temporarily carry the car’s load under reduced pressure of tyres. In this case, your car would require a TPMS, which is now a mandate to help the driver know a loss of pressure in the tyre.
b. Auxiliary Supported: These tyres do not possess tougher and stiffer rubber;
Run-flat car tyres have been around since the mid-90s; however, their acceptance in the mainstream traditional tyre industry has been gradual for multiple reasons. Another reason was that even though these tyres Southampton saved the car from the spare’s weight, they had a direct impact on the car’s fuel efficiency. They were able to decrease fuel economy by 1 per cent to 2 per cent due to them being thick and heavy. These tyres did not perform anywhere near the cost they came for, given their heavy and stiff tyre design. They could be rough on the road, not offering much grip at lower temperatures.
Also, it is not very easy to have them repaired. In most cases, the owner would require purchasing a new set of run-flats for their vehicle. On the contrary, in the case of regular tyres, it is easy to fix them with the help of a kit by an expert. Despite these reasons, run-flat car tyres offer peace of mind and safety to the driver when in need.
Why are car manufacturers recommending them?
They come as a standard fit in many cars like BMW as they offer greater balance, increase the efficiency of fuel, and good handling on the road. The suspensions provided by these tyres ensure a comfortable drive and safety advantages as well. Both the traditional and run-flat tyres should not be mixed, and it is not advisable to change the run-flat car tyres with traditional car tyres.
What is the customer’s opinion?
Run-flat tyres have stiff rubber, but still, they tend to wear down faster than conventional tyres. Their replacement cost is also very high for some customers, making them opt for another set of regular car tyres. However, the customers
who are afraid of the unwanted situation that may arise in case of a puncture find run-flat car tyres to be the best possible option. Hence, it completely depends on the car’s owner, his requirements, preferences, and budget whether or not run-flat car Goodyear tyres Southampton is made for your car. It is best to analyse and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the run-flat car tyres before reaching any conclusion. And in case you are stuck with your decision, it is best to approach an expert who would guide you through the whole process and scenarios. Seek help from a professional after doing the entire research and homework at your end.
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