Run Flat tyres

Vehicle tyre designed to resist the effects of deflation

There is nothing fun about changing a tyre on the side of the road with traffic speeding past and rain pelting down. It gets even worse if you still have to drop the kids off at school, be at a meeting or a job interview you cannot afford to miss. Even if your tyres are in perfect condition, punctures can happen anywhere, anytime without advance warning. This is where run flat tyres from Elite Garages can make all the difference.

Run-flat tyres are a pneumatic vehicle tyre designed to resist the effects of deflation when punctured and enables the vehicle to continue driving at reduced speeds. The tyres temporarily maintain their shape and strength even if there is a total loss of tyre pressure. They allow you to drive for 50 miles at 50mph so that you can safely get home or to the nearest garage. They give you the peace of mind knowing that you won’t be left stranded. If you consider convenience and safety as paramount, it is certainly worth the investment.

Did you know that the origins of commercial self-supporting run flat tyres started back in 1935? It was initially a tyre with a safety rim inside that would run on a special foam lining if punctured. These tyres were advertised as protection against blowouts which was a common and dangerous occurrence in the 1930’s. They were also marketed as “semi-bullet proof” which is why these run flat tyres were primarily used in military and specialised vehicles such as bank armoured cars. While the tyres performed as advertised, they were too expensive to be considered feasible for most private vehicle owners.

We’ve come a long way since Michelin first introduced the 1930’s version of run flat tyres. They are much more affordable and the improved design can keep you going against all odds and are now more common on light trucks and passenger vehicles.

Elite Garages can supply you with premium run flat tyres at competitive prices and same day fitting while you wait. Our professional, friendly and knowledgeable staff can give you all the advice you need for your car. Call us now to book a free tyre check and get advice from our team of tyre experts.

We stock a large selection, including budget and premium brands, from all major manufacturers. But, as with regular tyres, we recommend that the best run flat tyres are those from brands you are most familiar with. Brands like Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Hankook Michelin, Pirelli and Yokohama invest heavily in the research and development of new run flat tyres. Their primary objective is to ensure that their tyre technologies provide maximum safety without compromising on performance or control.

Each manufacturer has a different symbol to represent their tyre with run-flat technology. You can find these symbols on the sidewall of the tyre straight after the tyre size. Not only do these symbols indicate the brand, they also help you distinguish between run flat tyres and standard ones.

Bridgestone – ROF,RFT,RSC
Continental – SSR
Dunlop – DSST, ROF, EMT
Goodyear – ROF, EMT
Hankook – HR5, B
Michelin – ZP
Pirelli – RSC
Yokohama – ZP5

Remember that run flat tyres are not indestructible and you still need to take care of them. If you get a puncture and continue driving without getting them checked or replaced, your wheels may become damaged in the process. This is especially important if the puncture is in the sidewall or at the edge of the tyre tread. Even though the sidewalls are reinforced, the materials used during construction are mostly the same as regular tyres. This means they will also wear at a similar rate than standard local tyres and you should check them regularly for tread wear and overall condition.

The only downside to run flat tyres getting a puncture is that they should be replaced rather than repaired. It is too difficult to accurately determine whether or not the structure of the tyre wall has been damaged. There is also no way of knowing whether the tyres were driven in excess of the recommended speed and distance. As a result, the tyres may have been weakened and are no longer safe to use.

If your vehicle was manufactured and sold with conventional tyres, we would advise against fitting run flat tyres. All vehicles sold with run flat tyres require a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) which alerts the driver when the tyres are punctured or in the event of a sudden drop in tyre pressure. Without TPMS, drivers would continue driving, oblivious to the fact that there might be an issue with their tyres. Fitting run flat tyres in this instance presents a serious safety risk.

Why should cars with run flat tyres not use standard tyres? The answer is quite simple actually. Many car manufacturers fitting run flat tyres to their vehicles no longer provide a spare tyre or the tools to change it. As a result, if you switch to standard tyres, you may not be able to replace it on the side of the road when damage or a puncture occur.

If yours are punctured or damaged in any way, we would advise driving to your nearest Elite branch and replace it as soon as possible. The good news is that with 13 branches across the South and South East, you are never too far from one of our centres. We have skilled tyre technicians who can check your run flat tyres and replace them if necessary while you wait.

Reserve your tyres online or fill in the call back and a member of our team will be in touch.