Last updated on April 4th, 2024 at 11:49 am
Have you ever crossed through strange and unknown roads and your tire suddenly gets flat and you have to change your flat tire at that moment? Then you must have an idea of how scary things look in this situation.
That is the main reason the Run flat tire was introduced back in the 1980s so that if there is a puncture in a tire; you don’t have to immediately stop your car and replace the tire. Run flats are usually able to be driven for 50 miles at the speed of 50Mph, which is good to reach near a gas station.
Run flat tires have two different variants of run flats, self-supporting and support ring systems. Both of them are capable of letting you drive even if the tire has lost all of its psi. It does not matter which variant you choose; if the tire is capable of driving after a puncture, then it is a good relief for the driver in case of an emergency.
Difference between run-flat and non-run-flat tires
The primary and most effective difference between them is that; no matter how hard the puncture is, the run-flat tires still work and let you drive for certain miles. On the other hand, no matter how tiny the puncture is; if it is a conventional tire, then you must have to change it with a spare or repair them immediately before you start hurting your rims and treads of the tires.
There is a difference in gas mileage cost, repair cost, and excessive life. But all of these are small factors that do not make that big of an impact. Some of these factors involve in self-supporting tires improvising their score, and some of them decrease their score in the market. Let’s talk about these factors in detail:
Advantages of run-flat tire
The most effective and common benefit, as already discussed above that; you don’t need to worry about punctures, and it gives you a limited drive even after zero inflation. Another benefit of using a run-flat tire instead of the conventional tire is that it provides a better and more durable driving experience due to the strong build; its treads do not wear off as early as conventional tires tread. Another good thing about self-supporting tires is that you don’t have to put in the extra spare wheel and tire-changing material; just one inflator will be perfect for solving your problems.
Disadvantages of run-flat tires
As it has many benefits and advantages, self-supporting tires also have some disadvantages that change the mind of a buyer. The number one con of run-flat tires is that they are much higher in price even the same model and same-performing tire cost 20-30% more in price. Also, when you repair a puncture; it also costs more if you have self-supporting tires because they demand more technique and work to repair it perfectly. Another con of it is that self-supporting tires decrease the mileage of the car due to its heavy run pads; however, it does not affect that much in mileage, but it is worth noticing when you are looking for conventional tires.
Why are they more secure?
It is very obvious that self-supporting and support ring system tires are more secure than conventional tires due to the continuous drive after the puncture and deflation, but the other reason for their security is that; there are fewer chances of a tie burst if you have self-supporting tires.
Another good reason why they are more secure is that run-flat tires come with a TPMS system, so whenever there is low inflation or a bad valve stem and puncture, you can catch it before leaving the house, so you don’t have to take stress during the ride.
How to identify them
There is some letter printed like this “ZP,” “RFT,” and “SEAL” on the sidewalls of the tire depending on their brands. So if you see any of these letters on the tire, it means that they are run-flat tires. Also, you can read it in the manual of the tires.
If you buy from a known retailer or online; you can ask them if the tire is run flat or not because there are different models of tires that come in both self-supporting and conventional, so it is better to confirm it before buying new tires. You can also check the detail of tires online, whether they are run flat or not.
Conclusion
It is always a better decision to buy a run-flat tire if you have a budget and the availability of the specific models that you require. Due to several reasons that we have discussed above other than that; self-supporting tires are proven to be less expensive in the long run due to the extra miles they can run for.
