What are the advantages and disadvantages of run flat tires while driving? Are they worth investing in?

How wonderful the world would be if tires didn't puncture. But can you imagine traveling on hard plastic hoops? And what about braking on such wheels? Maybe it's better not to go in this direction ... Manufacturers do not just focus on tires for car wheels, which not only have excellent grip, but also dampen vibrations. However, it has a significant drawback - it breaks through. That's why run flat tires were invented. Is this a sufficient and suitable solution in case of a puncture?

Running on flat tires - is this tire impenetrable?

You must tell yourself directly that this is not the case. And it's not that such a design is completely resistant to sticking sharp elements into it. However, the effect is very similar. The concept is based on maintaining pressure or being flush with the other wheels of the car. In practice, after a puncture of such a wheel, you can drive up to 200 km, not exceeding 80 km / h, and the rim will not be damaged. If you have really good run flat tires, you won't notice anything wrong and only the tire pressure sensors will signal a problem.

Run Flat technology - markings on tires

Manufacturers use various symbols to show that such a tire can be driven after a puncture. It is usually abbreviated as "ROF" or "RunOfFlat". If such a marking is located on the tire profile, then you can safely buy such a product. Thanks to this, you can be sure that this type of tire allows you to drive the car without much difficulty even after a puncture.

What is the mileage of planar construction?

Although there have been three methods for ensuring the durability of tires after a puncture for many years, only two are used in practice. So how do run flat tires work and why can you ride them when your pressure is low? The design is based on the presence of additional rubber in the tire profile or a ring along the entire length of the rim. In order to understand the principles of operation of these structures, it is worth describing them in more detail.

How does depreciation work with flat tires?

The first one, i.e. Reinforced construction with a rubber belt around the profile provides cushioning of the tire due to pressure loss. Under the influence of a puncture, the tire does not deflate and does not sharply change its shape. Thanks to this, on such a wheel, you can continue to move the car. However, you must remember to limit the speed to the limit declared by the manufacturer so that the tire does not come off the rim of the rim when cornering.

Support ring in Run Flat tires

Another way to get rid of flat tires is to use a carrier ring. As a result, a wheel deprived of air pressure does not significantly reduce its rigidity and a certain distance can be driven on it. The ring prevents the tire from slipping off the rim and also prevents the tire from cutting through the edge of the rim.

The currently unused technology mentioned above is the presence of a sealing layer. It is activated at the moment of puncture and prevents pressure loss. However, due to the difficulty of balancing and the greater weight, it was difficult to put them into circulation as effectively as the two methods mentioned earlier.

Run Flat tires - opinions on their use. Is it worth buying?

Looking through the comments on the described tires, you will find many opinions for and against. Let's start with the benefits of installing run flat tires on rims.

This is, first of all, the safety and comfort of driving after a tire puncture. The higher the speed of the car, the more difficult it is to control it in the event of a sudden loss of pressure in one of the tires. Such a failure is almost a sure collision, especially when driving at highway speeds. In addition, after hitting a sharp object (a nail), there is no need to stop to change tires. Further movement is possible up to 200 km. This matters if you are traveling in heavy rain or winter conditions. The run flat tire also means you don't have to carry a spare tire with you.

What are the disadvantages of run flat tires?

What about the disadvantages of such a solution? This is primarily a higher purchase price. For drivers, this is often the first factor they pay attention to. In addition, some models equipped with this technology cannot be repaired and must be replaced after a puncture. And even if you have repairable tires, there is not always a workshop in your area that can replace this type of tire. Some may complain about the driving comfort itself, because such tires are stiffer and produce more noise than traditional ones.

Run Flat Tires or Standard Tires - Which Should You Decide?

If we write "it depends", it is unlikely to help much. Therefore, we will try to give arguments in favor of making a decision to buy or refuse tires with puncture protection. Run flat tires are by far the most useful for luxury vehicles that are most likely to cover long distances at high speeds. This does not mean, of course, that they cannot be installed in city cars, but most often their significant advantages will not be used. Indeed, in urban conditions it is very easy to change a tire or find a tire shop and you do not drive at high speeds. Therefore, for long distances and comfortable cars, it will be a good choice. In other cases, it's probably not worth buying run-flat mileage.

 Run flat tires are an extremely interesting type of tire that is ideal for long and difficult routes. This is a virtually impenetrable tire, so it can be useful for extreme driving. Due to its characteristics, the runflat tire will allow you to keep moving even if it is damaged.