Run-flat tires allow you to keep moving after a puncture, giving you time to travel to an auto shop or locate a level, safe place to change your tire.
But you can’t continue to drive on them. For information on how quickly and how far you can go on your run flat tires, consult the manufacturer’s specs. For up to 50 miles (80 km) at a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h), Bridgestone run-flat tires will allow continuing operation even after a loss of some or all inflation pressure.
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What is their price?
For a passenger vehicle, Run Flat Tires typically cost $200 to $500 per tire, which is 50 to 200 percent more than regular tires. The fact that these tires may endure many tire changes is the best benefit in terms of cost. It continues to be secured to the wheel inside the tire. It is mental calmness.
Consumers who continue to place a high priority on safety should still assess the advantages and disadvantages of run-flat tires before making their next purchase. Cost is frequently cited as a “negative” of this technology. In fact, run-flat users typically replace their tires 6,000 miles sooner than those who use conventional tires. Additionally, run-flat vehicles have a twofold increased likelihood of needing new tires after a blowout or flat. Run-flat tires cannot be repaired once they have completed their task, therefore this is why.
Other drawbacks include availability, which is frequently difficult to locate and necessitates certain setup criteria, a drop in overall ride quality experienced by some, and a reduction in fuel economy of roughly 1-2 percent.
Despite these drawbacks, many manufacturers and drivers claim that run-flat tires’ advantages in terms of safety and convenience greatly outweigh their costs and replacement problems. The utility of run-flat tires has increased along with technology. The majority of significant manufacturers incorporate run-flat technology into their top-selling tires, reiterating their confidence in this innovation.
How Do Run Flat Tires Work?
When I was considering buying my automobile, I first learned about run flats, and this was a key selling point. Run-flat tires never truly lose air pressure. They are constructed from extremely rigid rubber and a remarkably thin inner tube, which even when completely deflated can withstand the weight of the car. You can go for about 100 miles on a flat tire, which eliminates the need to replace a tire by the side of the road, dial for help, and halt what you’re doing to have the tire changed. You merely need to take your automobile to the tire shop to have it fixed.
Does a BMW accept standard tires?
More and more brand-new BMW cars leave the factory with run-flat tires installed. Others prefer conventional tires, despite the fact that many owners appreciate the piece of mind that comes with tires that can extend your driving distance by 50 to 100 miles when flat. So, if a BMW arrived with run-flat tires, can it be used with ordinary tires?
You can use ordinary tires on your run-flat equipped BMW, if you’re searching for a quick and simple solution to that query. Both standard tires and run-flat tires have advantages and disadvantages, and we want to assist you in making the choice that best meets your requirements. One word of caution, though: due to the handling and performance variations between the two tire types, if you’re thinking about switching the run-flat tires on your BMW to standard tires, you must do so on all four of them.
Why should a BMW move from run-flat tires to conventional tires? New BMWs no longer come with spare tires in order to minimize overall weight. Some models come with BMW Mobility Kits in place of spare tires, particularly in performance-oriented M vehicles. The majority of other models have run-flat tires. These tires, also referred to as zero-pressure tires, give you the peace of mind that, even on a long-distance road trip, nothing other than a complete tire failure would keep you from reaching your destination or a repair facility. Run-flat tires have have advantages and disadvantages, though.
How much are BMW run-flat tires?
What is their price? For a passenger vehicle, run flat tires typically cost between $200 and $500 per tire, which is between 50 and 200 percent more than regular tires.
How durable are BMW run-flat tires?
Run-flat tires, which let you to go up to 50 miles on a flat tire, are almost always included as standard equipment in BMW vehicles. Not having to replace a tire on the side of the road in your smart clothes is one of the main benefits of run-flat tires.
Are run-flat tires standard on all new cars?
Q. When I learned that my new car doesn’t have a spare tire, I was shocked. Was I defrauded?
Today’s new cars come with a compressor and sealant kit to temporarily replace a flat tire, but about one-third of them do not have a spare tire. A run-flat tire, which is made to function for a short distance after losing air from a conventional puncture, is available on some vehicles without a spare.
Because of regulatory pressure to get more miles per gallon of gasoline, automakers are omitting the spare tire: by removing the 40–50 pounds that a tire and jack typically add to a car’s weight, fuel economy is somewhat increased. (Incidentally, because automakers don’t have to pay for those parts, this enhances their profits.)
The issue is that if a tire’s sidewall is cut or if the flat is brought on by more severe damage than a tread rupture, a sealant kit won’t be of much assistance. Think about investing in a spare-tire kit, which comes with a tire, jack, and lug wrench, if you want to be ready for any kind of flat tire. These starter kits cost about $150.
Before you take delivery, “know how your automobile is outfitted,” advises Chris Jones, a licensed mechanic and tire specialist at CR. “Don’t assume the car has a spare tire if you’re going to purchase it. The showroom is the finest place to learn, where you can also utilize it as a talking point, rather than on the side of the road after a flat tire.”
I’m from New England and have driven anything from a Segway to an aircraft carrier. I have collectively operated tens of thousands of vehicles, many of them on international racetracks. At the CR Auto Test Center today, such knowledge and enthusiasm are being used to empower customers. And if that means sacrificing some tires in the name of the truth, then be it. Continue with me
Should all four tires be run-flat?
As long as they adhere to the manufacturer’s requirements, you can swap out four run-flat tires for four regular tires.
Remember that various tires are made to produce various outcomes. For a short distance following a puncture, a run-flat tire is intended to keep a car moving safely and steadily. RFTs can keep their shape and capabilities over a short distance without the use of air pressure.
A run-flat tire, as opposed to a conventional tire, features a thicker, more robust sidewall composed of unique heat-resistant rubber to withstand the weight of the car and its occupants for a short distance even when the tire has little to no air pressure.
When selecting conventional tires for a vehicle that originally had run flat tires, there are a few additional factors from the tire and vehicle manufacturers to take into account.
- Since the run flat tire is the answer, run flat vehicles often do not include equipment for emergency mobility. When switching from run flat tires to normal tires, drivers should be aware that their car might not come with a hand jack, spare tire, spare rim, or spare wheel.
- When run flats are replaced with regular tires, specifications like TPMS, alarms, and internal programming might be impacted.
- Pick conventional tires only if they satisfy your vehicle’s manufacturer’s specifications for size, speed rating, load capacity, and inflation pressure.
Do run-flat tires cost more money?
Run-flat tires are a good idea even if changing a tire is a necessary skill. The additional benefit of removing the weight of a spare tire and tools may further improve fuel economy.
Run-flat tires come in two primary categories: Self-Supporting and Auxiliary Supported. Self-Supporting tires have rubber that is more rigid and durable and can momentarily support the weight of the vehicle while operating at lower tire pressure. If you decide to purchase Self-Supporting tires (see right), you will require a tire pressure monitoring system, which is now required as standard equipment on all new cars by the government. Without one, a motorist could not be aware that a tire has lost pressure. Instead of having firmer and more durable rubber, auxiliary supported tires are coupled to a unique rim that includes a steel support ring that is attached to the wheel and can support the vehicle’s weight.
Run flat tires have been used in production vehicles since 1994; however, for a variety of reasons, they have not yet become a common alternative to conventional tires. “Run flat tires provide convenience to a consumer, but conventional tires are often less expensive and have better ride attributes,” says Sheri Hermann, communication coordinator for Continental Tire.
The cost of anything is yet another common grievance. Run-flat tires cost around a third more than conventional tires on average.
But it isn’t the only issue. Run-flat tires affect your fuel economy even though it might not seem like a benefit to carry along a spare tire. The bigger and heavier tires can cause a 1-2% reduction in fuel efficiency. Additionally, the run flat doesn’t exactly perform as well as its pricing would imply because of the stiffer and heavier construction. They frequently have a rough feel on the road and offer little traction in cold weather.
Last but not least, it’s not always as simple to get your tires fixed if you do get a puncture or lose tire pressure. While some run-flat tires are repairable, they must be taken off the rim for a while and examined to be sure they can be restored. It’s time to buy new tires if they are unable to. On the other hand, the majority of punctures on a standard tire can be repaired using a cheap repair kit.
Run flat tires are still a common feature on new cars despite these difficulties and worries, and the motives are straightforward: security and comfort. Run flats not only allay worries, but they also make a car easier to control in the event of a tire blowout.
Do all four tires on a BMW need to be changed?
Unless all four tires need to be replaced for other reasons, you might only need to replace a pair of the other tires, depending on how much tread they still have. They advise against placing a brand-new tire on the same axel as one that has just been used.
What drawbacks do run-flat tires have?
Run-flat tires won’t abandon you by the side of the road or need you to change a tire by digging out your spare. However, they have some drawbacks, such as the cost of replacing run-flat tires and the possibility that a catastrophic tire failure might render your vehicle immobile without a spare.