Blog / Run-flat tyres

Tyres & Brakes · 4 min read

Run-Flat Tyres Explained: Pros and Cons

Run-flat tyres solve a genuine problem, being stranded with a puncture and no easy way to change a wheel safely, but they come with real trade-offs that aren't always made clear when a car is sold with them fitted as standard.

How they actually work

Run-flat tyres have reinforced sidewalls, strong enough to support the car's weight temporarily even with no air pressure, typically allowing around 50 miles at a reduced speed, commonly capped around 50mph, to reach a garage rather than needing to stop and change a wheel immediately.

The genuine advantages

• No need to change a wheel roadside, particularly useful somewhere unsafe to stop
• Many cars fitted with run-flats don't carry a spare wheel at all, saving weight and boot space
• Reduced risk of a sudden blowout compared to a standard tyre losing pressure suddenly

The genuine downsides

• A noticeably firmer ride, since the reinforced sidewall is inherently stiffer
• Higher cost to replace than an equivalent standard tyre
• Many run-flats can't be repaired once punctured, since the sidewall reinforcement makes assessing internal damage unreliable, meaning a full replacement is often required
• Fewer tyre fitters stock them compared to standard sizes, which can mean a wait for the right tyre

Buying a used car fitted with run-flats

Worth checking whether replacement tyres are the same run-flat type as original, and pricing that in, since replacing a full set of run-flats can cost noticeably more than an equivalent set of standard tyres.