Run Flat Tires – The Pros and Cons
Run flat tires have been offered either as standard equipment or as an option on some new automobiles for the past several years. You can drive on a run flat tire despite a loss of tire pressure. Drivers can put off fixing the flat tire until they can get to a service station or find a safe place to stop. Cars outfitted with run flat tires are easier to control when suffering a blowout at freeway speeds as well.
BMW and other luxury car makers offer run flats with a lot of their models, but you can find them as an option when looking for lower priced vehicles such as the Mini Cooper and even on some minivans. Car makers have embraced run flat tires since no spare is required. Without a spare, there is more room for additional options or features and costs are lowered. Customers, however, could favor having a spare as a comfort or they might like the idea of one less tire ending up in a dump.
The ability to drive on a flat certainly has some safety advantages, but run flats have some very real disadvantages as well. Run flat tires can only be driven on for 50 to 100 miles. That may be all right if you do most of your driving close to home, but it could be entirely unsuitable if you ever suffer a blowout in a secluded or unfamiliar location. Standard tires are also going to be cheaper than run flats almost every time. If you abide by the manufacturer’s recommendations, you will almost certainly be replacing rather than repairing a run flat tire if it goes flat. Run flat tires are particularly stiff out of need, so noise and ride comfort could be an issue for you as well. A typical complaint among run flat tire buyers is faster tread wear.
If you are considering run flat tires, you will have to decide whether the safety benefits outweigh the shortcomings. If safety is your primary concern, then the decision could be a no brainer. More conventional tires are likely a better bet if you want to keep costs down and would prefer to have a spare in case of emergency.
Eva is a freelance writer who enjoys writing on a variety of topics. For more information on run flat tires or to find tires for sale online, please visit her website.
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