Run Flat Tyres
Run flat tyres are designed in such a way to remain operational in the event of a puncture or a severe loss of air pressure allowing you to make it to safety, be that so you can return home or to your nearest tyre fitter.
Run flat tyres also reduce the risk of tyre blow outs which could be dangerous and a risk to the safety of the driver and other road users if they occur at speed.
Run Flat Tyres at Kwik Fit
Most of our premium range tyres come in both regular and run flat models. We recommend you check what is fitted to your vehicle already before making a purchase. You will find a large range of run flat tyres at low prices on our website from leading tyre brands including Pirelli, Michelin and Continental so you get the best deal and a premium run flat tyre you can trust. Find the best run flat tyres for your car or 4x4 today.
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What is a run flat tyre?
Put most simply, run-flat tyres are tyres with a reinforced sidewall. This means that in the event of picking up a puncture, they’re still able to operate for a time in order to give you enough time to get to a tyre repair centre.
Be aware, though, that you should only drive on run-flat tyres that have been punctured for less than 50 miles and under 50mph. As such, they have to be used with a TPMS because they still stay as though they’re partially inflated – so you can drive on them without realising that you have a puncture.
How do run flat tyres work?
Run flat tyres have much thicker, reinforced sidewalls which means they can be driven on for a short time after picking up a puncture. The tyre can temporarily maintain its shape and strength even in the event of a total loss of air pressure.
Run flat tyres have obvious safety benefits as the tyre is still able to be driven on in the event of a puncture allowing you, the driver, to stay in control of the vehicle. This isn’t to say run flat tyres do not need air and in the unfortunate event of a puncture you should seek help as soon as possible. It is advised that you should travel no more than 50 miles on a punctured run flat tyre, and maintain a speed under 50mph.
While the sidewall of a run flat tyre is reinforced, the materials used in its construction are, in most cases, the same as a regular tyre. Therefore, they will wear at a similar rate to standard tyres and should be checked in the same way for condition and tread wear regularly.
Switching to run flat tyres
If your vehicle is fitted with conventional tyres and was not fitted with run flat tyres at time of manufacture, we would advise against fitting run flat tyres to your vehicle. All vehicles fitted with run flat tyres require a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) which alerts the driver should the tyre receive a puncture or there is a sudden drop in tyre pressure. Without TPMS, fitting run flat tyres could be a major safety risk as the motorist could continue driving, unaware there is an issue with the tyre.
Similarly, you should avoid fitting conventional tyres to a vehicle set up for run flat tyres. Most vehicle manufacturers who fit run flat tyres as standard no longer provide a spare tyre or tools to change your tyre. Therefore, if you switch back to conventional tyres, you may not have the means to replace the tyre on the side of the road should a puncture occur.
Can run flat tyres be repaired?
Unfortunately, when a run flat tyre picks up a puncture it’s hard to tell if the structure of the tyre wall has been compromised because the punctured tyre could have been driven on for an excessive amount of time or at unsuitable speeds (over 30mph). For this reason, we cannot repair run flat tyres as they as may have weakened and no longer be safe to use.
If your run flat tyre receives a puncture, we would advise driving to your nearest Kwik Fit centre and having this replaced as soon as possible.
What are the best run flat tyres?
Run flat tyres are produced by a number of tyre manufacturers including budget and premium brands. However, as with regular tyres, we would recommend that the best run flat tyres are those produced by premium manufacturers and tyre names you are familiar with. Tyre brands like Pirelli, Continental, Goodyear and Michelin invest a great deal of time and resource in the research and development of new run flat tyres to ensure their run flat tyre products offer maximum safety that never compromises performance or control.
At Kwik Fit, we stock a range of cheap run flat tyres from premium manufacturers. Find run flat tyres for your car or van.
Concerned about your tyres?
If you’re concerned about your tyres, or simply need a replacement, book your car into your local Kwik Fit centre for expert service.
