25 March 2020
Having run flat tyres fitted on your vehicle can be very beneficial when you find yourself in a sticky situation. Getting a flat tyre or a puncture is never convenient - and often comes at the times where you need it least. That's why run flat tyres are a great solution, as they allow you extra driving time when you've got a puncture to get to a garage or place of safety.
But can run flat tyres be repaired? Learn everything you need to know about run flat tyres today.
Run flat tyres are a type of tyre that, even when they are damaged or punctured, allow you to be able to drive your vehicle for a short distance. Generally, the distance you can drive on affected run flat tyres is limited to a maximum of 50 miles and a reduced speed of 50mph.
The functionality of run flat tyres is made possible due to the design and construction of the tyre itself. It is built with specially reinforced sidewalls that allow the structural sidewall integrity to remain in place if the outside of the tyre has experienced puncture damage.
The main benefit of run flat tyres is that they allow you to drive to your nearest garage or get out of the way of oncoming traffic on busy roads. They also give you slightly more time to plan the situation.
It can be hard to notice whether you've had a puncture with a run flat tyre - as this is likely to not be as visible or cause the vehicle as many problems as a puncture on a normal tyre. That's why all vehicles that are fitted with run flat tyres are also fitted with tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). The TPMS will alert the driver when the tyre pressure is low - which indicates that your run flat tyres may need attention.
Once you have received this notification, you will need to consult your vehicle handbook to find out the maximum limit of miles and speed that you can drive on your punctured run flat tyres. Next, you would then need to drive to your nearest Setyres branch to have your run flat tyre replaced.
Unfortunately, you cannot have run flat tyres repaired - they need to be replaced if they have experienced a puncture or any damage. Run flat tyres are a temporary 'safety net' for drivers, they shouldn't be used to drive long distances, and should be replaced as soon as possible.
The reason why run flat tyres cannot be repaired is because, once punctured, it is difficult to identify any secondary damage the tyre may have experienced. Therefore, it's likely that the safety and performance aspect of the tyre would have been compromised from the initial puncture - which is why they should be replaced as soon as possible by a tyre specialist.
If you're looking for more information on whether run flat tyres can be repaired, and how to tell if your run flat tyre is punctured, get in touch with our experts. Our friendly on-hand team will be happy to help with any of your tyre related questions.