Can You Drive on Run Flat Tyres With Zero Pressure?

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 by Chesca D
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Chesca D is a Content & Editorial Coordinator at Tyres.co.uk and is responsible for researching, coordinating, and producing accurate, up-to-date tyre guidance for our Knowledge Hub..
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Run flat tyres are designed to keep you safely on the road, even after a puncture or total loss of pressure. In this article, we explain how run flat tyres work, what limits apply when driving with zero pressure, and why the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is key to maintaining safety.

Run flat tyres are designed to keep vehicles on the road even after suffering a puncture or damage while driving. Their underlying benefit is the ability to keep driving even after losing all the pressure in a tyre – meaning that the simple answer to the question is yes. 

But what limitations are there and how do drivers know there is a puncture if the tyre remains rotating?

The best way to understand the design of run flat tyres and how they are used is to consider what would happen if you suffered a puncture while driving a vehicle with regular tyres. 

What Are Run Flat Tyres and How Do They Work?

Run flat tyres are self-supporting, with a reinforced sidewall which prevents the tyre from disintegrating when it suffers a puncture or hits a pothole / piece of debris on the road. They are more expensive than standard tyres and tend to be particularly well suited to drivers who live and drive in remote locations, or who are unable to carry a spare tyre around in their vehicle. 

While a standard tyre results in an instant loss of control as soon as the tyre loses pressure from a puncture, a run flat tyre retains its shape and allows the vehicle to keep moving safely. 

What Happens When I Puncture a Run Flat Tyre?

From a driver perspective, nothing! So much so, that all vehicles that use run flat tyres must have a TPMS built into the vehicle and the dashboard, to let the driver know that they have lost pressure in their tyres.

The reinforced sidewalls of run flat tyres can support the weight of the vehicle and keep it safely moving for a limited time – typically a maximum driving distance of 50 miles, at a speed of 50mph.

NOTE: This is why the TPMS is so important. With the flashing TPMS symbol, drivers are made aware of the puncture immediately and can adjust their driving speed and behaviour accordingly, to ensure complete safety.

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What to Do When a Run Flat Tyre is Punctured

If you have run flat tyres and find that one of them is punctured, it’s important to remember that while designed to keep moving even with a puncture and zero pressure, there are still driver limitations you need to honour.

A run flat tyre that has been damaged or punctured should not be driven at a speed of more than 50mph and should not be driven any further than 50 miles before you pull over and repair or replace it. 

A trained mechanic will be able to assess a run flat tyre and either repair it or recommend replacement. You can then turn to the team at Tyres.co.uk for advice on the best replacement tyre, according to the season, to your budget, and to your vehicle.

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