Run flat tyres help you stay in control after a puncture — but how do you know if your car already has them? In this guide, Tyres.co.uk explains how to recognise run flat tyres by their markings, structure, and vehicle handbook details, plus why fitting the right matching set is crucial for road safety.
Run flat tyres are becoming increasingly popular, due to the way they keep a vehicle on the road even with a puncture. These tyres, which boast a self-supporting thick rubber tube and sidewall to prevent the tyre from breaking up when it gets a puncture, replace the need to instantly switch a damaged tyre for a spare.
This makes run flat tyres a more convenient solution that saves vehicle owners money – not to mention helps to keep drivers safe on the roads by alleviating the sudden loss of control that comes with a puncture.
But how do you identify, and spot run flat tyres? Is there something specific you should look for to ensure that your tyres boast this core design feature? In this article, we answer all your burning questions about run flat tyres.
What are Run Flat Tyres?
Run flat tyres look like normal tyres but have a reinforced sidewall and extra strong rubber tube which keeps the wheel in motion even when the tyre suffers a puncture.
These tyres can be driven at a limited speed for a period of time until you are able to reach a garage to get new tyres fitted.
The benefits of run flat tyres are as follows:
- They have an interior structure which can hold the weight of the vehicle even once the tyre itself is underinflated or flat
- They replace the need for a spare wheel, which is particularly important when dealing with smaller vehicles
- They ensure that the driver does not suddenly lose control when a tyre is punctured
- They save the driver from pulling over and having to call a tow vehicle or sort out a spare tyre
While run flat tyres present obvious benefits to vehicle owners, it is important to note their expense and the impact of the reinforced tyre on vehicle comfort. Run flat tyres do not offer the same driver comfort and can reduce the performance of the vehicle as a result of the tyre’s stiffer construction.
How to Identify Run Flat Tyres
Now that we know a bit more about run flat tyres and why they are so beneficial, how do you spot them?
The main hallmarks of a run flat tyre lie in the markings found on the sidewall, information that can be found in the vehicle handbook, and the presence of an ISO symbol on the tyre itself.
If the tyres on your vehicle are designated run flat tyres, then you may find one of the following markings on the sidewall of the tyre:
Run-Flat, SSR (Self-Supporting Run-flat), RFT (Run-Flat Technology), ROF, or similar. You may also see the dedicated ISO symbol which includes a circle containing the letters RSC (Run-Flat System Component).
The owner manual or vehicle handbook will also contain information about the original tyres fitted on the vehicle, so you can determine whether it was manufactured with run flat tyres.
