Can I Replace Run-flat Tyres With Standard Tyres
Sooner or later, you need to replace your tires. The reason? They are worn out, damaged tires, too old, or no longer meet your driving requirements. A run-flat tire (RFT), too, requires replacement for the reasons we just mentioned. If your vehicle comes with RFTs, you may be wondering if you can replace the run-flat with regular tyres. Well, we are here to answer that question.
Replacing Run-flat Tires
Yes, you can replace all four RFTs with four regular tyres, but there are some things that you must keep in mind. First, the four standard tires must conform to your vehicle manufacturer’s tire guidelines.
You may recall from our previous blog post, that RFTs are built differently than standard tires. The run-flat tyre is manufactured to keep the car traveling safely and securely for a limited distance, even after a puncture. These tyres don’t depend on air pressure to maintain their tyre shape and exceptional capabilities over a limited time.
Moreover, the design of the regular tire is different from the run-flat tires and so the results are also different. The sidewall is thicker, and more reinforced, while the rubber is of a special kind to provide added heat resistance. The RFTs are designed to allow you to continue driving for a limited distance even after a complete loss of air pressure.
There are a couple of other things to keep in mind if you are thinking about replacing RFTs with standard tires:
- Vehicles that come pre-installed with RFTs do not have a spare tire, jack, or other tire-related tools. The reason is the RFTs themselves. As you can continue driving them even after little to no air pressure, there is no point in providing a spare tire or tire repair kit. You can safely drive to a tire repair shop using the RFT.
- Modern vehicles come with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and countless sensors. If you replace your RFTs with standard tires, these components will be affected.
- Read the car owner manual to know about the recommended tire size, load index, speed rating, and tire inflation pressure requirements. The new standard tires must meet these requirements.
Should You Mix Run-flat Tires with Regular Tires?
Would you use 3 summer tires and 1 winter on your car? Of course, not. Therefore, never mix RFTs with a regular tire. It will lead to performance and safety issues. According to PitStopArabia experts, tire mixing should only be done during an emergency or if it is a temporary fix.
The reasons for stopping car owners from mixing tires are quite obvious. RFTs and standard tires have different characteristics. For example, RFTs are thicker, meaning their handling is a bit different from conventional tires. When you mix RFTs and regular tires, it can lead to imbalanced handling, among numerous other challenges.
As said earlier, only mix tires when there is no other option. Even in that case, you should ensure that the tire matches your vehicle manufacturer’s requirements. For example, does it have the same load index, speed rating, and size? You should drive to the nearest tire shop and replace the mixed tire right away.
Can I Repair Run-flats?
The best answer to this question is, “It depends”. Some RFTs are repairable while others are not. Some damages can be repaired but under very strict conditions and repair work can only be done by certified technicians. Usually, an RFT is unrepairable if:
- There is abrasion damage.
- The tire is driven with less than 15 PSI inflation.
- ‘Do Not Repair’ is written on the sidewall.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Replacing Run-flats
Go through the following points before replacing your RFTs with regular tires:
RFTs help you travel up to 80 km at a maximum speed of 80 KMPH even after having little to zero air pressure. You don’t need to worry about changing a tire as you can safely drive to a tire shop.
You can continue driving RFTs after a puncture without worrying about handling or safety. A regular tire with a puncture requires a prompt change.
There is no need to carry a spare tire. It saves you considerable space and improves fuel efficiency.
Wrap Up
Looking to buy new tires? Browse through PitStopArabia’s collection of branded tires. You will find that our website has the best RFTs and regular tires for all vehicles and requirements. In case of any queries, please contact us. Lastly, we acknowledge that RFTs are expensive, but they do offer considerable benefits. So, PitStopArabia recommends weighing the pros and cons before deciding to replace your RFTs with regular tires. Thank You.