A Car-ful Passion

Try Using Run Flat Tires On Your Car

If you have ever had to stop at the side of the road to change a flat tire, you know that not only is it a real pain to deal with, it can also be dangerous. However, there are things that you can do to help make sure that you never have to stop on the side of the road to change a tire again. One of the easiest things to do is to change the kind of tires that you use. 

Run Flat Tires

Traditionally, tires have been made out of an outer shell of rubber, with an inner tube that fits right inside it to hold the air. When the rubber gets compromised in some way, it can cause the inner tube to lose air, flattening your tire. The damage to the rubber could include something puncturing the tread part or the side of the tire, the tread wearing very thin, or the side bubbling out. Run flat tires still are made in much the same way and do have air inside them. However, when something happens, you don't have to stop and change the tire immediately. There are three kinds of run flat tires. 

Auxiliary support tires

These tires have an additional support inside the tires. That support generally is just inside the tread. When there is air in the tire, the air supports the tire. However, if all the air goes out of the tire, that support ring will take the weight of the tire and be able to run. This kind of run flat tires is popular because the added stiffness in the tire can help keep the noise down and give a smooth ride when the tire goes flat.

Self-sealing

These tires have an additional lining on the inside of the tread. If the tire gets punctured, that additional lining seals up around the puncture immediately. While some air may still get out, the the fact that the seal is punctured so quickly, most of the air shouldn't get out. On top of sealing up the puncture, a self-seal tire will also fill in the area where the puncture happened. 

Self-supporting

Traditional tires are supported by the air inside, so when the tire goes flat, the wheel rests on the tire, destroying both the rim and the tire. However, self-supporting tires have additional structures on the inside. That means that when the tire loses its supporting air, the additional rubber supports will take the weight of the car. 

Run flat tires will make it so that you can get someplace safer to change your tire. However, it is important to remember that you can't ride on these tires forever after they have been damaged. You should get them changed or fixed soon, otherwise you are running the risk of causing damage to your car. Contact Jensen Tire & Auto for more information.


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