The tire technician should inspect the exterior for severe shoulder wear and sidewall scuffing. Some may be repairable in limited circumstances: It’s a simple, small puncture in certain parts of the tire, you didn’t lose a whole lot of air and no internal damage is done. A single flat can, therefore, start adding up in cost. You’re looking at buying a new tire whenever you drive on a tire with zero air in it. It’s a misperception that RFTs can be driven flat and still be usable.You’ll not only ruin the tire but risk damage to the wheel. No type of tire should be run when it is very low on air pressure. While some manufacturers say it may be OK to repair RFTs in some circumstances, driving any distance on a flat RFT can damage the internal construction of the tire.RFTs wear out an average of 6,000 miles before standard tires.

That’s not the only expense to factor in: You can expect to pay more for them than regular tires. RFTs (also called zero-pressure tires) come standard on about 12 percent of new vehicles. This could result in other problems if you replace only the two worn-out tires.Ĭonsider costs, repairability, and convenience if you’re thinking about getting or ditching RFTs. If you mix and match, you may end up with significant differences in tire tread depth between your front and rear axles. You won’t have proper stability, especially when you need it most: around corners, at highway speeds and when swerving.ĭue to the way they’re made, RFTs typically wear out long before standard tires. When there’s a big difference between your front and rear tires’ sidewall flex, your car’s handling will be imbalanced. This is why they can be driven between 50 and 100 miles (depending on the type) at about 50 mph with low or no air. Run-flat tires (RFTs) are built with reinforced sidewalls, which make them a lot stiffer. This is not the case when you mix and match run-flat tires with standard tires. You’ll have safer handling and prevent damage to other parts of your car when all four tires on your vehicle match closely in type, tread depth and size. Can I Mix Run-Flat Tires with Standard Ones?

Mini cooper run flat tires