Nowadays, run flat tires, also referred to as RFTs, have become very popular. In fact, some vehicles come standard with run flat tires since they have many advantages. As their name suggests, these tires are capable of running without air pressure or when they’re flat, allowing the vehicle to travel to somewhere safe to get a replacement. Many run flat tires can go up to 50 miles at speeds up to 50 mph while flat.
Typically, run flat tires use one of two supporting systems. One is a self-supporting system, while the other is the support ring system. Run flat tires that use a self-supporting system feature reinforced sidewall construction that continues to support the vehicle if the tire loses air pressure. You will want to pay close attention to the manufacturer’s guidelines for the distance and speed that the tire can operate once it loses air. Run flat tires with a support ring system feature a ring of hard rubber or another structure that will support the vehicle when the tire loses air.
It is highly recommended to only use run flat tires on vehicles equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Without TPMS, you may not even know you’re driving on a flat if you’re running run flat tires.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular and best run flat tires currently available. Some of these products have very limited sizes available, so you will have to do some research to make sure a particular product works on your vehicle. To learn more about run flat tires, refer to our table of contents.