Best run flat tires

While driving having a tire blow out or lose air pressure can be scary as it can cause immediate pressure loss and imbalance of the vehicle. To avoid such a situation, tire manufacturers have become crafty, and now offer run flat tires. Run flat tires are designed to give drivers a sense of relief by allowing them to continue driving for a short distance at slower speeds.

Run flat tires are designed to support the weight of the car, and keep it moving even at air pressure drop. These tires often feature stiff, self-supporting sidewalls that allow the car to continue down the road with low air pressure. Run flat tires can be a blessing in case of a puncture when on a highway with no auto repair shop in sight.

There are typically three types of run flat tires - Self-supporting, Auxiliary Supporting, and Self-Sealing. While Self-supporting tire features an extra-stiff reinforced sidewall to support the weight of the vehicle in case of a puncture, Auxiliary supporting tires are designed with a support ring of hard rubber or other material inside the tire’s cavity attached to the rim that takes the extra weight in case of air pressure loss. Self-Sealing, as the name suggests, is a self-sealing tire with urethane, natural rubber, or polymer liquid inside the air cavity that can automatically seal a puncture of less than about ¼ inch.

There are various run flat tire options available in the market from reputed manufacturers such as Bridgestone, Pirelli, Continental, Nokian, Yokohama, and so on. Today, we will take a look at some of the top run flat tires from these manufacturers.

1. Bridgestone DriveGuard Plus

The Bridgestone DriveGuard Plus is a superb all-season tire designed for use on coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans offering drivers excellent traction and handling performance in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions. Built with Bridgestone’s DriveGuard technology, this tire allows drivers to go up to 40 miles at speeds less than 50 mph after a flat, puncture, or pressure loss. The tire also features an inboard design that reduces road noises and vibrations to create a quiet, comfortable ride in addition to a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

The tire received an average SimpleScore of 9.5 out of 10, with 9.6 in traction and handling, and 9.3 in longevity. If you own a car like the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda Civic, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, or something else, the DriveGuard Plus will be a great fit as a tire with run flat technology.

2. Pirelli P Zero Run Flat

The Pirelli P Zero Run Flat is a performance tire designed for use on passenger vehicles and offers a quiet ride with enhanced traction, braking, and handling. The tire is built using Pirelli’s Run Flat technology that allows drivers to keep driving up to 50 miles at mph in case of air pressure loss. The tire also features an asymmetric tread pattern for enhanced traction, three wide longitudinal grooves to reduce the risk of hydroplaning, and robust construction for enhanced durability. Additionally, the S-shaped tread pattern improves braking performance, further supporting run flat performance, making it a good choice for vehicles such as the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series, Ford Focus, Porsche 911, and many more.

3. Continental ProContact GX

The Continental ProContact GX is a superb all-season touring tire designed to give drivers strong year-round performance with outstanding fuel efficiency. The tire is built with run flat technology and is also backed by Continental’s total Confidence Plan which includes Road Hazard, Limited Warranty, Customer Satisfaction Trial, Flat Tire Roadside Assistance, and Mileage Warranty (restrictions and limitations apply). Additionally, the tire boasts a multidirectional tread pattern for even better grip and received an average SimpleScore of 9.1 out of 10. The tire shines in traction with a score of 9.3 followed by 9.1 in handling and 8.9 in longevity and will be a great fit for vehicles such as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda HR-V, KIa Sportage, and many more.

4. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 is a studded winter tire designed for use on coupes, sedans, and minivans and offer drivers superior winter grip, enhanced ride comfort, and improved fuel efficiency. The tire is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use in severe winter weather conditions and is built with run flat technology. Additionally, the studs protect the tire from accidental punctures, and the low rolling resistance design improves fuel efficiency, making it a great choice for moderate to severe winter weather conditions. As these tires are studded, they should only be used where permitted by law.

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 received an average SimpleScore of 9.2 with an outstanding 9.9 in traction, 9.1 in handling, and 8.8 in longevity, making it a great fit for vehicles such as the Fiat Punto, Nissan NV200, BMW 5 Series, Chevrolet Malibu, Infiniti M, and so on.

5. Yokohama Avid ENVigor ZPS

The Yokohama Avid ENVigor ZPS is a performance all-season tire designed for use on passenger cars and offers drivers year-round performance with enhanced wet grip. The tire is built with run flat technology that allows drivers to go up to 50 miles at speeds less than 50mph after a puncture or pressure loss. The tire is built with an all-season tread, and angled cuts in the tread grooves to ensure a good balance of performance, longer tread life, and ride comfort. The tire received an average SimpleScore of 8.3 out of 10 with 8.7 in handling, 8.4 in traction, and 7.6 in longevity, making it a great fit for vehicles such as the Ford Focus, Honda CR-Z, Kia Rio X, Mazda MX-5, Nissan Micra, and so on.

Best Budget Friendly run flat tires

While all of the above-mentioned options are great, they can be a little expensive as run flat tires typically costs more than regular tires. However, if you are looking for budget-friendly run flat options, take a look at these:

6. Lexani RFX Plus

The Lexani RFX Plus is an all-season performance tire designed for use on coupes, sedans, sports cars, and performance-oriented vehicles. The tire is built using run flat technology and also features a reinforced rubber compound in the sidewall, which further boosts the run flat performance of the tire. Featuring a special bead filler for lower heat generation, the tire is engineered with a silicon rubber compound that offers lower rolling resistance for better fuel efficiency. The tire received an average SimpleScore of 8.1 out of 10 with 8.4 in handling, 7.9 in traction, and 7.6 in longevity. This tire can be used on a variety of vehicles, including Audi Q5, Cadillac XT4, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, and so on.

7. Atturo AZ850

If you drive a CUV, SUV, or light truck and want a budget-friendly ultra-high-performance tire built with run flat technology, take a look at the Atturo AZ850. This tire boasts jointless nylon bands and high-tensile steel belts that enhance high-speed stability and a special rubber compound that enables cooler running at high speeds. The AZ850 received an average SimpleScore of 7.8 out of 10 with 8.3 in handling, 8 in traction, and 7.5 in longevity, making it a good choice for vehicle such as the Cadillac CT5, Audi A6, Honda CR-V, Kia K7, Volvo V90, and so on.

Run flat tire drawbacks

Run-flat tires, while convenient, come with several drawbacks. Their stiffer sidewalls often result in a harsher ride compared to conventional tires. This stiffness can also affect handling and steering response. Additionally, many vehicles equipped with run-flats have specially tuned suspensions, making it inadvisable to replace them with regular tires. Run-flat tires are challenging to repair, often requiring special tools, and not all tire shops are equipped to handle them. They can also be expensive and less readily available, limiting choices. Furthermore, in severe cases of damage, run-flats may fail, necessitating roadside assistance.

So these are some of the best run flat tires in the market. Run flat isn’t an emerging technology anymore and can be easily found by different tire manufacturers. Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.