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Self-Supporting Run Flat Tires - Self-supporting run-flat tires feature a stiffer internal construction that is capable of carrying the weight of the vehicle for up to 50 miles at speeds of up to 55 miles after the tire has lost all air pressure.
- These tires have an extra layer of rubber between layers of heat resistant cord in the sidewall so the sidewalls don't fold over on themselves when air pressure is lost, which gives the tire the self-supporting ability.
- Because self-supporting tires are so good at masking a flat tire, they require a tire pressure monitoring system to alert the driver that he or she has lost air pressure.
- Without a monitoring system, the driver may not notice underinflation and may cause additional tire damage by failing to inflate or repair the tire when air pressure is lost.
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Auxiliary Supported Run Flat System - Currently being developed for use as original equipment vehicle applications, auxiliary supported systems combine unique wheels and tires, in which the tire rests on a support ring attached to the wheel when air pressure is lost.
- The advantage of this system is the majority of the task of providing run-flat capability will be assigned to the wheel, which doesn't wear out. This minimizes the wear on the tires.
- Additionally, auxiliary supported systems promise better ride quality because their sidewall's stiffness can be equivalent to today's standard tires.
- At the moment, a few European vehicles, which are not imported into the United States, use Michelin's PAX System. Goodyear and Pirelli have announced that they also will develop run-flat tires based on PAX System technology, but since these systems cannot accept standard tires and it is much more expensive, it is unclear which system will be the standard in the future.
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