A run-flat tire features heavily reinforced, load-bearing sidewalls that support the weight of the vehicle even when internal air pressure drops to zero. This design allows a driver to safely travel to a repair shop at reduced speeds, typically up to 50 miles at 50 mph, following a puncture. Because they eliminate the need for a spare tire, manufacturers use them to save weight and trunk space, though they often result in a stiffer ride quality.
Heard on the job
The customer hit a massive pothole and drove twenty miles on the run-flat, so the sidewall is shredded and the tire has to be replaced entirely.
Also heard as
- run-flat tire
- RFT