RunFlat tires explained — what they are, how they work

A RunFlat tire is designed to remain functional after a complete loss of air pressure, allowing you to continue driving to safety — or to the nearest tire service center — without stopping to change a wheel on the roadside.

How does a RunFlat tire work?

Standard tires rely entirely on air pressure to support the weight of the vehicle. When a standard tire loses pressure, its sidewalls collapse, making the tire undriveable within seconds. A RunFlat tire solves this problem through reinforced self-supporting sidewalls — typically made from stiffened rubber or a rigid insert — that can bear the vehicle's load even with zero inflation pressure. The exact distance and speed you can drive on a flat RunFlat tire depends on the manufacturer, vehicle, and conditions, but the industry standard is typically 80 km (50 miles) at a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). This is enough to safely reach a tire dealer in most urban and suburban environments.

RunFlat naming by brand

Different manufacturers market RunFlat technology under different names: Bridgestone — DriveGuard RFT, Turanza T005 RFT, Potenza S001 RFT Pirelli — RUNFORWARD™, Run Flat (marked RF on the sidewall) Michelin — ZP (Zero Pressure), marked with the ZP sidewall label Goodyear — RunOnFlat (ROF), ExtendedMobility Technology (EMT)

Advantages of RunFlat tires

No need to carry a spare wheel or tire inflation kit Eliminates roadside tire changes — safer in traffic or at night Maintained vehicle handling even after pressure loss (no sudden swerve) Space and weight savings where a spare was previously stored

Things to consider

RunFlat tires are generally more expensive than standard equivalents Ride quality is slightly firmer due to the reinforced sidewall construction Many RunFlat tires cannot be repaired after a puncture and must be replaced A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is essential — you may not feel the pressure loss without one Not all vehicles are compatible with RunFlat tires; always check manufacturer recommendations

How to identify a RunFlat tire

Look for the following markings on the tire sidewall: RFT, RUN FLAT, ROF, EMT, ZP, SSR (Self-Supporting Runflat) or RF. On widetyres, you can filter the full catalog by RunFlat capability to instantly find every available RunFlat option for your size.

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