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What can instantly ruin a cross country road-trip? A flat tyre can. How? Well, let's put it this way: does sharing your bed with a bunch of wild animals sound appealing to you? Because that is what happens when your car gets a flat tyre 70 km away from civilisation. I understand the appeal of foregoing the better tyres in favour of some extra Junk Food Mecca products, but if you opt for the self-sealing tyres, you can always drive to a Domino's when you're feeling peckish--you can also drive to a hospital, a hotel, a city, or a tourist attraction. It's your choice really.
A run-flat tyre is a tyre designed to resist deflation, and can continue to be driven after a puncture (at reduced speeds and limited distances). The convenience and safety of this type of tyre has made it a popular choice for consumers who do not wish to be stranded in the middle of nowhere, without a spare, and with no way to get to a repair shop.
| The Three Basic Types of Run-Flat Tyres | ||
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The tire is built with stiffer side-walls that can bear the weight of the vehicle even when the pressure within the tire is greatly reduced. The side-walls are typically constructed of layers of rubber and a heat-resistant cord that prevent the side-walls from folding or creasing. The bead around the edge of the tire is also specialized to grip the wheel rim such as to avoid becoming detached from the rim. |
These tires contain an extra lining within the tire that self-seals in the event of a small hole due to a nail or screw. In this way, the loss of air is prevented from the outset such that the tire is either permanently self-repairing or at least loses air very slowly. |
Auxiliary-Supported In this system, there is an additional support ring attached to the wheel that can support the weight of the vehicle in the event of a loss of pressure. While these systems generally offer better ride quality because their sidewall's stiffness can be equivalent to a standard tire, the requirement to have both special wheels and special tires increases cost and limits these systems from widespread use. |
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Bontrager Self-Sealing Tyres |
Continental ContiSeal |
Michelin ZP |
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