Never get caught with a flat again
Bridgestone has now perfected Run Flat Tyres, which permit one to keep driving after a loss of tyre pressure for a certain distance at a designated maximum speed.
Tyres are the one thing that all vehicles have in common—which means that flat tyres seem to be an inescapable fact of driving life.
Not anymore, said Ary Coetzee, technical and product specialist, Bridgestone South Africa.
He said that Bridgestone has now perfected Run Flat Tyres, which permit one to keep driving after a loss of tyre pressure for a certain distance at a designated maximum speed.
These parameters vary according to the tyre and weight load.
“Changing a flat tyre is not only a chore, it frequently puts the driver and passengers in harm’s way – either because of adverse road and/ or climatic conditions or because the incident occurs in a dangerous location.
“Women, particularly, are put into a vulnerable position when a flat occurs,” he said.
“The good news is that Run Flat Tyres offer a reliable solution to the problem.”
Bridgestone’s pioneering research into Run Flat Tyres dates right back to the 1980s when it began producing a sidewall-reinforced tyre for disabled people.
By 1987, the first Run Flat Tyres were produced as original factory fitment for the Porsche 959.
The next development was tyre-monitoring systems to alert drivers to a loss of pressure, along with the development of better sidewall inserts to allow for driving after a drop in tyre pressure.
The first Run Flat Tyres went on sale in North America under the Firestone brand, followed by the first run-flat version of an Expedia S-01 high-performance tyre.
In the 2000s, Bridgestone began supplying Run Flat Tyres for certain models of BMW, and R&D collaboration on this technology was initiated with Continental Tyres.
By 2005, Bridgestone had shipped more than three million Run Flat Tyres globally and continues to supply the largest number of Run Flat Tyres as original equipment to a range of vehicle manufacturers.
Coetzee explained that, like conventional tyres, Run Flat Tyres use pressurised air to support the vehicle’s weight.
However, their sidewall supports allow the tyre to maintain its shape when air pressure is lost.
These sidewall supports are made of a composite developed in Bridgestone’s R&D labs.
A new development is cooling fins along the sidewall which help reduce heat build-up in the event of a loss of tyre pressure.
“This is a good example of how Bridgestone’s commitment to research and the eagerness of the high-end marques to adopt innovation has led to massive benefits for ordinary motorists,” he said.
“Run Flat Tyres are now ready for mainstream use, with tremendous benefits in terms of safety and convenience.”
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There are also other positive benefits.
A vehicle fitted with Run Flat Tyres will not need a spare tyre and wheel, thus saving on materials, with implications for both cost and the environment.
Another long-term benefit will be that the absence of a spare tyre will prompt a redesign of vehicle interiors.
“As more and more vehicle manufacturers begin to factory-fit Bridgestone Run Flat Tyres, we see that what once considered a novelty or something only for high-end cars is becoming standard,” Coetzee said.
“Meanwhile, in line with Bridgestone’s commitment to innovation, our labs continue their research efforts to find new ways of improving this technology and making it even safer.”
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