Flat Tyre Solution: Extended Mobility Options Without a Spare Wheel

Introduction: Evolution of Spare Tyres in Modern Cars

Modern cars have evolved rapidly in recent decades, and not just in terms of cleaner engines and advanced onboard technologies. Spare tyres have also changed into a concept called extended mobility solutions. For a long time, almost every car on the road was fitted with a full-size spare wheel and tyre. A full-size spare refers to a spare wheel and its tyre being the same size as those fitted to the car.

Modern car development has seen the space usually devoted to carrying a full-size spare wheel and tyre shrink, giving rise to what’s often referred to as a space-saving spare wheel, this emergency tyre repair service offered a weight saving advantage on a component that is very rarely used in most cars.

The Emergence of Extended Mobility Solutions

These are usually narrower versions of the wheels and tyres fitted to your car. They take up less space in the vehicle’s boot and, despite their maximum speed and loading capacity, they’re designed to get you from the side of the road to a suitable location for your punctured tyre to be repaired or replaced. This space-saving idea has taken a further step in recent years.

Today, it’s not uncommon for some modern cars, such as sports cars, to not carry a spare wheel and tyre of any kind. So, to manage the risk of a flat tyre when driving, these cars offer a few options.

Run-Flat Tyres: A Popular Extended Mobility Solution

One of these is the run-flat tyre. Run-flat tyres are designed to let a car be driven should they suffer a puncture in their tread surface. They can even operate when all the air has escaped, which is why a tyre pressure monitoring system in the car is mandatory when run-flat technology is used.

Run-flat tyres have special design and construction that mean you can keep driving your car up to a certain speed for a short time, preventing the need for a tyre change or tyre repair on the side of the road in case of a flat tyre. Run-flat tyres let you and your car continue driving so you can safely get your flat tyre repaired or replaced, however, not all tyre brands who offer run-flat solutions allow you to repair their tyres.

Using Run-Flat Tyres: Important Considerations for Car Owners

It’s important to note that if your car was fitted with run-flat tyres when it was built, it’s likely your car’s manufacturer will suggest you always use them. Most importantly, you won't have to worry about a flat tyre and the need for a tyre change or tyre repair on the side of the road, but also because your car’s braking, suspension, and steering were probably designed and engineered to use this type of tyre. Check your car’s owner’s manual to see if this applies to your car. Bob Jane T-Marts offers a variety of run-flat tyres in a range of sizes from different tyre brands for those who prioritize safety and convenience when it comes to dealing with flat tyres. Some of them are:

• Tyre sealant is a common extended mobility solution for punctured tyres.
• It is easy to use and comes with simple instructions.
• If the puncture is in the tyre's tread and below a certain size, the can of sealant can be connected to the tyre valve to fill the can's contents into the flat tyre, allowing the tyre to still operate up to a certain speed.
• “Tyre sealants and run-flats are temporary solutions for a flat tyre,” says Bob Jane T-Marts National Training and Development Manager Tony Harrison. “They play an important role when you drive: they help keep you on the road so you can get your flat tyre correctly sorted by a trained professional.

Conclusion: Ensuring Safe Driving with Extended Mobility Solutions

Any punctured tyre – whether it’s a full-size spare, a space-saver spare, a run-flat tyre, or a tyre repaired with tyre sealant – needs to be checked, and then either repaired or replaced, by a trained specialist as soon as possible. This is to ensure the safety of your vehicle. If your car uses an extended mobility solution such as run-flat tyres or an onboard can of tyre sealant, always remember they’re not permanent solutions for a punctured tyre. If you need to use a tyre sealant, or if you’ve driven on a punctured and deflated run-flat tyre, take it to your nearest Bob Jane T-Marts tyre shop or avail the services of a Mobile Tyre Repair professional for prompt Tyre Replacement as soon as you can.