The End of the Spare Tyre? – Results

When Tyres & Accessories published a question of the month on the subject of run-flat tyres, it provoked quite a reaction. At the time T&A asked: Should run-flat tyres be fitted on new cars as ‘standard’ original equipment? The answers given were both varied and surprisingly. Although 45 per cent of those who responded answered with a definite ‘yes,’ more than a quarter of readers (27 per cent) said an equally definite ‘no.’ Almost the same number sat on the fence, so to speak, satisfied with the development of a two-tier market. Consequently the majority of respondents were either against or indifferent to the introduction of run-flat technology through OE, while the largest single group were for them. So, the question still remains: does anybody really want run-flats, or are manufacturers trying to introduce them by stealth?

One concern raised was that neither the trade nor consumers were really ready for the technology. “New technology is great, but a lot of the people who will be working on these cars will not have the up-to-date info and education needed to do the service correctly. Most people do not take care of their tyres now, and this will add to the confusion,” one reader commented.

But not everyone is against run-flats. A significant proportion of those who commented spoke highly of the products. “I think run flat tyres present too many advantages to the end user to be ignored. The fact that this new technology presents troubles for the industry has absolutely no bearing on the general public’s willingness to accept them. Many, many industries have been faced with far greater changes than the tyre industry faces with the introduction of run-flat tyres. I think this technology is an opportunity to get rid of older style cheap tyre stores and allow the more adaptive professionals to get on with their business,” said one reader.

However, it could be this type of professional elitism that is deterring smaller, independent dealers. “As a wholesaler I am finding that small retail shops are unsure how to correctly handle a puncture in a run-flat. They find it hard to justify to the customer with a new tyre. Customers are unaware of the dangers involved in repairing the tyre and argue that the tyre is too expensive to be discarded, and that it doesn’t make good ecological sense,” observed Sean Dougan of Phillip White Tyres.

But run-flats are not just a controversial topic in the British Isles, T&A also heard opinions from much further afield. One Australian reader was against their introduction through OE: “In Australia we don’t have either the security issues that favour the use of these tyres, nor the opportunity to replace them within short distances should they puncture. In addition they are heavy, expensive and give poor performance compared to normal tyres. When consumers begin to understand the downside of these tyres, in particular their high replacement cost and the necessity to replace punctured tyres, I am sure they will move away from them.”

An American reader added: “There is no run-flat tyre that is worth the price. If I’m concerned about flat tyres, I’ll buy self-sealing tyres. I would also only purchase future vehicles from a dealer where run-flat tyres are only offered as an option, not as original equipment.”

The last word goes to a reader who sees the market’s progression towards run-flats as inevitable: “Leave run-flat tyres as an option and they will naturally become standard original equipment like ABS and airbags in today’s vehicles.”