Blackcircles Applauds Bridgestone Run-Flat Developments

Online retailer Blackcircles.com says it believes Bridgestone’s recently announced developments in the field of run-flat tyres mark a step in the right direction for motorists. The Japanese tyre major introduced the new technology in its third generation of run-flat tyres, and Blackcircles.com managing director Mike Welch considers this “positive news and a step forward from Bridgestone.” The UK retailer also hopes the progress made will aid the run-flat in its journey towards wider acceptance.

“Run flat tyres take a lot more rubber to produce, not to mention the additional research and development the manufacturers have invested in to produce the tyre in the first place – this all results in added cost,” Welch commented. “Seeing run flat tyres produced in more quantity to fit more makes and models will bring their price point more into line with ‘standard’ tyres, although they will always carry a high price because of their value added attributes, particularly that safety dimension.”

Bridgestone, notes Blackcircles.com, believes that if run-flat tyres become more popular, they will replace spare tyres and thus cut down the number of tyres produced for each vehicle by 20 per cent. This would cut unnecessary tyre production by around 59 million a year. Furthermore, says Bridgestone, the elimination of spare tyres would remove two million tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere each year, largely due to a reduction in emissions from raw material procurement and disposal.