-
Jul 11, 2006 5:34 pm US/Central
-
Digg |
Facebook |
E-mail
|
Print
Run-Flat Tires Offer Drivers A Sense Of Security
New Tires Keep Going, Even When Air Runs Out
by Dorothy Tucker
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
A flat tire can be more than just a bump in the road. It can leave you stranded or worse—injured from an accident.
CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports on new tires that keep going—even when the air goes out.
While Dave Royce is cruising around town with his Mini-Cooper motoring club, there's one thing he doesn't have to worry about.
"I don't have to worry about if I get a flat that I have to stop and change the tire," Royce said.
That's because Dave has a new product called "run flat" tires. Experts say this type of wheel offers drivers a sense of security.
"It will support the weight of the vehicle in the event of a loss of air," said Kevin Rohlwing with the Tire Industry Association.
There's a tire pressure monitor that will alert you to the problem. But you can keep driving on it—up to 200 miles on some brands.
Once reserved for high-end cars, run flats are now available on everything from minivans to sub-compact cars to convertibles.
"They're becoming more mainstream as auto manufacturers are looking for ways to maximize interior space and cut any weight that they can from cars," said safety analyst Sean Kane.
That's because run flat tires eliminate the need for a spare. An added bonus: no more dangerous stops in the breakdown lane.
"Plus you don't have the issues of lost control with a vehicle that you might if a tire gets totally disabled on a standard passenger car tire with a regular wheel," Kane said.
But critics of this new tire claim the treads wear out too quickly and they're too costly to replace. Run flats can be two to three times the cost of standard tire.
"The price of the run flat tires probably won't go down in the next few years," Rohlwing said.
It will also cost you extra to service them: $5 to $10 more per tire. And if one loses air, chances are you'll have to wait days to replace it.
But Royce feels the safety features are worth the wait.
"If there is no air pressure in the tire I can drive it for a little bit further to the nearest station," he said.
Although the run flat tires get high marks with most consumers, there are some who complain that the tires have thicker sidewalls—so the ride is harsh.
But again, the safety features seem to be the biggest attraction.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)