If you're a car user, blown-out tyres and punctures suffered while driving must rank as one of the greatest possible irritations. They can ruin your entire day, possibly delaying you on your way to a meeting or even leaving you stranded on a country road in the dead of night. That's why it's a great idea to have a short-term solution on hand to deal with tyre problems while you're out on the road. But which option offers the best value in terms of both performance and safety?
In this article we'll look at three possible solutions and the advantages and disadvantages associated with each option. This will help you decide which is the most appropriate for your individual needs and preferences.
Solution One: Run-Flat Tyres
How do they work? Run-flat tyres feature a reinforced sidewall, allowing them to retain their shape in the event of a puncture. They typically allow drivers to continue for another 50 miles or so at a speed of no more than 50mph.
The advantages are that run-flat tyres do not suffer a sudden loss of stability in the event of a puncture, meaning they offer greater safety when travelling on motorways. Similarly, they allow you enough time to find a hard shoulder or service station to pull into if you cannot get to your destination.
However, it is advised that run-flat tyres should not be repaired in the event of a puncture because of the stress that has most likely been placed on the reinforced sidewall. Instead, they should be replaced, which some may find inconvenient. In addition, your car must be set-up to handle run-flat tyres, which means that you cannot simply replace your existing tyres without having a tyre-monitoring system installed in your car.
Solution Two: Tyre Repair Kits
How do they work? Lightweight kits featuring a sealing agent and compressor unit, allows you to repair standard punctures and continue driving for a limited distance.
The advantages are that repair kits can act as an alternative to a spare tyre, meaning more space in the boot and less weight in your vehicle.
Furthermore, they offer a quicker and easier way to get back on the road than replacing the tyre completely.
However, the repair will only be sufficient to let you travel a limited distance, and you will have to get the tyre replaced anyway. Also, you'll be unable to repair any major damage to the tyre using one of these kits and they can be expensive considering that they only offer a temporary solution.
Solution Three: Space-Saving Spare Tyres
How do they work? Space-saving spare tyres are narrower and lighter than a conventional tyre, allowing you to travel for a limited distance and they take up less boot space than a regular tyre.
The advantages are that spare tyres can be re-used once you've acquired a full-sized replacement tyre, provided they've only suffer minimal wear. Their smaller size makes them both more portable and easier to fit.
However, space-saving tyres should not be used for a long time, because they affect handling and have poor durability when compared with conventional tyres. They can also cause long-term damage to your car if used for a sustained period, as the different-sized tyres will place stress on the car's differential.
To summarise, each solution offers an effective means of allowing your car to travel the extra miles so that you can reach a garage or safe location. However, in each case the fix will only be temporary, meaning you may want to consider a call-out service which offers full-sized replacement tyres at the roadside, saving you the added expense of a short-term fix.
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