Should You Fit Run-Flat Tyres To Your All-Terrain Vehicle?
Suffering a puncture while driving on paved roads can be a frustrating and potentially dangerous experience, but if anything, suffering a flat tyre while driving off the beaten track can be even more of a hassle to deal with. With no way for conventional breakdown services to reach your stricken vehicle, suffering a puncture while driving off-road can leave your vehicle stranded if you are unable to replace the tyre yourself.
Consequently, many off-road enthusiasts fit all-terrain, run-flat tyres to the 4x4s and utes they use to drive off-road, and doing so can have numerous advantages. However, there are also a couple of disadvantages to run-flat tyres when compared to conventional all-terrain tyres, so you should make sure these unique tyres suit your needs before fitting them to your all-terrain vehicle.
What are the advantages of fitting run-flat tyres to an all terrain vehicle?
Can be used when punctured
The most obvious advantage of choosing run-flat tyres is that they can be used even when punctured. Run-flat tyres have stiff, self-supporting sidewalls that prevent a tyre from collapsing when punctured, and when used on average road conditions they can usually be safely used for a decent distance before the sidewalls fail and the tyre is no longer safe. Off-road conditions may shorten or lengthen this grace period depending on the specific terrain you are crossing, but this extra range is almost guaranteed to get you back to a safe location.
Increased blow-out safety
Punctures can be particularly dangerous if they occur when driving at high speeds, and a sudden puncture during high-speed off-road driving (such as a desert run) can be extremely dangerous, causing sudden and significant loss of control and potentially causing your vehicle to roll. These dramatic blowouts are prevented by the stiff sidewalls of run-flat tyres, making them particularly useful for powerful, high-performance 4x4s and utes.
Decreased vehicle weight
A bonus benefit of choosing run-flat tyres is that they allow you to ditch your vehicle's spare wheel.. Although run-flat tyres are heavier than standard all-terrain tyres, this usually results in lower overall vehicle weight, which can be quite handy for vehicles that routinely cross boggy, waterlogged terrain where excessive weight can cause rapid sinking. Ditching your spare tyre can also give you more storage space in your vehicle for other equipment, such as winches and tool kits.
What are the disadvantages of fitting run-flat tyres to an all terrain vehicle?
Rougher ride quality
Unfortunately, the stiff sidewalls that allow run-flat tyres to run after a puncture also impair shock absorption, and fitting run-flat tyres will generally result in a bumpier, less comfortable ride. This may not be a concern when off-roading (hardly the most comfortable hobby to begin with), but it can have a dramatic effect if you also drive your all-terrain vehicle on the road.
Expensive
Run-flat tyres also tend to be significantly more expensive than conventional off-road tyres, largely due to the extra material and specialised manufacturing processes required to make them.