New Tire System Runs Even With Flat
The U.S. Army equips its armored vehicles with tires that run even when flat, and soon you can enjoy the same protection on Los Angeles freeways--if you’re willing to pay a pretty stiff price.
Amid much hoopla, Bridgestone has introduced a “runflat” tire system, available only for the Corvette. And Goodyear has announced it will introduce one next year, also for the Corvette. But the technology is expected to quickly become available for new-car models.
The tires will allow a car to be driven even after it has lost all air pressure. Bridgestone touts its product as a “significant technological breakthrough,” with handling quality comparable to that of a fully inflated tire. Meanwhile, Goodyear says it has the first tire that can operate on conventional wheels.
The Bridgestone tire is guaranteed to run for 50 miles at 55 m.p.h.; the company said one of its special tires made the trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
A set of four tires and the special wheels on which they are mounted cost a whopping $5,000. Perhaps the Army can afford that, but what about regular consumers?
Bridgestone admits demand is not expected to be great.
“We don’t expect to sell many tires initially,” said Mike Cerio, Bridgestone’s passenger tire marketing manager. “Five thousand dollars sounds like a great deal of money for a tire and wheel system, but custom wheels for the Corvette often run $3,000 or $4,000.”
Goodyear said that a complete set of its tires will sell for $1,680 and will not require special wheels. Goodyear claims that a lot of manufacturers had runflat technology during the 1980s, but nobody could produce a tire that would operate on conventional wheels.
The Goodyear tires also will be capable of running for 200 miles without air pressure at 55 m.p.h., a Goodyear spokesman said.
Tire companies may have a tall task convincing motorists that the runflat tires are worth a huge premium. New steel-belted radial tires have far fewer flats than ever before, and they last a lot longer. Will motorists pony up big bucks to avoid a debilitating flat?
Cerio said he expects auto makers to begin equipping cars with the new tires because that would allow them to eliminate spares and jacks and to streamline the trunk design. And that should make for lighter, more fuel-efficient cars.
The tire uses a special rubber compound and a support that allows the sidewall to bear weight without air pressure. The runflat systems also have an electronic low-pressure warning device to let drivers know when the tire has lost air.
Even if prices are significantly reduced, it is unclear that the system will be as cheap as conventional tires. But Bridgestone cites the safety and convenience of the tire. The Army likes its runflats because they allow armored vehicles to operate without tire changes. It’s the same idea in Los Angeles.
One drawback to the Bridgestone tire is that it can’t be fixed once it loses pressure. The Goodyear tire will be repairable, a spokesman said.
