What Car? Q&A - Run-flat tyres or conventional ones?

Q: I hear a lot of complaints about run-flat tyres’ ride quality. When they’ve worn out, is it possible to replace them with conventional tyres on the same rims?
Dennis O’Neill

A: The Tyre Industry Council doesn’t believe there is any reason run-flat tyres can’t be safely swapped for standard ones of the same size on the same rims. They stress that the use of run-flats can help reduce road accidents in extreme circumstances, however (if you were to suffer a blow out at high speed for instance).

Also bear in mind that if you switch to conventional tyres you’ll be legally required to carry a spare wheel or carry a can of tyre-repair mousse.

BMW also says it has designed suspension settings around its run-flat tyres, so it doesn’t recommend changing them as it could affect the driving dynamics of the car.

It’s always worth double checking with the manufacturer of your car to see if there is any such impact, or if there may be a safety issue.