Run flat tyres explained: pros, cons and can you switch to normal tyres?

If you drive a BMW, a Mini or another car without a spare wheel, there is a good chance you are on run flat tyres. They keep going for a while after a puncture, but they cost more, ride harder and usually cannot be repaired.

This article explains how run flat tyres work, how to recognise them, and what is involved if you want to switch to normal tyres in the Netherlands.

By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 8 November 2026

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Our team speaks English, on the phone too. Have your registration number (kenteken) ready. We tell you one price in advance and when you can bring the car. Open Monday to Friday 8.00 to 17.30, Saturday 9.00 to 15.00.

The short answer

A run flat tyre has a reinforced sidewall that keeps carrying the car after the air has gone. According to Continental and Bridgestone you can then drive up to 80 km at no more than 80 km/h to reach a garage.

A tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is a condition for run flat tyres, and they are usually replaced rather than repaired after a puncture. Switching to normal tyres is possible, but only as a full set of four, with a repair kit or spare wheel on board and with your car manufacturer’s advice in hand.

Tyre service at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug: new summer, winter and all-season tyres for all makes and sizes, including electric cars, vans and motorhomes up to 3,500 kg. We tell you the price in advance based on your registration number, including fitting, balancing and disposal of the old tyres. Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number and we tell you the price and when we can do it. You bring the car and we call you when it is ready. A loan bike is free while one is available. Saturdays too. Our team speaks English. More about our tyre service

What is a run flat tyre and how does it work?

A run flat tyre is a tyre that can still cover a limited distance with no air in it. The secret is in the sidewall. On a normal tyre the air pressure carries the weight of the car.

When the tyre goes flat, the rim drops onto the road and the sidewall folds double. A run flat tyre has a self-supporting, reinforced sidewall of thick rubber. That holds the car up when the pressure is lost, so the tyre does not come off the rim and you keep control of the steering.

Manufacturers quote the same limits. Continental writes that after a loss of pressure you may continue for 80 km at a maximum of 80 km/h. Bridgestone gives the same values for its RFT tyres: up to 80 km at no more than 80 km/h. That distance is meant to get you to a garage, not to finish your journey.

Your owner’s manual gives the limit that applies to your car, and it can be lower when the car is heavily loaded.

Because you can barely feel a flat run flat tyre through the steering wheel, a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is a condition for this type of tyre. Bridgestone states that run flat tyres, whatever the system, may only be used on a car with TPMS.

The system warns you on the dashboard as soon as a tyre loses pressure. Without that warning you would drive too far and too fast and damage the tyre beyond repair.

How to recognise run flat tyres: RSC, SSR, ZP and other markings

You recognise a run flat tyre by an abbreviation on the sidewall. Each tyre manufacturer uses its own code. Uniroyal (part of Continental) lists RFT, CSR, DSST, HRS, EMT, ROF, SST, ZP and XRP as common abbreviations, alongside its own marking SSR.

Sometimes there is also a letter F in front of the rim size, for example 205/55 RF 16, or a small symbol that looks like a snail. BMW uses a circle with the letters RSC.

Marking Meaning Found on
SSR MeaningSelf Supporting Runflat Found onContinental, Uniroyal
RSC MeaningRunflat System Component Found onBMW and Mini (tyre made specifically for BMW), also on Pirelli and Bridgestone tyres
ZP MeaningZero Pressure Found onMichelin
RFT MeaningRun Flat Tyre Found onBridgestone
ROF, EMT, DSST MeaningRunOnFlat, Extended Mobility Technology, Dunlop Self Supporting Technology Found onGoodyear, Dunlop
HRS MeaningHankook Runflat System Found onHankook
RF before the rim size, snail symbol MeaningRun flat according to the European marking Found onVarious brands

Abbreviations according to Uniroyal (Continental) and the BMW owner’s manual. If in doubt, check your owner’s manual or call us with your registration number.

A BMW or Mini on run flat tyres usually has no spare wheel and no jack on board. That is the first clue. The BMW owner’s manual states that no spare wheel is available in the event of a flat tyre and that BMW recommends fitting run flat tyres again when you buy new tyres and at the seasonal change.

What are the pros and cons of run flat tyres?

The biggest advantage is that a puncture does not leave you standing on the hard shoulder of the A16. You drive on carefully to a safe place or to the garage. In return you pay more and give up some comfort.

Advantage Disadvantage
No wheel change in a dangerous spot (Bridgestone) DisadvantageA run flat tyre is heavier, about 300 grams per tyre according to Uniroyal, and costs more to buy
No spare wheel needed, which according to Continental saves about 80 litres of boot space DisadvantageThe stiff sidewall gives less cushioning. Many drivers feel bumps and manhole covers more strongly
After a blowout the car stays on course better (Bridgestone) DisadvantageAfter a puncture most manufacturers advise replacement rather than repair (Continental)
Fitting and changing work the same as with a standard tyre (Continental) DisadvantageYou need a car with TPMS and the choice of sizes and brands is smaller

Sources: Continental, Bridgestone and Uniroyal, consulted 6 November 2026.

In the workshop we see one more drawback. A run flat tyre does not show clearly that it is flat. Anyone who ignores the dashboard warning drives further than the 80 km the manufacturer allows. The sidewall then overheats and breaks down from the inside. Such a tyre cannot be saved, even if the puncture itself was small.

Can a punctured run flat tyre be repaired?

Usually not. Continental writes that most manufacturers advise against repairing run flat tyres. BMW recommends in the owner’s manual that damaged run flat tyres are replaced, not repaired.

Uniroyal says the same about tyres that have been driven on without pressure. The reason is that the reinforced sidewall can be damaged on the inside after a drive without air, without you seeing anything on the outside.

That is why we do not repair run flat tyres. We replace a punctured run flat tyre with a new one. How we assess a normal tyre is explained in our article on puncture repair or replacement. There the Continental rules apply: only a hole smaller than 6 mm in the central three quarters of the tread.

If the tyre pressure warning light comes on in a car with run flat tyres, drive on carefully, no faster than 80 km/h and for no more than 80 km. Call us on +31 10 479 00 00. We look up the right tyre based on your registration number and tell you the cost in advance, including fitting, balancing and disposal of the old tyre.

Can you replace run flat tyres with normal tyres?

Yes, technically it is possible. According to Continental, run flat tyres fit standard rims, so the reverse also applies: a normal tyre fits the rims of a car that was delivered with run flats. The Dutch APK (MOT), the compulsory Dutch vehicle inspection, sets no requirement for run flat tyres. There are, however, a few conditions you cannot avoid.

  1. As a full set of four. Uniroyal writes that a car must be either on run flat tyres or on standard tyres, and not mixed per axle either. A run flat tyre reacts differently in a corner and in an emergency stop than a normal tyre.
  2. Arrange something for a puncture. Without run flats you have no back-up when a tyre goes flat. Carry a tyre repair kit or a space-saver spare. Read our article on tyre repair kit, space-saver or spare wheel.
  3. The TPMS keeps working. The sensors sit on the rim, not in the tyre. After fitting and inflating, the car usually learns the new tyres after a short drive, or you reset the system in the menu.
  4. Read your manufacturer’s advice. BMW recommends that you keep fitting run flat tyres for your own safety. That is not a legal obligation, but it is in your owner’s manual. Also read the terms of your warranty or lease contract.
  5. Same size, load index and speed rating. The new tyre must meet the same requirements as the original. How to read those codes is explained in tyre size explained.

Many owners choose normal tyres for the comfort and the price. Others keep run flats because they drive a lot and do not want to change a wheel. Both choices can be defended. What does not work is mixing run flat and normal tyres, or switching without arranging anything for a puncture.

Run flat tyres replaced in Rotterdam: how it works with us

We supply and fit run flat tyres of all brands, and also normal tyres for cars that were delivered with run flats. You call us with your registration number (kenteken).

We look up the sizes approved for your car, check the load index and the speed rating, and tell you one price in advance. That price includes the tyres, fitting, balancing and disposal of the old tyres. If anything needs adding, we tell you first.

A run flat tyre needs care when it is fitted. The stiff sidewall has to go over the rim edge with the right tyre machine and enough lubricant, otherwise the bead of the tyre is damaged. Our mechanics do this regularly on BMW, Mini and Mercedes-Benz.

At every fitting we balance the wheels and check the tyre pressure and the TPMS. We only recommend alignment when there is a reason for it, such as uneven wear or a steering wheel that sits off-centre. Everything about our tyre service is on the page tyre replacement and seasonal changes in Rotterdam.

You bring the car Monday to Friday between 8.00 and 8.30 am or by appointment, or on Saturday at 9.00 am. Waiting while the tyres are fitted is not possible. We call you when the car is ready. A loan bike is free while one is available.

Frequently asked questions

How far can you drive on a flat run flat tyre?

According to Continental and Bridgestone, a maximum of 80 km at a speed of no more than 80 km/h. That distance is meant to reach a garage. If you drive further or faster, the sidewall is damaged on the inside and the tyre can no longer be used. Your car’s owner’s manual gives the limit that applies to your car.

Do run flat tyres need a spare wheel?

No. A run flat tyre replaces the spare wheel. That is why manufacturers such as BMW deliver cars with run flat tyres without a spare wheel and often without a jack. If you switch to normal tyres, you need to carry a repair kit or a space-saver spare yourself.

Can you replace one run flat tyre with a normal tyre?

No. Uniroyal and BMW advise that all four tyres are of the same type. A run flat tyre has a much stiffer sidewall. A mix steers and brakes unevenly, especially on a wet road. After a puncture, replace with a run flat tyre of the same size, or switch the whole set.

Are run flat tyres more expensive than normal tyres?

Yes. Uniroyal writes that run flat tyres cost somewhat more to buy than standard tyres. How much more depends on the size and the brand. Call us with your registration number and we tell you one price in advance, including fitting, balancing and disposal.

Can run flat tyres be fitted on any rim?

Yes, according to Continental run flat tyres fit standard rims. What matters is that the car has a tyre pressure monitoring system. Without TPMS you do not notice a flat run flat tyre in time, and according to Bridgestone you may not use them.

Will the car fail the APK if the run flat tyres have been replaced with normal tyres?

No. The APK requirements for tyres cover tread depth, damage, the same size per axle, tyre pressure and a working TPMS on cars first registered after 31 December 2017. Whether a tyre is a run flat plays no part in the inspection.

Do you notice a difference in comfort between run flat and normal tyres?

Yes, that is the experience of many drivers. The reinforced sidewall gives less cushioning, so you feel cobbles, manhole covers and speed bumps more clearly. Continental states that the handling does not change under normal conditions, but for many owners comfort is the reason to switch to normal tyres.

Run flat or normal tyres for your car?

Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number. We tell you one price in advance, including fitting, balancing and disposal, and give advice that suits your car and your mileage.

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip). We work by appointment. Call us with your registration number and we tell you the price and when we can do it.

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