Run Flat Tyres Norwich

If your car came from the factory without a spare wheel and with a star on the tyre sidewall, you are almost certainly on run-flats. BMW and MINI fit them as standard across most of the range, Mercedes on many models, and they turn up on Lexus, some Audis and other premium cars too. They are a good idea badly explained: they let you drive on after a puncture, but they need the right fitting equipment, they cannot usually be repaired, and swapping them for standard tyres is not always the money-saver it looks like. We fit, replace and advise on run-flats at Ber Street every week.

Tyres from £40supplied and fitted, quoted by size

Same-day fittingmost sizes, while you wait

Open 7 daysMon-Sat 8-6, Sun 10-4

3-month guaranteeor 3,000 miles on workmanship

What a Run Flat Tyre Is

A run-flat tyre has a heavily reinforced sidewall that can support the car's weight with no air in it. The manufacturers' guidance is typically that you can continue for around 50 miles at up to 50 mph after a puncture, which is enough to get home or to us rather than change a wheel on the hard shoulder of the A11 in the rain. Because the tyre does not visibly sag when flat, every car fitted with run-flats also has a tyre pressure monitoring system to tell you it has happened.

The markings differ by brand: RSC on BMW and MINI original equipment, SSR on Continental, ZP on Michelin, ROF and EMT on Goodyear and Dunlop, RFT on Bridgestone. Whatever the code, the construction and the rules are the same.

Can a Run Flat Be Repaired After a Puncture?

Usually not, and this is the question we are asked most. Once a run-flat has been driven on with no pressure the sidewall has been carrying the car, and the internal damage that causes cannot be seen from the outside. Most tyre manufacturers therefore do not permit repairs to a run-flat that has been run deflated, and neither do we. If the tyre was punctured and stopped immediately, some makers allow a repair after internal inspection; we will look and tell you honestly, but the default answer is replacement.

Can I Swap Run Flats for Normal Tyres?

Physically, yes, and plenty of owners do it because standard tyres are cheaper, quieter and ride more softly. Before you do, three things are worth knowing:

• Your car has no spare wheel and probably no jack, so you need a plan for a puncture: a repair kit, a space-saver if one fits, or breakdown cover you trust.
• The suspension was tuned around a stiff sidewall. Some cars feel better on standard tyres; some feel vague. It is not always an improvement.
• Never mix run-flat and standard tyres on the same car. The handling difference between axles is real.

We will give you a straight answer on your particular car. Our run-flat tyres guide covers the trade-offs in more depth.

Good to know

How far can I drive on a run flat tyre after a puncture? Manufacturers typically quote around 50 miles at up to 50 mph, though the exact figure is in your handbook and depends on load and speed. Slow down, avoid hard cornering and head straight for a tyre fitter. The tyre will normally need replacing afterwards.

Fitting Run Flats Properly

The stiff sidewall that makes a run-flat work also makes it hard to fit. It needs a tyre machine that can handle reinforced beads without damaging the tyre or scratching the alloy, correct bead lubrication and, on many wheels, a specific mounting sequence. Done badly, a run-flat fitting leaves a damaged bead that fails weeks later. Done properly it is routine, and we do it properly, followed by balancing, torque-checked wheel bolts and a reset of the tyre pressure monitoring system so the warning light does not stay on.

Brands and Approved Fitments

Most run-flats on the road are original-equipment fitments, so a BMW will usually want a star-marked Bridgestone, Continental, Pirelli, Goodyear or Michelin run-flat rather than a generic one. Our Bridgestone, Continental and Pirelli pages explain the approval markings. Give us the registration and we will source the correct specification, confirm whether it is same day or next day, and quote before ordering. Open seven days, free parking, and every fitting carries our 3-month / 3,000-mile workmanship guarantee.

How Tyre Fitting Works at Ber Street