Top 10 Best Run Flat Tires: Latest Options

Run-flat tires have been one of the most significant advancements in the industry, as they negate the need for a spare tire but also bring several other advantages.

For starters, these tires are much safer in case of a complete air loss or a blowout because the sidewall is strong enough to support the weight of the vehicle. Hence, you’ll still have control of the car, whereas a regular tire can destabilize your vehicle, even when driving in a straight line.

Furthermore, the fact that you won’t carry a spare in the trunk means more space for cargo, something that customers will certainly be happy about. No spare tire also means less weight, which translates into better performance, lower fuel consumption, and less harmful emissions.

But despite all of the benefits, run-flat tires still haven’t reached a widespread use among car manufacturers, and especially owners. Only a few premium brands sell their vehicles with run-flat tires from the factory, such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Audi, Cadillac, and Infiniti.

And the reasons why most carmakers don’t put run-flats on new cars are many, but the biggest one is cost. Put simply, run-flat tires are much more expensive and would make any vehicle more expensive. Thus, in order to stay competitive on the market, carmakers opt for cheaper, regular tires.

Moreover, run-flat tires are also notorious for their harsh ride, originating from the stiffer sidewall. Drive the same car with regular and run-flat tires side-by-side, and the difference will be quite obvious. In other words, if you try to test drive a car with run-flats, you might end up not buying it.

But many people are still ready to accept the compromises for the added convenience of not having to change or repair a tire in the middle of nowhere. Most run-flats can provide you with a 50-mile range after a complete air loss, up to speeds of 50 mph – enough for you to find a tire shop.

Besides, the latest crop of run-flat tires available on the market significantly improved upon its predecessors when it comes to ride quality. Sure, they will still be bumpier than regular tires, but a car with a well-thought-out suspension could cope with most bumps easily.

With that being said, if you were satisfied with the run flat tires for BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Lexus and want to continue with a similar set, here are the best ones available on the market! Like with every review on this website, I divided my list into categories, so everyone can find a tire that suits their driving style and, ultimately, the type of car.

Top 10 Best Run Flat Tires Available in 2022

1. Bridgestone DriveGuard

Best Grand-Touring All-Season Run-Flat Tires

Run-flat tires are notorious for having a stiff ride due to their design. However, Bridgestone, the largest manufacturer of such tires in the world, went on to change that with the DriveGuard.

Thanks to the unique NanoPro-Tech Sidewall, this tire provides the smoothest ride of any run-flat tire, including the current crop of grand-touring all-season RF tires. The DriveGuard is also a very quiet tire, even on rough patches of tarmac.

Despite the focus on comfort, the DriveGuard is capable of providing strong traction on dry and wet surfaces. The handling also feels very balanced and natural, and you won’t have any issues controlling your vehicle at the limit of adhesion.

Crucially, the braking distances are among the shortest in the category, both over dry and wet surfaces.

You’ll also get a very long treadwear warranty for a run-flat tire at 60,000 miles for H-, V-, T-speed rated models, and 50,000 miles for W-speed rated models. However, it’s not all rosy – the DriveGuard provides average traction on light snow and generally performs worse than its closest rivals.

Still, considering the ride quality and overall handling/braking it offers, this is one of the best run flat tires available on the market.

2. Michelin Primacy MXM4 ZP

Best Grand-Touring All-Season Run-Flat Tires

If you really need additional traction on snow-covered roads, the Michelin Primacy MXM4 ZP will do a better job than the DriveGuard, both in terms of traction and handling. The ice traction isn’t as impressive, but let’s not forget this is an all-season tire.

Like most Michelin tires, the Primacy MXM4 ZP impresses on dry and wet roads. Handling is balanced, even when you exceed the traction limit, and the stopping distances are among the shortest in the category. More impressively, the steering is very responsive and precise for a grand-touring tire.

However, although the Primacy MXM4 ZP provides strong year-round traction, it isn’t among the best run flat tires comfort-wise. The noise characteristics are pretty good – there is almost no audible tread growl at highway speeds, but the ride is stiff.

Also, Michelin provides a 30,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is much lower than its younger rivals, like the DriveGuard or the Continental ProContact GX SSR. Owners are still generally satisfied with the treadlife, though.

3. Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Run Flat

Best Grand-Touring All-Season Run-Flat Tires

The Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Run Flat (that’s a mouthful!) is a very popular OEM tire option in premium cars.

However, this means that Pirelli tuned it to work with those models perfectly. Or in other words, the car manufacturers tuned the suspension on the softer side to make the ride more comfortable.

However, while the Cinturato P7 provides a generally smooth ride, it shows its harsh edge when driving over broken surfaces. Also, since this tire is designed for OEM installments, it doesn’t come with a treadwear warranty, which is a shame for a grand-touring all-season tire.

Nonetheless, the Cinturato P7 is a great tire in every other aspect. For instance, it provides the driver with accurate and quick steering, along with high levels of grip and traction on dry surfaces. The wet traction is also among the best in the category, and the handling feels very surefooted.

Finally, unlike some of its rivals, Pirelli’s run-flat all-season tire also works well on light snow, thanks to the solid traction and easy-to-drive nature.

4. Continental ProContact GX SSR

Best Grand-Touring All-Season Run-Flat Tires

Continental’s latest run-flat grand-touring tire comes with a class-leading treadwear warranty at 65,000 miles for S & T-speed rated, 55K miles for H-speed rated, 45K miles for V-speed rated, and 40K miles for W-speed rated models.

And while the ProContact GX SSR competes in the grand-touring all-season category, it punches above its weight when it comes to performance.

Particularly, the wet weather traction is exceptional, the stopping distances are among the shortest in the category, and the tire is stable during cornering.

The dry traction and handling are equally as impressive, accompanied by sharp and responsive steering. Like most Continental all-season tires, the ProContact GX SSR performs very well on light snow, providing solid traction.

However, while Continental did a great job minimizing tread noise, the ride is still not as smooth as on the most comfortable run-flat tires right now, as the Bridgestone DriveGuard.

5. Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 ZP

Best Performance All-Season Run-Flat Tires

Michelin’s ultra-high-performance all-season tire is currently one of the best on the market, regardless if it comes in a regular or run-flat form. Both models offer similar levels of traction, but the run-flat model is even more responsive, meaning the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 ZP is a great choice for enthusiasts.

Indeed, this tire grips the road almost like a summer tire, without the understeer you associate with all-season tires. The stopping power is also very strong, and your vehicle will remain stable under braking.

The Pilot Sport All Season 4 ZP is also impressive in wet conditions, with exceptional braking and acceleration traction and very safe handling characteristics.

Although it was primarily designed with enthusiast drivers in mind, this tire didn’t forget about its all-season credentials and provided very solid traction and quick turn-in on light snow.

Unfortunately, the Pilot Sport All Season 4 ZP also borrowed the negative traits from its regular sibling. Notably, the ride is even firmer, especially when you drive on broken tarmac, and the tread growl is audible at highway speeds.

6. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S ZP

Best Performance Summer Run-Flat Tires

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is the most popular max-performance summer tire currently on the market, both in regular and run-flat guise.

However, while both models share the overall traction levels, the run-flat one sharpens the responses a bit for a more enjoyable driving experience. The 4S ZP is still not as responsive as its run-flat rivals, but it’s definitely better than the regular model.

In all other areas, this is an impressive tire. The dry grip is as good as what you’d get on a track “Extreme-Performance” tire, accompanied by outstandingly strong braking and acceleration.

This is also one of the best tires on wet tarmac, period, thanks to the exceptional overall traction and the easy-to-drive nature.

And although the run-flat sidewalls had a negative effect on the ride, the Pilot Sport 4S ZP is still the most comfortable max-performance summer run-flat tire currently available. It’s quiet, too!

Finally, Michelin is the only tire maker that provides a treadwear warranty on its summer performance tires, in this case, 30,000 miles, which is exceptional!

7. Bridgestone Potenza S007A RFT

Best Performance Summer Run-Flat Tires

If you are one of those drivers that want the ultimate driving experience and don’t care about sacrificing some treadlife, the Bridgestone Potenza S007A RFT is the perfect tire for you. True, the treadlife is lower than on the Pilot Sport 4S, but in my eyes, Bridgestone’s model is better in terms of the driving experience.

Particularly, the steering is much quicker and more linear while also providing granular feedback that tells you what your car is doing at the moment.

Moreover, the steering is accompanied by an outstanding cornering grip and an easy-to-control nature at the limit of adhesion. Not to mention, this tire is very balanced under braking.

The Potenza S007A RFT continues to shine in the rain, with very good overall traction. The handling is also very impressive – you’ll have no issues positioning your car where you want.

And despite the performance credentials, this tire can also be comfortable when you need it, providing a smooth and quiet ride on most surfaces.

8. Pirelli Scorpion Verde Run Flat

Best Performance Summer Run-Flat Tires for Trucks and SUVs

Pirelli still hasn’t sorted out the ride quality in its run-flat tires, and the Scorpion Verde Run Flat is one of the prime examples. Some owners also report accelerated tread wear, which is worrying for a tire that costs that much, but I can’t confirm that from my testing.

In all other areas, though, this tire is sublime. Any owner of a performance truck or SUV will be completely satisfied with the overall performance, as the Scorpion Verde Run Flat grips the road like a champ. Notably, the dry and wet traction is exceptional, and the handling is poised and balanced.

Finally, this tire brings joy to any drive, thanks to the fast and accurate steering. Hence, if you are into performance driving and own an SUV or a truck, this is the run-flat tire to get!

9. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 RFT

Best Winter Run-Flat Tires

Bridgestone shows its run-flat supremacy with the Blizzak LM001 RFT, a winter tire that borrows many traits from my favorite winter tire, the Blizzak WS90, and translates them into a run-flat form.

Notably, this is a tire that provides outstanding traction in the winter, regardless if it snows or not. Since it’s a performance tire, the LM001 RFT is pretty responsive and provides good traction/grip on dry surfaces, and works quite well on wet tarmac, too. Bridgestone even managed to give you a smooth ride, which is not a small feat.

However, it’s snow and ice where this tire truly separates itself from other winter run-flat tires. The acceleration and braking on packed and unpacked snow are best-in-class, accompanied by an easy-to-drive behavior in the corners.

Ice traction is also exceptional, especially considering this is not a studdable tire. In other words, you can accelerate, brake, and turn on snow and ice without any issue.

It’s a shame, then, that Bridgestone doesn’t offer any treadwear warranty on this tire.

10. Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow Run Flat

Best Winter Run-Flat Tires for Trucks and SUVs

As expected from a Pirelli, the Scorpion Ice & Snow Run Flat isn’t the most comfortable run-flat tire around, particularly when you drive over sharp irregularities. Owners also report accelerated treadwear, although that’s not unusual for a performance winter tire for trucks and SUVs.

You won’t have any issue with how this tire sticks to the road, though, regardless if it snows or not. Particularly, the dry and wet braking and handling are impressive for the category, and the steering is very sharp.

Furthermore, you can steer, accelerate and brake on packed and unpacked snow without any issue, and there is enough traction to get you out of trouble on ice-covered roads!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Are run-flat tires safer than regular tires?

Run-flat tires perform largely the same during regular usage and provide similar levels of traction.

However, they are much safer in case of an air loss, as the stiffer sidewalls can continue to support the vehicle’s weight and provide you with enough stability to keep your vehicle in check.

While a regular tire might quickly destabilize your vehicle after an air loss, even in a straight line, a run-flat one will keep it stable.

Still, while run-flat tires do provide better stability than regular tires after an air loss, they won’t work at 100%. In other words, you will experience reduced cornering and braking ability.

• How can you tell if a run-flat tire is flat?

It’s really hard to tell when a run-flat tire loses air, as it’s designed to work without any pressure inside (for short periods of time).

For that reason, every car that comes with run-flat tires from the factory also has a TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System), which can signal the driver if one of the tires loses pressure.

Thus, if you want to put run-flat tires on a car that didn’t have ones before, make sure you also have a TPMS. If not, the run-flat tires could actually be detrimental to safety, as you won’t know when they lose pressure.

• Can you repair run-flat tires?

Most run-flat tires can be repaired when punctured, but manufacturers don’t recommend that because the technician can’t tell the state of the sidewall.

In other words, he won’t be able to tell if the sidewall is damaged after being used extensively without any pressure inside the tire. Hence, many tire manufacturers will give you special warranties, where they will replace one of the tires after damage.

Now, you certainly could just fix the puncture and call it a day, but be careful the next time you have a puncture on the same tire. Also, make sure you ask the dealer if the tire you buy can be repaired.

Here is what different manufacturers recommend for their run-flat tires when it comes to repairs:

Bridgestone: permits repairs if 15 psi is maintained

Continental: does not recommend repairs on run-flat tires (and you’ll lose the warranty)

Goodyear: permits only one repair on H-speed rated or greater

Hankook and Kumho both permit repairs on run-flat tires

Michelin: permits only one repair per tire

Pirelli: does not recommend repairs

Yokohama: does not allow repairs

Like with regular tires, you absolutely shouldn’t fix a tear in the sidewall on run-flat tires.

Conclusion

I hope that my extensive list of the best run flat tires helped you find a set that will suit your vehicle and your driving requirements. More importantly, I hope that you learned something new about run-flat tires, as that can be crucial to helping you choose the right model for your needs!