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Should Taxis Use Run-flat Tyres

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Should Taxis Use Run-flat Tyres

Should Taxis Use Run-flat Tyres

Should Taxis Use Run-flat Tyres

Why Taxi Drivers Should Consider Run-Flat Tyres

Few things can ruin a working day quicker than a puncture.

For most motorists, a flat tyre is an inconvenience. For a taxi driver, however, it can mean lost fares, unhappy passengers, missed airport runs and valuable time spent waiting for assistance.

Over the years, I have often thought that run-flat tyres are one of the most underrated safety developments in the tyre industry. When they first appeared, I was not entirely convinced. The ride quality was often firmer than a conventional tyre, and the price was noticeably higher.

However, tyre technology has improved enormously over the years, and I have gradually become a fan of run-flat tyres, particularly for vehicles used in public transport applications such as taxis and minibuses.

Halifax Roads Can Be Challenging: Should Taxis Use Run-flat Tyres

Anyone who drives professionally around Halifax and Calderdale will know exactly what I mean.

Our roads are not always the easiest. We have steep hills, narrow roads, busy town centre traffic and plenty of potholes, especially after a harsh Yorkshire winter.

A taxi driver could easily find themselves carrying passengers through Halifax town centre, heading up towards Illingworth, travelling through Sowerby Bridge, climbing towards Ripponden or collecting passengers from Hebden Bridge.

A puncture in any of these locations can quickly become a major inconvenience.

Run-flat tyres can help reduce that risk.

What Are Run-Flat Tyres?

Run-flat tyres are specially designed tyres with reinforced sidewalls.

If the tyre loses air pressure following a puncture, the strengthened sidewall is capable of supporting the vehicle for a limited distance.

Most run-flat tyres allow the driver to continue travelling for approximately 50 miles at reduced speed.

This gives drivers time to reach a tyre depot, garage or safe location without having to stop immediately at the roadside.

For a taxi driver carrying passengers, this can be a major advantage.

Improved Passenger Safety: Should Taxis Use Run-flat Tyres

One of the biggest benefits of run-flat tyres is safety.

Changing a wheel on a busy roadside is never ideal. In some situations it can be downright dangerous.

Imagine a taxi driver suffering a puncture on the busy A629, near Halifax town centre or whilst transporting passengers late at night.

Instead of stopping immediately in a potentially hazardous location, the vehicle can often continue safely to a suitable place for repair.

From a passenger’s point of view, that additional level of safety is difficult to ignore.

Reduced Downtime Means More Income

Every hour a taxi spends off the road is money lost.

Taxi drivers rely on keeping their vehicles moving. A puncture can easily result in missed fares and unnecessary downtime.

Run-flat tyres help reduce this disruption by allowing drivers to continue their journey and arrange repairs at a more convenient time.

For airport transfers, business travel and pre-booked journeys, this can make a significant difference to customer satisfaction.

Perfect for Modern Taxi Vehicles: Should Taxis Use Run-flat Tyres

Many modern taxis are already fitted with advanced safety technology.

Features such as:

All work together to improve vehicle safety.

Run-flat tyres complement these systems perfectly.

When combined with TPMS, drivers are immediately alerted to any pressure loss whilst still retaining the ability to continue driving safely for a limited distance.

Many premium vehicles already use this technology as standard equipment.

A Good Choice for Minibuses

I have long believed that run-flat tyres would be particularly beneficial on minibuses.

Many minibuses transport school children, elderly passengers, sports teams and organised groups.

A sudden tyre failure can be stressful for both drivers and passengers.

Run-flat technology helps reduce that risk and provides an extra layer of protection.

Whilst not every operator may agree, I still believe there is a strong argument for encouraging wider use of run-flat tyres on public transport vehicles.

Are Run-Flat Tyres More Expensive? Should Taxis Use Run-flat Tyres

Yes, run-flat tyres are generally more expensive than conventional tyres.

However, the price difference has reduced considerably in recent years.

More manufacturers now produce run-flat tyres, including several mid-range and budget brands.

When considering the additional safety, reduced downtime and increased convenience, many drivers find the extra investment worthwhile.

The Importance of Quality Tyres

One issue that still concerns me is the continued use of poor-quality tyres and part-worn tyres by some operators.

Whilst everyone wants to save money, tyres remain one of the most important safety components on any vehicle.

Passengers place their trust in professional drivers every day.

Whether you drive a taxi, private hire vehicle or minibus, fitting quality tyres and maintaining them correctly should always be a priority.

The Future of Tyre Safety: Should Taxis Use Run-flat Tyres

Tyre technology continues to evolve.

Alongside run-flat tyres, manufacturers are developing self-sealing tyres capable of automatically sealing small punctures.

Hybrid and electric vehicles are also driving further improvements in tyre construction, durability and efficiency.

Whilst the humble tyre may not always receive the attention it deserves, it remains the only part of a vehicle that actually touches the road.

For Halifax taxi drivers carrying passengers through the hills and valleys of Calderdale every day, that fact alone makes tyre choice incredibly important.

Run-flat tyres may not be suitable for every vehicle, but they certainly deserve serious consideration by anyone whose livelihood depends on keeping their vehicle safely on the road.

The Disappearing Spare Wheel

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The Disappearing Spare Wheel

The Disappearing Spare Wheel

The Disappearing Spare Wheel

The Disappearing Spare Wheel – Why Modern Cars No Longer Carry One

One thing that still surprises many motorists visiting Pellon Tyre and Autocentre is discovering that their car does not actually have a spare wheel at all.

Over the years at Pellon Tyres, we have seen increasing numbers of drivers arrive after suffering a puncture only to discover there is no proper spare wheel hidden under the boot floor. Instead, many modern vehicles now come equipped with:

  • tyre inflation kits
  • cans of tyre sealant
  • space-saver wheels
  • or sometimes nothing more than a compressor

For older motorists especially, this still feels strange because for decades a spare wheel was simply part of every car.

So why did manufacturers start removing them, and which vehicles helped begin the trend?

When Every Car Carried a Spare Wheel

For many years, carrying a full-size spare wheel was considered completely normal.

Drivers travelling around Yorkshire in the 1960s, 70s and 80s would rarely think twice about it. Whether you were driving across the Pennines towards Lancashire or heading into the Yorkshire Dales, the spare wheel was simply there in case of trouble.

Back then punctures were also much more common than they are today.

Roads around Halifax and Calderdale were often rougher, and older tyres were far more vulnerable to damage from the following:

  • potholes
  • sharp stones
  • worn road surfaces

Many motorists even carried:

  • spare inner tubes
  • tyre levers
  • jacks
  • repair kits

Changing a wheel at the roadside was simply part of motoring life.

So Who Started Removing Spare Wheels? The Disappearing Spare Wheel

The gradual disappearance of the spare wheel began during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

European car manufacturers were among the first to heavily reduce spare wheel provision, mainly to:

  • reduce vehicle weight
  • improve fuel economy
  • lower emissions
  • create more boot space
  • cut manufacturing costs

One of the early trends came from German manufacturers including BMW and Mercedes-Benz, who increasingly fitted run-flat tyres instead of conventional spare wheels.

Run-flat tyres were designed to allow drivers to continue travelling for a short distance after a puncture without immediately stopping.

Soon afterwards, many mainstream manufacturers followed the same approach.

Cars Commonly Supplied Without Proper Spare Wheels

Today, many vehicles are supplied with either a temporary repair kit or a small emergency inflation compressor.

Some well-known examples include:

  • Ford Fiesta
  • Volkswagen Golf
  • BMW 3 Series
  • MINI Hatch
  • Nissan Qashqai
  • Tesla Model 3

Electric vehicles in particular rarely carry spare wheels because manufacturers want to maximise battery space and reduce weight wherever possible.

Some premium vehicles now rely entirely on tyre repair foam and roadside assistance services.

The Problem with Tyre Inflation Kits: The Disappearing Spare Wheel

While tyre inflation kits can sometimes work for small punctures, they are far from perfect.

At Pellon Tyres, we regularly see situations where:

  • sidewall damage cannot be repaired
  • large punctures defeat the sealant
  • compressors fail to inflate the tyre properly
  • tyre foam creates a mess inside the tyre

Unfortunately, once sealant has been used, some tyres become impossible to repair safely afterwards.

This can turn what may have been a simple puncture repair into a complete tyre replacement.

Yorkshire Roads and Pothole Problems

The disappearance of spare wheels becomes even more frustrating on roads around Halifax and Calderdale.

Steep hills, rough road surfaces and potholes can cause sudden tyre damage that no inflation kit can fix.

We regularly see:

  • split tyre sidewalls
  • cracked alloy wheels
  • damaged low-profile tyres
  • blowouts caused by potholes

In these situations, a proper spare wheel would often get the motorist safely home.

Without one, many drivers now rely completely on recovery services.

Space Saver Wheels – Better Than Nothing: The Disappearing Spare Wheel

Some manufacturers still provide space-saver spare wheels.

These smaller emergency wheels are designed purely for temporary use and usually carry speed restrictions.

Although not ideal, they are often far more useful than sealant kits, especially in rural areas where mobile signal or roadside recovery may be limited.

Many motorists around Yorkshire still prefer having some form of physical spare wheel available, particularly when travelling long distances.

Why Manufacturers Continue the Trend

Despite complaints from motorists, spare wheels continue disappearing for several reasons.

Manufacturers remain focused on:

  • reducing emissions
  • improving fuel economy
  • lowering production costs
  • increasing luggage space
  • reducing vehicle weight

Modern tyre technology has also improved significantly, meaning punctures are generally less common than years ago.

However, when punctures do happen, many drivers suddenly realise how much they miss having a spare wheel.

Some drivers are buying spare wheels separately. The Disappearing Spare Wheel

One growing trend we now see at Pellon Tyres is customers purchasing spare wheel kits after buying the vehicle.

Many motorists simply feel more comfortable knowing they have the following:

  • a jack
  • wheel brace
  • proper spare wheel

especially when travelling longer distances or driving in more remote parts of Yorkshire.

Some vehicles are even designed with hidden spare wheel wells despite no spare wheel actually being supplied by the manufacturer.

The Future of Spare Wheels

As electric vehicles and hybrid cars continue growing in popularity, spare wheels may become even rarer.

Manufacturers are increasingly relying on:

  • advanced tyre technology
  • roadside assistance packages
  • run-flat systems
  • tyre monitoring systems

Whether motorists fully accept the disappearance of the spare wheel remains another question entirely.

Many drivers still feel reassured knowing a proper spare wheel is sitting safely in the boot.

Final Thoughts: The Disappearing Spare Wheel

The disappearance of the spare wheel is one of those motoring changes many people barely noticed until they actually suffered a puncture.

What once seemed a basic part of every vehicle has quietly disappeared from many modern cars.

Here in Halifax and Calderdale, where rough roads and potholes remain a constant problem, many motorists still prefer the old-fashioned reassurance of carrying a spare wheel.

At Pellon Tyre and Autocentre, we continue helping customers deal with punctures, tyre damage and the modern reality of cars arriving with no spare wheel at all.