Online retailer Blackcircles.com says it believes Bridgestone’s recently announced developments in the field of run-flat tires mark a step in the right direction for motorists. 
The Japanese tire major introduced the new technology in its third generation of run-flat tires, and Blackcircles.com managing director Mike Welch considers this “positive news and a step forward from Bridgestone.” The U.K. retailer, reports Tyres & Accessories, also hopes the progress made will aid the run-flat in its journey towards wider acceptance.
"Run-flat tires take a lot more rubber to produce, not to mention the additional research and development the manufacturers have invested in to produce the tire in the first place – this all results in added cost,” Welch commented. "Seeing run-flat tires produced in more quantity to fit more makes and models will bring their price point more into line with standard tires, although they will always carry a high price because of their value added attributes, particularly that safety dimension."
Bridgestone, notes Blackcircles.com, believes that if run-flat tires become more popular, they will replace spare tires and thus cut down the number of tires produced for each vehicle by 20%. This would cut unnecessary tire production by around 59 million a year. Furthermore, says Bridgestone, the elimination of spare tires would remove two million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year, largely due to a reduction in emissions from raw material procurement and disposal.
