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.