Study: Run-Flats Unpopular With Consumers

Run-flat tire customers are less satisfied overall and replace tires more frequently in the first two years of ownership than customers with non-run-flat tires, according to a study performed by J.D. Power.

In its 2015 U.S. Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study, J.D. Power measured tire owner satisfaction in four vehicle segments: luxury, passenger car, performance sport and truck/utility. Satisfaction was examined across four factors: tire wear, tire ride, tire appearance and tire traction/handling.

In the luxury, passenger car and performance sport segments, the largest gaps in satisfaction were in tire ride and tire wear, J.D. Power reported.

“The use of run-flat tires is likely to increase as automakers continue to view them as a viable option for improving fuel efficiency by eliminating the need for a spare tire, thereby reducing the weight,” said Brent Gruber, director, global automotive division at J.D. Power. “It’s vital that auto and tire manufacturers address the ride and wear issues, which are still not meeting customer expectations. Customers expect that run-flat tires won’t compromise tread life or the ability to provide a quiet and comfortable ride.”

The study also found that the most pronounced difference in overall satisfaction was in the performance sport segment, where satisfaction with non-run-flat tires averages 685 points on a 1,000-point scale and satisfaction with run-flat tires averages 612, according to J.D. Power.

In the luxury segment, satisfaction with run-flat tires is 24 points lower than with non-run-flat tires (688 vs. 712, respectively).

According to the report, owners with run-flat tires replace tires more frequently in the first two years of ownership than do non-run-flat customers. While the replacement rate for run-flat tires owners is slightly higher in the first year of ownership, the discrepancy becomes more pronounced in the second year of ownership, when 27% of run-flat tire owners replaced at least one tire, compared with 16% of non-run-flat tire owners, J.D. Power said.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has named Ryan Waldron as president of the company's Americas business unit, reporting to Chief Executive Officer and President Mark Stewart. He succeeds Steven R. McClellan, who retired on April 1.

"At Goodyear, our customers are at the center of everything we do, and in Ryan Waldron, we have a customer-centric, execution-focused business leader with a deep understanding of both the marketplace and all aspects of our business, as well as a proven track record of delivering results," Stewart said. "I am thrilled to announce him as president of Goodyear's Americas business and have enormous confidence that under his leadership, both the company and our customers will reach even greater levels of success."