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Newspress

How 'run flat tyres' let you keep driving with a puncture

And what do you need to know?
RUN FLAT TYRES are specially designed tyres that enable you to continue driving when you get a puncture on your vehicle.
Run flat tyres feature reinforced sidewalls that continue to support the vehicle, for a limited distance, in the event of air loss.

Around 14 per cent of new cars come with run-flats as standard. They are an alternative to carrying a spare wheel in the boot. Run flats will be fitted in conjunction with tyre pressure monitor systems (TPMS).

If you do get a puncture, a warning light will appear on the dashboard to alert you to the situation. You should also be able to feel the car behaving differently while you’re driving.

If you get a puncture in a run flat tyre, you don’t have to immediately change the tyre, which is handy if you are driving at night, on an isolated road or don’t know how to change a tyre. You can actually continue driving for a short period with the puncture, which will hopefully enough to get you home or to a garage.

You must drive at a reduced speed and this varies from manufacturer to manufacturer so check the manual for guidelines. For example, Bridgestone DriveGuard run flats allow drivers to continue driving for a distance of 80 kilometres at speeds of up to 80km/h even with complete air pressure loss.

Whilst run flat tyres can provide piece of mind and added safety when driving, they do cost more than the ordinary equivalent. Furthermore, some run flats cannot be repaired if the sidewall is damaged and most manufacturers recommend getting a new tyre if a puncture occurs.

READ: Easter egg hunt: 7 secret features hidden in cars >

READ: You should always reverse into a parking space – and here’s why >

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    Mute Seán Ó hAnnracháin
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    Jan 31st 2021, 11:03 AM

    The health service isn’t “overlooked”. It’s just terribly ran and inefficient.

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    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
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    Jan 31st 2021, 2:57 PM

    @Seán Ó hAnnracháin: Agree the Irish Health Service consumes 11% of our GDP v 9% average for other EU countries. Transparency needed on unit production. How many total manhours per procedure (direct and all indirect) v international benchmarks? Please publish.
    - 2 Tier Irish Health System is obscene.
    - Belfast buses from West Cork for cataract operations.

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    Mute Darren Byrne
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    Jan 31st 2021, 11:03 AM

    Tidal wave of health and mental issue s will follow.
    The worse is yet to come.

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    Mute The Risen
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    Jan 31st 2021, 11:19 AM

    ‘Overlooked’ as in intentionally underfunded to scare people into the arrms of private health insurance companies.

    “That’s the standard technique of privatization: defund, make sure things don’t work, people get angry, you hand it over to private capital” – Noam Chomsky

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    Mute Gerard Anthony McBride
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    Jan 31st 2021, 11:34 AM

    @The Risen: Funding has increased by 1/5 over the past 5 years, so the HSE is definitely not being “underunded”, but epically mis-managed. But don’t let facts get in the way of your little rants.

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Jan 31st 2021, 11:36 AM

    @The Risen: it’s a thought but I don’t really think so there are a lot off buffoons in charge

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    Mute Derdaly
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    Jan 31st 2021, 11:46 AM

    @The Risen: nothing underfunded about our health service… It’s run by a bunch of interest groups who are more concerned with their share rather than the health of the nation. Top heavy management that wasn’t thinned out in the move from Health Boards to the HSE maintains the lack of value and continuing inefficiency of any investment. Hospitals owned or managed by “patrons” despite being funded and developed by the state limit the mobility and efficiency of trained staff. Working practices designed to ensure as much staff as possible are paid at higher levels and a ridiculous consultant contract all contribute to ensure that any individual procedure actually costs more than the equivalent in a private setting, any of the double jobbing consultants will confirm this.

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    Mute Damon16
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    Jan 31st 2021, 1:53 PM

    @The Risen: You say this because the HSE SHOULD BE a leftists’ wet dream – a big public sector (union dominated) organisation running our health system for the benefit of the public. But it’s a disaster. But that’s ok, because just blame the mean Gov or those evil capitalists. Hate to burst your bubble, but the HSE is the way it is because it is dominated by public sector vested interests (i.e Unions). There is no real accountability. There is no desire from within for change and any significant change is fought tooth nail because the status quo suits the special interests (i.e PS unions)- they’ve carved it out this way. At least if you’re paying for a service, the provider has an interest in providing you a good service. The HSE bureaucrat has no such interest, they are paid regardless.

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    Mute Shane Cormican
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    Jan 31st 2021, 11:09 AM

    All future governments will tie up the banking crisis borrowings with loans from Covid and will blame “Covid” for everything for years to come.

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    Mute sandra clifford
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    Jan 31st 2021, 1:03 PM

    What health service as its near impossible to even see a GP these days

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