Question of the week: Is it safe to mix runflats with normal tyres?
Fri, 19 Sept 2025
Dear Honest John,
"I returned from holiday to pick up my BMW from one of the meet and greet firms at Heathrow to learn that when they went to bring it to the airport from their secure compound, one of the rear tyres was cut and deflated on the inside sidewall with a four-inch gash.
They replaced it with a secondhand tyre for £60 to "get me home". I had very little choice in the matter, so accepted the tyre change.
My BMW 520 runs on Goodyear Eagle F1 runflats, 245/40 R19 98Y specification. The "get me home" tyre fitted on the rear nearside is a Fronway Eurus 08 245/40 ZR19 98WXL. I have no idea if it is a runflat (they said it was) and there's a bit of a chunk out of the outside face of the tyre. The tread seems fine.
I felt I had little or no choice when they fitted it, but I needed to get home (a 2.5 hour drive). More importantly, is this tyre okay for the car. Can I mix runflats with non-runflats or should I change it ASAP?
- DD
Dear DD,
Although it is not illegal to mix runflats and conventional tyres on the same vehicle, we would strongly recommend that you change the odd tyre for a matching runflat or one of a similar specification.
Runflats have stiffer sidewalls to provide stability in the event of a puncture, so this could upset the ride and handling of your car, particularly as the odd tyre is on the rear wheels in a rear-wheel-drive car.
Mixing brands is less of an issue as long as the tyres are of the same specification and are of a similar type - you would want to avoid mixing uni-directional tyres with a universal tread pattern or summer and all-season tyres for example.
Having four matching tyres is the ideal scenario as it ensures a consistent response from all four corners, and the greater the difference with odd tyres the more likely you are to introduce unpredictable handling, braking and traction.
We would also suggest you check the terms and conditions of your booking with the parking company regarding their policy in the event of a puncture, as mixing tyre types is one issue but providing a tyre with a chunk missing is potentially dangerous.
