Run-Flat Tires Letting Air Out of Customer Satisfaction

Customers with run-flat tires are less satisfied with their tires, and replace their tires more frequently in the first two years of ownership, than customers with non-run-flat tires. That's the conclusion of the recently released J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study.^SM

The study measures tire owner satisfaction in four vehicle segments: luxury, passenger car, performance sport, and truck/utility. The study considers four factors: wear, ride, appearance, and traction/handling.

In the sport segment, satisfaction with non-run-flat tires averages 685 points on a 1,000-point scale, compared with 612 for run-flat tires. In the luxury segment, satisfaction with run-flat tires is 24 points lower than with non-run-flat tires (688 vs. 712, respectively). In all three of the rank-eligible segments,¹ the largest gaps in satisfaction are in tire ride and tire wear.

"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."