Product of the Year

Product of the Year Innovative new run-flat tyre wins coveted award, as it’s set to shake up market

OUR Product of the Year award is all about innovation. If it was for great-performing products, any of the 20 winners we’ve already covered would be a candidate, plus many more from the past 12 months of testing. However, our Product of the Year must move the market on in some way, by working better or opening existing tech to new sectors. And Bridgestone’s Driveguard run-flat tyre does the latter.

Run-flat technology – which allows a deflated tyre to be driven on for 50 miles at up to 50mph – is nothing new. Yet despite the safety benefits and convenience, as well as the advantages in terms of boot space, take-up has been limited.

Driveguard is likely to change all that. By making the tyre lighter than rival designs, Bridgestone has removed the requirement for suspension to be tuned specifically for a run-flat.

All a car needs to fit Driveguard is a tyre pressure monitor. Bridgestone has addressed the harsher ride associated with run-flats, too; when we tried it, we found it difficult to tell the tyre apart from the maker’s conventional T001.

Finally, Bridgestone has dealt with cost – the other major reason for owners to shun run-flats, after ride quality. When we fitted Driveguard for our test, we found it was marginally cheaper than the T001.

The arrival of Driveguard means many more motorists can enjoy the benefits of tyres that don’t need to be changed immediately when they puncture, while not worrying about the ride quality or the steep price. Even after all these years, this is a revolution for run-flats.

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