Bridgestone Debuts New DriveGuard Plus Run-Flat Tire

Flat tires and blowouts are almost inevitable; a situation that could prove disastrous— 612 people were killed in tire-related accidents in 2019 alone. What’s more, a survey indicates that up to 60% of motorists would have difficulty changing a tire, making that eventuality all the more onerous.

Many newer cars don’t come with a spare tire, relying instead on either onboard compressors and sealants or run-flat tires. Run-flat tires offer the ability to travel short distances at reduced speeds after losing air pressure. Generally, they use either reinforced sidewalls or an interior supporting ring to maintain their shape after a puncture.

Run-flats eliminate the hazards and inconvenience of changing a tire on the side of the road and also allow for better vehicle control in the event of sudden loss of air pressure. However, the advantages of run-flat tires were by and large restricted to vehicles that had them as factory equipment until Bridgestone began offering the first series of DriveGuard tires in 2014.

In March of 2022, Bridgestone released the new DriveGuard Plus run-flat tire. This tire allows driving up to 50 miles at 50 mph after loss of air pressure along with significantly improved performance in wet and dry conditions when properly inflated. In testing, cars equipped with DriveGuard Plus tires stopped 40 feet shorter in snow and were 12% more resistant to hydroplaning than the original DriveGuard tire.

Bridgestone prioritized comfort as well as safety. Senior Product Manager Ian McKenney says the DriveGuard Plus “stands on its own merits as a touring tire.” Trained, licensed evaluators were employed in the design process to make sure the tire delivers exceptional ride quality and low road noise.