Run-flat inserts for cars in Malaysia and Singapore

Run-flat insert is the everyday name for protection fitted inside the wheel, under a normal tyre. The Tyron Multiband is a band, not an insert: a well-filler band fitted in the wheel well. When the tyre loses air, it keeps the flat tyre on the rim. You keep your normal tyres, and you keep steering and brakes after a burst.

This guide is for car owners in Malaysia and Singapore.

Want to know if it fits? Check your car.

What a run-flat insert is

Every rim has a groove called the wheel well. Air pressure keeps the tyre out of it. When the air goes, a flat tyre can drop into the well. It can then come loose and slide off the rim.

A run-flat insert stops that. It sits inside the tyre, on the wheel.

The main types

There are two broad designs.

Bands. A band sits in the wheel well of a standard wheel. It stops the tyre beads dropping into the well. That keeps the deflated tyre locked in place. The Multiband is a band. Bands suit road vehicles on standard wheels, where the task is to get to a safe place.

Inserts or rings. An insert is mounted on the rim, inside the tyre. It fills part of the tyre's air space. When the tyre deflates, it runs on the insert. Inserts are made of rubber, or of rigid plastic or composite. They give a longer range than a band. Tyron's technical paper describes plastic inserts as generally designed to fit the existing single-piece wheel. Our guide to run-flat inserts explained covers them in detail.

For cars on normal tyres, the Multiband is the system we fit.

How it differs from run-flat tyres

A run-flat is a special tyre, not an insert. Goodyear describes reinforced shoulders and rubber inserts built into the tyre. These keep supporting the car after air is lost. Run-flats must be used on cars with a tyre pressure monitoring system.

A run-flat can often take you on to a workshop, within the maker's limits. A Multiband cannot. It works with normal tyres instead. You keep your choice of tyres, and a normal puncture repair. Run-flats have stiffer construction, which can make the ride firmer and noisier, depending on the tyre and the car.

If your car is on run-flats now, the time to look at a Multiband is when they are due for replacement. See run-flat tyres vs the Multiband and switching off run-flat tyres.

How it differs from sealant and a spare

These do different jobs, and they work best together.

A sealant kit fixes small punctures in the tread. Kia's owner's manual says its kit must not be used on sidewall damage or on two flat tyres. Sealant cannot help with a burst.

A spare wheel replaces a flat tyre. It only helps once you have stopped, somewhere safe.

A Multiband works at the moment the tyre fails, while the car is moving. There is nothing for you to do. It does not replace your spare or repair kit. Our guide to sealant, spare wheels and the Multiband compares all three.

Why car owners choose one

A burst can happen to anyone. It can happen to a careful driver, at any speed. Debris, potholes, low pressure, heat, ageing tyres and overloading cause most of them. You rarely see any of them coming.

You keep control. The band keeps the flat tyre on the rim. You keep steering and brakes. You can slow down and pull over under control.

You keep your normal tyres. Tyron states the band does not affect fuel consumption, acceleration, braking or handling. It is lightweight, has no moving parts and sits inside the wheel.

It is bought once. The band is reused at each tyre change. It carries a 10-year warranty.

It is proven on emergency vehicles. Tyron has made flat tyre protection since 1977. In Malaysia and Singapore, users include Ministry of Health ambulances, Fire and Rescue Department vehicles, Singapore Civil Defence Force and Singapore Police Force.

What a Multiband does not do

It does not stop punctures or bursts. Nothing can.

It is not a run-flat tyre. It is not meant for long distances on a flat. With a Multiband you get a medium distance at reduced speed, to a safe stop. How far depends on the tyre and the road. Then you change the wheel or call for recovery.

Treat a tyre that has been driven flat as damaged. Have it replaced or inspected by a tyre professional.

How the Multiband is tested

The Multiband is tested to 250 km/h. In TÜV testing the Multiband completed 3 km at 80 km/h, then 3 km at 50 km/h, through a handling course and slalom. Read more on how it works.

How fitting works

1. Check your size. The Multiband fits cars, SUVs, MPVs and vans on normal tyres with 14 to 22 inch wheels. Low-profile tyres, with an aspect ratio of 45 or below, need a fitment check first. We do that for you. Our guide on how to read your tyre size shows where to look.
2. Get a quote. Request a quote with your car or tyre size. We reply on WhatsApp with your exact fitted price.
3. Get it fitted. Fitting takes under an hour per vehicle. You drive away the same visit. Any tyre fitter can fit it, and we recommend a Tyron certified workshop.

Questions owners ask

Do I need it on all four wheels? Yes, always. You cannot choose which tyre fails. The band is fitted to all four wheels.

What happens when I change tyres? The band is taken out and refitted at each tyre change, by any tyre fitter.

Will my tyre pressure warning still work? Yes. You keep the TPMS your car came with. Where a sensor sits inside the wheel, a TPMS bracket is fitted around it.

What warranty do I get? A Tyron warranty certificate in your name, issued to your chassis number on the day of installation. It runs 10 years from that day.

Is a Multiband right for you?

A Multiband may suit you if your car is on normal tyres. It suits you if you want to keep those tyres, and your main concern is keeping control after a burst. Keep your spare or recovery plan as well.

To see what it means for your car, request a quote.