> **Quick Answer:** Yes, most run flat tires let you drive up to 50 miles at no more than 50 mph after a blowout or complete pressure loss. That range drops fast if the tire is visibly shredded, if you exceed the speed limit, or if your car is heavily loaded. Check your owner's manual for your specific model's limit. If the sidewall is torn or the rim is grinding, stop and call a tow.
## What To Do
1. **Confirm you actually have run flats.** Check your door jamb sticker or owner's manual. If your car has no spare and no compressor kit, it almost certainly came with run flats. BMW, Mini, Cadillac, and many newer GM and Mercedes models are common examples.
2. **Slow down immediately.** As soon as you feel the pressure loss or hear the blowout, ease off the throttle. Get below 50 mph. High speed shreds the reinforced sidewall and kills any remaining drive distance.
3. **Look at the tire.** Pull over safely when traffic allows and do a quick visual. A run flat that lost pressure from a nail looks almost normal, slightly low. A run flat that suffered a true blowout, meaning a chunk of tread gone or a torn sidewall, is a different situation entirely. If you can see structural damage, cords, or the rim sitting low, do not drive it.
4. **Check for a TPMS warning.** Your tire pressure monitoring system should have lit up. Some systems tell you which specific tire and how low. If the warning came on and the tire looks intact, you are likely fine to drive to a nearby shop within the 50-mile window.
5. **Drive directly to a tire shop, no detours.** Every mile counts. Do not stop to run errands. Highway speeds are acceptable if you stay at or under 50 mph. Avoid rough roads, potholes, and speed bumps. They accelerate sidewall breakdown.
6. **Do not ignore vibration or pulling.** If the car starts pulling hard to one side or you feel heavy vibration through the steering wheel, stop. The tire is failing faster than expected. Call for a tow at that point.
7. **Call ahead to the shop.** Most dealers and tire shops carry run flats for common brands, but not all of them. If you drive a BMW or Mercedes, call first. A good shop can have your size ready before you arrive.
For guidance on handling a regular blowout at speed before you even get to this point, read [Tire Blowout at Highway Speed: What to Do Step by Step](/tire-blowout-at-highway-speed-what-to-do-step-by-step/).
---
*Photo: Pexels*
## What It Might Cost
Run flat tires are more expensive to replace than standard tires. Budget accordingly.
- **Run flat tire replacement:** $150 to $350 per tire, depending on size and brand. Performance vehicles like BMW M-series run higher.
- **If you need a tow instead:** Expect $75 to $150 for a local tow under 10 miles. Longer distances add $3 to $7 per mile depending on your location.
- **Roadside assistance:** If you have coverage through AAA, your insurer, or a manufacturer program, a tow to the nearest tire shop is usually included. Check before you call a private company.
If the shop is farther than your run flat range allows, a tow is the smarter call. Driving a destroyed run flat risks damaging the wheel itself, and rim replacement adds $200 to $800 on top of the tire cost.
---
*Photo: Pexels*
## Stay Safe
- Never repair a run flat. They are designed to be replaced, not patched. A shop that offers to plug it is giving you bad advice.
- Keep your hazards on the entire time you are driving on a deflated run flat.
- If you are on a highway shoulder deciding what to do, stay in your car with your seatbelt on until you have a plan. A parked car on a shoulder is a real danger. See [Car Died on Highway Shoulder: Is It Safe to Wait for a Tow?](/car-died-on-highway-shoulder-safe-to-wait-for-tow/) for guidance.
- The 50-mile limit assumes normal load. If you have four passengers and a full trunk, cut that estimate to 30 miles to be safe.
- If the blowout happened and you also do not have a spare as backup, see [Tire Blew Out and Spare Is Also Flat: What to Do Right Now](/tire-blew-out-spare-is-also-flat-what-to-do/) for overlapping situations.
---
*Need roadside help? Visit [Tow With The Flow](https://towwiththeflow.com/run-flat-tire-blowout-can-i-drive-to-shop/) for real answers when your car breaks down.*
Run Flat Tire Blowout: Can I Drive to the Shop?
Photo: Pexels