Yes, the Dunlop Denovo was probably the original run-flat so-called ‘self supporting’ tyre. They were introduced in the early 1970s and used on a number of British Leyland (or whatever it was then) vehicles but the idea didn’t catch on. As I recall the cars had no tyre deflation warning and the tyres used dedicated wheels in (metric) diameters specific to Denovo tyres. The tyres were very expensive too. It wasn’t possible to fit normal tyres to the ‘odd’ sized wheels so owners had to obtain complete sets of wheels and tyres when they either tired (sorry!) of the cost of the Denovos, or when production of Denovo tyres ceased.
Regarding tyre goo/ repair kits/etc etc. I’ve posted somewhere previously but can’t find it t the moment regarding the sealant that you put in the tyre before you have a puncture? Have it in all four tyres and haven’t had a problem. Not having a puncture yet to test if though, I can’t say how well it works? . Easily removable and tyre fitter friendly apparently, been in a while and no pressure drop on tyres which is a bonus. Only downside as its a liquid, when stood for a while as mine does, the liquid settles and untill you spin the wheels to distribute the liquid, there is an out of balance feel to the road wheels. Doesn’t take long to spread it around though And a small price to pay!
I first bought one of the “plug” type repair kits for the tubeless tyres on my newly acquired Honda motorcycle in Hong Kong, in 1997. I got a puncture out there in its almost brand new front tyre and that’s what the bike shop recommended, rather than buy a new tyre (they have different attitude out there). I brought the bike back to UK on my return, did very few miles on it and put it in storage. I was always aware of the repaired tyre but it still held air perfectly until I replaced it some years later when I began to ride the bike more often.
I have a space saver in my MX-5 Mk2 boot.
However, my Beemer (commuter car) has only a latex bottle and electric air compressor unit. When i bought it from a dealer, it was fitted with run-flats on the back and normal tyres on the front! I’ve since replaced the rears with “normal” tyres (had a rear puncture, that’s when I discovered the front tyres weren’t actually run-flats). It would have taken ten working days to get replacement run-flats in the correct size!
Anyway, this thread has prompted me to order another “plug” kit. I’ll carry it in the Beemer and transfer it to the MX-5 when we go touring, when I’ll also carry my electric tyre pump. I’m not actually convinced that one of the latex type repairs will hold - it makes sense to me to try to plug the hole properly before trying to re-inflate the tyre…
As for attempting changing a tyre on my drive to work unassisted - potentially fatal for most of the route now they have done away with the hard shoulder and made it into a fourth lane (the M1 between Derby and Sheffield).
The Dunlop Denovo wheels for the 1275GT had a circle of canisters full of ‘gunge’ held round the rim by wire. When the air went out of a tyre these canisters would be squashed and the gunge would be liberated to coat the inside of the tyre. I was never sure if this was just a lubricant or if it did actually have any sealing properties. These wheels and tyres were extremely heavy, probably 3X the weight of a standard wheel.
I hate the thought of not having a spare wheel of any kind in the car. If I don’t get to the job, I don’t get paid. I just didn’t want to rely on the puncture sealant to get me back up and running.
Anyway, after recommendations on here I’ve just got a space saver wheel from an 06 Hyundai Coupe on eBay that seems to fit.
It clears the brakes fine on the front but initially didn’t quite clear the brakes on the rear…there was a little rubbing. However, once I’d lowered it off the jack it seems fine. There’s no rubbing noise on moving the car so I assume that’s all good.
We had Denovos on Police Rover 3.5 SD1s when I worked in Portsmouth Traffic. One such Patrol Car suffered a puncture on the R/O/S whilst on a motorway emergency call, as I understand it the tyre deflated, re-inflated, and then exploded ripping into the wheel arch before throwing the Rover into the crash barrier at high speed. They were changed on all the patrol cars very soon afterwards…
I bought the same for my NC but saw somewhere to only fit the spacesaver on the front ONLY. Fits great in the boot too. Only take it sometimes though when boot not needed.
Also carry a can of Tyreweld and also a plug kit. Obviously I like options.