The people who have trusted us so far
This time about mobility of CCV’s (converted civilian vehicles), a common topic are the runflats devices and tires, and unfortunately, the lack of technical information make them a subject of disinformation and misconceptions. Here I brought to your attention the top 5 points I have found more recurrent within this security segment:
1.- Run-flats are all devices or resources – even tires – with the capability to extend the mobility of a vehicle ( mostly designed for cars and SUVs) when a tire or more has total or partial loss of pressure (air/nitrogen). These devices range from: steel belts, sealant gels, injected polyurethane, polymer, carbon fiber and rubber rings tightened to the interior of the wheel. Run flat tires also comply with this purpose.
2.- ALL security vehicles must have run flat devices. Good armored vehicles with trained drivers do one thing: they resist some kind of projectiles while moving out the kill zone; therefore RF can’t be considered accessories
3.- Run flats inserts RFi (those tightened to the rim – inside the tire) do two things: A) don’t let the edge of a deflated tire to come off the rim, and B) provide height’s support in order to prevent rim’s edges to make contact with the terrain surface. To resist bullets impact is NOT the main objective of RFi
4.- As any other security device, it is differentiated from safety ones, according to the level of performance and purpose; malicious attacks will target the whole wheel system (rim, RF and tire) in any angle and with any thinkable object, so you will find – among others – high quality security manufactures such as: Hutchinson, Tyron and Flats Over, and their counterparts in safety, as: Slime, Ride-On and all RF tires’ manufacturers
5.- The mileage range of an operating RFi is subject to a LOT of variables, at a glance: GVWR, distribution of armoring materials, tire condition and pressure, suspension setting, altitude, temperature, speed, braking, driver maneuvers.
One last comment about the future of run flats; I foresee integrated and smart wheel systems at the end of this decade; with the advances in high performance elastomers and polymers, paired with nanotech, tires could be electronically set to harden or soften and adapt for different surfaces and the evolution of that safety concept could lead to RF inserts that could be deployed on demand from inner-rim compartments.
Gerardo Corona
Security + Safety
Senior Expert / Director
The Story of US Vehicle Security Group
Our story was born in the terrifying events that rapidly unfolded on a sunny afternoon in a city in South America several years ago. Two members of our founder's family (we will call them Charles and Rose) were driving to their next business appointment, when an unexpected assault turned their lives upside down. Waiting for the light to turn green, Charles and Rose were suddenly surrounded by bandits in four cars. In a blink of an eye, the bandits jumped out, leveled their weapons, and shouted for Charles and Rose to get out of their car. They refused, knowing they were about to be kidnapped. The gunmen would surely kill them even if they received a ransom. Seconds passed, and the bandits opened fire. Bullets began flying everywhere, including into the bulletproof windows of the rental car.
As the saying goes, "necessity is the mother of invention." It is especially true in the world of safety and security products.
Thinking fast, the couple's driver rammed the surrounding cars enough to create an opening for escape. Unfortunately, before they could accelerate, the bandits shot out the car's tires, causing the driver to lose control and smash into a parked car. Now trapped in a bullet-ridden car that could no longer move, Charles and Rose ducked to the floor. Bullets from automatic weapons continued to shatter all the glass. They knew they would surely die. But just in time, a bystander who had been watching this kidnapping attempt unfold from his car raced forward and slammed into the bandits, wounding several and causing them to flee empty-handed. With the bandits now gone, nearby spectators ran to the destroyed car and pulled Charles and Rose out to safety.
Kidnappings and shootings, a regular day in Latin America
It is an unfortunate aspect of life in many Latin American cities that hijackings and kidnaping often happen in broad daylight, in front of lawful citizens going about their daily lives. Successful business executives and families of means prefer to travel in armored cars for the much-needed protection. If they did not own an armored vehicle, they could easily rent one for their journey.
Such was the case with Charles and Rose. After the day's terrifying kidnapping attempt, Charles’ and Rose’ father called the rental car company. He demanded to know why the armored car he had rented for his family members did not provide a safe escape. How was it possible that the gunmen could quickly stop the vehicle by shooting out the tires? The rental car agent explained that, yes, the car body and windows were indeed bulletproof, but the tires were not. At the time, no one thought it was essential to equip an armored car with run flat tires.
That is when our founder started his new business, US Vehicle Security Group. His goal was to make people aware of the importance of run flat tire inserts as part of total protection. The armored vehicle industry should make it standard to equip vehicles with run flat tire inserts as well as ballistic glass and materials.
Do you know any life changing story that resulted in the creation of a successful business?
Today, more people drive safely. . .. with US Vehicle Security Group.
KEEPING PACE WITH CHANGING ARMORED VEHICLE MARKET
Protecting vehicle occupants has been our mission since 2013. In the armored vehicle and military markets, US Vehicle Security Group is known as the leading resource for ballistic and bullet resistant products, including our world-renowned run flat tire insert. But the world is changing. The dramatic rise in civil unrest, riots, road rage, and carjackings has created a growing demand for occupant safety in passenger vehicles and commercial transportation.
ARMOR TO HELP YOU EVADE MILITIA ATTACKS, MILITARY ASSAULTS, HOSTAGE ATTEMPTS
Wherever you are in the world, you can rely on US Vehicle Security Group. Families are threatened by riots in Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago, and Atlanta. Security drivers are on high alert in Washington, Boston, and New York. Our armor sales to OEM customers in Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti have nearly doubled in the past year. The same holds true for run-flat inserts – Flats Over – both in the US and worldwide. Evasive driving skills – and armored vehicles – are in high demand the world over. And armored vehicles are projected to continue rising.
WHERE THERE’S A THREAT … THERE’S US VEHICLE SECURITY GROUP
To meet this growing demand for vehicle occupant safety, US Vehicle Security Group is now making our products readily available to businesses and consumers with our new online store. We developed our online store, where you can buy our bullet resistant glass, Kevlar panels, supplies and devices whether you are an armor vehicle manufacturer or just someone who wants to take care of his/her family and protect them while you are on the road.
ARMOR PRODUCTS WORKING TOGETHER TO GET YOU OUT OF DANGER
The ultimate goal of any armored vehicle is to shield occupants from ballistic impacts while creating additional time for the driver to navigate escape. Our products – Ballistic Glass, Ballistic Fabric, and Flats Over –meet international standards for performance and work in unison for exceptional protection performance during evasive escapes in any climate or under any condition.
Our research and procurement teams have spent several thousand hours finding and selecting the best ballistic products in the world. We have curated our catalog of bullet-resistant components and materials to offer our clients and consumers the best of the market at a cost-effective price.
FLATS OVER: THE GOLD STANDARD IN ARMORED VEHICLE ESCAPE
The ability to escape from dangerous events and locations is critical in assuring drivers and passengers and precious cargo safety and survival of everyone inside the car. That’s why we offer the best run flat tire insert of the market, Flats Over. Installed around the vehicle rim, Flats Over adds redundant wheel performance if the main tire is destroyed or flat. Tested and certified to withstand 50 miles at speeds exceeding 60 mph, Flats Over delivers the ultimate driving protection. Click here for more information about our Run Flat Tire Inserts.
SERVING OUR GLOBAL MARKETS WITH EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE
Customer service is the most critical pillar of our business. That’s why we support our world-class products with a customer service program that is second to none:
- Loyalty to all stakeholders, including customers, agents, and partners.
- Omnichannel sales and support.
- Personalized customer and user experience.
- Continuous employee training and coaching based on a proactive and problem-solving customer service strategy.
- E-commerce platform designed, deployed, and managed with the latest technology and tools for an easy and enjoyable user experience.
EXPERIENCE THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PHILOSOPHY OF US VEHICLE SECURITY
In everything we do, in every task we perform, our commitment is always towards excellence. Our team of experts focuses on how we can improve value for our customers. We never settle; we push forward to keep your vehicle moving and your passengers protected and safe.
New products are in the pipeline, and we want to share them with you. Let us show you how much value we can add to your business as your run-flat insert and bullet resistant product and materials supplier. In the end, we both want the same things, your safety assured by the best products at the best price. That’s the US Vehicle Security promise.
Whether you are visiting some friends, running some errands or road-tripping, you might find yourself driving through a dangerous neighborhood. Every city in the world has its own dangerous areas and you should be aware of not only where they are but what to do in case you drive into one. That is why it is important to always have your vehicle in top working conditions (tires, engine, windows, gas, etc.), and if possible, with a tire protection system like Run Flat Inserts or Run Fat Tires, in the event you must drive through a dangerous area.
How can I identify potentially dangerous neighborhoods?
The following are common signs found in dangerous neighborhoods:
- Graffiti covering entire blocks.
- Broken windows.
- Random garbage.
- Many abandon houses and buildings.
- Bars on doors and windows.
- Fences around entire properties.
- Many homeless people.
- Local businesses like adult shops, pawn shops, check-cashing stores, etc.
Get to know your city
There are websites with crime maps and statistics that will help you identify where those unsafe spots around your city are. For example, www.crimemapping.com and www.spotcrime.com.
9 tips on how to drive Through Dangerous Neighborhoods
- Plan your route to try to avoid travelling through an unsafe area. This must be done before you start your trip, remember that your GPS will not discriminate between a safe or a dangerous neighborhood.
- Have your car prepared and ready all the time. Make sure of the following:
- The car has enough gas.
- The battery is charged and working properly.
- The tires have good condition and the recommended PSI.
- The A/C is fully working.
- Doors locked, remember that most modern vehicles unlock the doors automatically when parked.
- Windows rolled up.
- Protect your tires with Run Flat Inserts or get run flat tires to prevent any tire change due to a flat or blowout. In those moments are where you are more exposed to criminals.
- Blend in, do not stick out. Turn the radio off and do not use your phone while driving.
Try to always drive during daylight, it is safer even in dangerous neighborhoods.
Hide your valuables inside your car’s compartments.
If legally possible, bring a firearm or other type of weapon with you. Use it if necessary.
- When stopping at a light or stop sign, always keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to allow you space to maneuver and drive away.
- Don't stop driving, that means not asking for directions, or to have a snack. Look for a way back to the highway or main road as soon as possible. Remember, installing Run Flat Inserts in your wheels might save your life in case you face a flat tire or a blowout in a dangerous neighborhood. It will allow you get out of the unsafe area and keep driving until reaching a safe location. Our Run Flat Inserts, Flats Over, are the best rubber-made Run Flat Inserts in the market.
The Flats Over Protection System can be visualized as “mini solid spare tires” that are installed in the wheels of a vehicle and are ready to use when encountering any problem dealing with tire pressure and structure.
Run flat inserts provide extended mobility when facing any tire problem including valve failure, horizontal or vertical perforations, explosion, partial or total loss of the tire’s tread and sidewalls.
If you want to know more about our Run Flat Inserts, Flats Over, click here for more info.
What to do in case you face a carjacking or are stopped by criminals in a dangerous neighborhood
These are the opportunities carjackers always look for:
- Empty parking lots.
- Traffic lights and signs intersections.
- ATMs (Automated teller Machines).
- Residential driveways while drivers get on/off their vehicles.
- Highway exit and entry ramps when traffic slows down.
If you face a carjacking, these tips might save your life:
- Follow the criminal instructions, comply with the orders. Do not fight back. Most of the time they just want your possessions, and you can replace them later. You cannot replace your life.
- Avoid verbal/physical confrontations.
- If there is a child in the vehicle, voice that to the suspects. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Remember the description of the suspects and if there is another vehicle with them. ⠀
We face threats everywhere
Families are threatened by riots in Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago, and Atlanta. Security drivers are on high alert in Washington, Boston, and New York. In these scenarios, there is no time to change a tire, if there is a problem you just must keep driving and reach a safe location.
The ability to escape from dangerous events and locations is critical in assuring drivers and passenger’s safety and survival, and that is the main goal of Run Flat Insert Protection System and Run Flat Tires.
RUN FLAT INSERTS & RUN FLAT TIRES
What are Run Flat Inserts?
A Run Flat Tire Insert is a device designed to offer the opportunity and capability to the driver of a vehicle to reach a safe spot or location in case he or she faces a problem with a tire, by giving the driver additional time, driving control and the ability to drive a distance up to 100 miles.
The Run Flat Insert Protection System can be visualized as “mini solid spare tires” that are installed in the wheels of a vehicle and are ready to use when encountering any problem dealing with tire pressure and structure. It is a wheel safety device that can be easily tightened to the inner wheel’s circumference to provide optimum conditions of maneuverability and traction in instances where a tire can get deflated – intentionally or not.
The run flat tire system is securely mounted to the rim and has no contact with the tire during regular vehicle operation. They can only be used with tubeless tires.
Run flat inserts provide extended mobility when facing any tire problem including valve failure, horizontal or vertical perforations, explosion, partial or total loss of the tire’s tread and sidewalls.
What kind of vehicles must have Run Flat Tire Inserts?
- VIP and Executive Vehicles
- Civilian Armored Vehicles
- Military and Governmental Vehicles
- First Responders Vehicles
- Police Vehicles
- Bug-Out - Preppers and Survivalist Vehicles
- Off-Road Vehicles
- Commercial and Corporate Vehicles
- Security Vehicles
- Cash-in-Transit Vehicles
- Van Life Vehicles
- Trams, Monorail and Mass transit Vehicles
Types of Run Flat Inserts Manufacturing Materials
Run Flat Tire Inserts are usually catalogued by its manufacturing material, which are rubber or polymer (plastic).
Their main differences are:
| FLATS OVER - Rubber Insert | POLYMER - Plastic | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design / Ordering Requirement | Wheel size | Vehicle/model/trim | |||
| Can operate after a blowout | Yes | Not recommended | |||
| Can operate without a tire | Yes | Not recommended | |||
| Difficulty to control the vehicle | Very Low | High | |||
| Fixation | Ratchet Lock | Nuts and bolts | |||
| Torque | Yes / 116 LbF-ft | Not required | |||
| TPMS Compatible | Yes | Yes | |||
| Top seed at 0 psi (test facility/gunfire event) | 60 mph /87 mph | ?/? | |||
| Endurance at 0 psi (test facility/gunfire event) | 50 mph / 30 mph | ?/? | |||
| Latest certification | UK_VSAG-12 | ??? | |||
| Warranty | 24 months | 6 to 12 months | |||
| Best for | Low/mid aspect ratio (SH) tires | High aspect ratio (SH) tires |
Run Flat Tires, what are they?
Run flat tires are tires designed with certain features that allow you to continue driving in the event of a puncture or leak. They cannot be driven on for too long though.
Currently, there are two main types of run flat tires, self-supporting and ring supported.
The self-supporting system are designed and built with a reinforced sidewall that allows the driver to keep going in the event of sudden air loss. While the ring supported system utilizes a ring of hardened rubber or similar structure that can safely support the weight of the car in case of an air loss.
Pros of Run Flat Tires vs Run Flat Inserts
- There is no need to buy an additional device; you just buy the run flat tire and that is it.
- You do not need to uninstall the insert to install it again in another wheel in case you change or buy tires.
- You can buy run flat tires in almost every tire dealer.
Cons of Run Flat Tires
- Run flat tires are quite rigid.
- They provide a bumpier and a bit more uncomfortable ride than regular tires.
- Run flat tires wear faster than regular tires.
- They are more expensive than regular tires.
- Run flat tires are less fuel-efficient since they do not absorb impacts as well as regular tires.
- Run flat tires are irreparable most of the time in case of a puncture or leak.
- A tire blowout might still happen if there is substantial damage to the tire.
Winner: Run Flat Inserts
If the highest level of tire protection is what you are looking for, get rubber made Run Flat Inserts.
We recommend the Flats Over Protection System.
Wrapping up
You can be facing a threat when driving inadvertently by a “peaceful” demonstration, or during a road trip with your family unaware that a punctured tire might become a major blowout.
No matter what the threat is or where it comes from, you must take care of yourself and your family. And the best way to do it is having either a Run Flat Insert Protection System or Run Flat Tires. You must be protected to be safe.
For more information about Run Flat Inserts, learn about our featured brand, Flats Over, here.
The main source of failure against terrorism is the inconsistency in our good actions, many people feel that they are so far away from the problem, they are neither police nor military, they are not policy makers, they are neither leaders nor activist, that is the easy way to get out of a global problem where EVERY human on earth can DO and is demanded to DO something; definitely a LIKE , a SHARE and a flag background for a week are not enough!, it is a fight of daily basis, a disciplined chain of actions, a way of living.
As a citizens, here is what you can do right now:
- Understand the system. You must be aware of the impact of your actions. Unfortunately the social world is not under a cause-effect relationship; in fact it is an interconnected global system where an insignificant action have multiple and random consequences across the world; a driver in Mexico city skipping a traffic red light, a policeman in Indonesia texting while on duty, a politician in Russia watching a copied DVD movie … all are paving the way to crime, violence and terrorism.
- Obey the Law. Put a big effort respecting your daily interaction with the law: following the transit rules, taking care of the environment, paying your taxes, no buying counterfeit products… The places where citizens willingly follow the rules are safer places.
- Enforce Human Rights. We wont have a single chance against terrorism if we don’t live under a human rights code; respect the differences is no longer enough, we have to value them.
- Change it Legally. Please don’t take the easy way, “everybody does”. If you are not agree with the tax percentage, join or create a group and take the legal journey to low it; if you are not agree with the “long” time on the red light in the corner of your building, file a claim. Don’t break the rules, your confort outside the system could have an undesired consequence.
- Cooperate. Report to the authorities any unlawful or suspicious activity, no matter if you don’t get an effective answer from them, you are doing what citizens – no just inhabitants- have to do.
The most important is that the pentagon has to be part of yourself as a daily exercise, be consistent, your behavior is more powerful than your speech. As world’s citizens there is too much blood of innocent people in our hands, we must go beyond the Facebook LIKE and do our job in global security
Gerardo Corona
Security + Safety
Senior Expert / Director
