Ru4Rl

I'd like to see how often MB stock wheels or tires (I have 2004 c230K) suffer blowouts or rim damage due to potholes, construction plates, nails, etc.

I've got a few weeks left to decide on keeping this $600 road hazard insuance and would be interesting to see how often this actually happens. I know with low profile tires it's bound to happen more.

rrpnow

i've driven on I-275 and I-4... heavy contruction zones... no problems... somethign did happen once, but my tires were fine and nothing serious... maybe a small nail? took a little more than a week to deflate my tire, then i just got it checked and they said it was nothign big... but i think you dont need it... u have 1-800-mercedes or w/e that number is on ur visor... just call it if you need it... first 30 min of help = free...

velvet fog

This is a 17 inch AMG wheel off the front of my CLK. Tire had about 3000 miles on it. Cost me 180 for a new tire + 100 to have the rim straightened. Can't really tell in the pic, but the rim had a small flat spot that didn't extend too far from the edge.

FWIW, the guy who fixed it said that AMG wheels straighten real nice because the castings are high quality and the alloy they use is fairly ductile.

Capt Nemo o2

Depending on where you are located, the road hazard plan is a must. I live in the NY metro area, and with the potholes and construction we have (They never EVER smooth out the pavement where they cut, thy will leave a 1 or 2 inch drop in the road for weeks on a high traffic road) and low profile tires you need the road hazard plan. I switched my stock summer tires to all seasons and like a month later hit a pothole and got a bubble. While not a flat, it still needs to be replaced. The plan cost me $50 per tire... it cost me $35 plus $50 for a new road hazard on the new tire. The new tire would have cost me $190. One more flat and I come out ahead!

electromethod

Depends on your luck and the condition of roads you are driving on. After almost two years of running on 18's.. I suffered an ill fate twice within an 11 day period. Damage uncovered so far: 5 damaged rims, 1 tire. It's just a roll of the dice I guess...... first time I have had any rims damaged in the past 10 years. Is the insurance a monthly cost? yearly cost? Do a cost/benefit analysis and make your decision based on that. I don't think anyone can give you a empirical answer amigo. Best of luck....

ctC230K

cracked rim and tire bubbles happened to me, check the thread.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w203/119361-cracked-rim-tire-bubble-05-c230.html

nlpamg

The stockies are pretty durable.

I got a nail in my stockies with the original michelin PS's. I drove in it for a while (20 miles at least) before noticing... No damage to the tires or rim. I drove on it for at least three more months until I got my new wheels.

Here are some crappy pics taken with my Treo when I was getting it fixed...

CitronC230K_03

my car came with michillen tires stock. i never had a problem with tires blowing out.;

AMG_55

ive ripped my sidewall b4 but the tire was ok and i bubbled a brand new(3 days old) michelin ps2 235/35/19 almost $300

Ru4Rl

It's been helpful.

Capt Nemo 2, I actually live in manhattan so you know how bad the potholes are. I had a ford pickup for years and would bomb around the city and never have a problem. Now that I have this C230K I'm really watching out. But at times when you're on the highway around the city (like that messed-up BQE) you almost have to cause an accident to avoid hitting some pothole or construction slab (like at nite).

so it's informative to see how often damage happens.

electromethod, the cost of insurance is $600 for five years with no limit and no deductible and includes tax on any new wheel or tire. It's also transferable with the car in case I sell within 5 years.

I wish they offered dent insurance!

mleskovar

Never use the "make the hole bigger so I can clean it and put a plug in" method to repair your tires. Always, always, have the tire removed from the rim and patched from the interior. Also, my wife was driving on the freeway with 2 other people in the car when they noticed a 'thumping' noise and thought it was a car next to them. No steering pull, no vibration. After a couple of miles they realized it was their car. Right front had a 1/4" hole and the tire had almost gone through the sidewalls from running flat. No damage to rim and it was the standard Conti CH95. No steering pull, even when they moved to the shoulder....and no vibration.

E55AMG99

You need to add to the poll "no blowout but bent rim". I've had several bent rims from potholes/uneven pavement/roadwork without blowouts.

Ru4Rl

yikes.. never even thought of that.. i would have thought the tire would have gone flat if rims bend. thanks.

do you actually get them repaired or leave them bent?

r3v1ls

I got Michelins on mine (which i totally hate), but anyways i've never had a blow out or any rim damage. I drive around in the LA area a lot and on the 405. Haven't had any problems...

E55AMG99

I've repaired a couple and tossed others. It depends on the extent of the damage and the cost to repair vs. replace.