DerekACS

For "compliance" reasons, a MB corporate dealership would not likely change out the RFTs for non-RFTs. However, a professional tire dealer should have no issues if you are purchasing a new set of tires. They might even take your RFTs in trade, provided that the mileage on them is very low.

Glyn M Ruck

In SA you can choose between RF or conventional with Tirefix kit.

TorontoBenz

Thanks for your response. Could my warranty be compromised by changing the RF to non-RF? And is this considered a change that needs to be reported to the insurance company?

Glyn M Ruck

No ~ as long as the tyre fitted has the same speed rating or greater. This is more an insurance issue than warranty.

TorontoBenz

Would Michelin premier A/S work on C300? I'm mostly interested in reducing the harsh ride over bumpy roads and care less about handling.The premier A/S is rated higher on ride comfort than the pilot sport.

seanvree

My dealer did it for me for minimal charge and they said the new tires are covered under the road hazard policy.

Glyn M Ruck

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S is an ideal tyre for you. Premier A/S also fine. Don't expect Blizzak type performance though in snow & ice. These are all round performance tyres not specialist application.

If you are using Tirerack or similar ratings they are a good guide but tyres can be chassis specific & a tyre that works well on one chassis might not work well on another.

TorontoBenz

Good to know! My service advisor said no but I'll try again and ask the service manager this time.

TorontoBenz

Thanks to you and everyone else on this forum. I really value your help and comments.

PeteInGilroy

I've had my car for 3 days and I'm very impressed with the ride (Luxury with Airmatic). It absorbs ruts and bumps and irregularities without issue and without any noise from the impacts. Today I lowered the tire pressure to 34 psi (the dealer had 35 - 38 psi) and it seemed to make a difference from how the car rode the day before. In fact I'm more concerned with the engine noise (diesel like) than with the suspension.

Next week I will decide whether I want to swap out the tires for non-run flats. There is always room for improvement with all aspects of a car, so I will probably do it. I just have that sensation of the OEM run flats (Pirelli) not giving as much as they could or should compared to non-run flats.

I'll go with the Michelin Premier A/S. It looks like they only come with a "V" rating and not the "H" rating that are on the stock tires.

oldman&theC

Check out the Hankook ultra high performance tire on tirerack(I believe S1 noble 2)?It is higher rated and much cheaper.I have a set on my BMW 550I,they are great.

miketc

Let us know how they are compared to the Pirelli RF. I for one don't have an issue with my 17" Pirelli RF but like to know if it makes any different.

Glyn M Ruck

Michelin tyres work best on this chassis. Yes they cost more & are not particularly long life. You can't have both grip & long life. Compounding requirements are different.

I won't compromise on tyres.

oldman&theC

I understand your faith in Michelin,but I doubt you would find much diff in the Hankook,they feel very similar to the Michelin in driving dynamics at about 60% the price.The other big name in this category is the the Continental DWS.I found the sidewall too soft on this tire and the handling is not anywhere near as good as the Michelin or Hankooks.

Glyn M Ruck

MBSA has run extensive testing on the C Class chassis with many tyres. For handling, comfort & retaining quiet operation for the life of the tyre the findings were. 1) Michelin Pilot Sport range, 2) Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 range where sizes are available, 3) Yokohama AVS db2, 4) Bridgestone ~ model slips my mind.

We have little requirement for A/S tyres here but the only tyre that did well on this chassis was Michelin Pilot A/S 3

Biggest complaint tyre here is Conti for slightly hard ride & excessive noise on this chassis. Other than RF, the Sport Contact range worst.

PeteInGilroy

I just had a long conversation with my salesman. He just returned from a two day training class in L.A. Part of the course instruction was on tires. My salesman asked about the sensibility of changing run-flats to non run-flats. In addition to explaining the advantages of run-flats, the instructor said if the driver notices a difference between the tires, it's all in his head. The instructor also said MB will not repair run-flat tires.

So, given that information and the fact I am happy with the ride and the razzing I'm getting from my buddies for wanting to change tires, I think I will wait until I put 5 or 10k miles on the run-flats, and then switch to non run-flats.

floridadriver

I know the Michelin Primacy range is more on the soft and quiet side, they have a primacy run flat, which with stiffer side walls may be worth info on. The primacy in non run flat might be a pick for trying to soften the daily driver more. I'm not sure where the newer Brisgestone Driveguard Runflats would fall in this spectrum for this specific chassis. From the tirerack reviews on other cars, it's promising. In several years, run flats will be the norm and hopefully more developments to quiet and smooth out...though hard to cheat physics of a stiff sidewall.

Glyn M Ruck

The instructor is a plonker. Any sane person can feel the difference.

mikbar2

I personally will wear the RF's out and then go to conventional tires. Besides, it's the wifes car and she wouldn't know the diff.

floridadriver

I've learned to use the term plonker here since reading your posts Glyn. Sends people here scrambling for their smartphone to look it up

I'm no tire guru but hyper-acute to noise & ride smoothness, and have to agree...the run flats aren't there yet. THAT said, those on the C300 WITH the airmatic don't offend me enough to yank them off the car prematurely. Not as easy here to sell 'brand new but already mounted and dismounted tires'.

Glyn M Ruck

Sorry ~ plonker is British in origin. Airmatic does a good job of mitigating their shortfalls.

floridadriver

Nothing to be sorry on...I like the word.

Would airmatic + non runflats get too cushy? I'm curious about the newer run flats here like the Driveguards + airmatic. The Driveguards on the bimmer forums have been pretty positive with tirerack rating the noise and ride close to some of the non runflats mentioned on this thread. Another couple generations of run-flats and it could get interesting.

PeteInGilroy

Glyn, the more I think about it, the more I think you are correct. I just can't imagine a run-flat with sidewalls so stiff they support the weight of the car, without air in the tires, being as good of a ride as non run-flats. I actually told my salesman to give me another week to think about it, which I will do.

But, I wonder why the dealer (salesman) would talk me out of the purchase of 4 new tires. I have known him on and off for 40 years. This was my first MB purchase and I definitely plan on having at least one MB in the garage in the future (and he knows that). I guess he is just being honest...not something you usually get from salesmen.

seanvree

Guys,

Update on my C300. I swapped my RFs for All season non-flats about 1K miles ago. I am VERY pleased with my decision.

Just my two cents.

FYI, I have a C300 4Matic Sport.

TorontoBenz

You were right! The corporate dealership will not swap the RFT for non-RFT. They are going to look at the car to see if anything is wrong and perhaps let out some air to see if that makes a difference. Also its been much below freezing for 40 consecutive days so perhaps the ride will soften up when the weather warms up? If not,I'll try a tire dealer. Thanks for your advice.