CornishPasty

without realising the C class does not have a spare wheel I have gone and ordered my car with normal tyres, not run flats. I did this as I thought the ride quality would somehow be impacted by run flats.

Is this really the case? or should I try changing to run flats asap?

Thank you!

MASSC450

I thought I'd at least try the runflats first when I ordered my 2015 C300 Sport with 19" wheels & Summer tires before even thinking about switching to regular tires, especially since I don't want to buy a donut spare and use up all my truck space.

The C300 w/run flats I test drove didn't feel too bad, but I think I'll end up buying a takeoff set of the stock 18" AMG wheels/tires for the Winter, and use one of the 7.5" width wheels as a spare on long trips in the Summer.

DBOC205

If your car isn't equipped with the TPMS wheel sensors, you could just put a can of tire goo in your trunk along with a small 12v air compressor. That should get you out of trouble in as much as a run-flat will.

From what I've seen so far people are shying away from the run flat tires - firstly they're a lot stiffer and secondly they're also hideously expensive.

digitallust_aus

In saying that.. I had Continental 18" RFT on my F30 and it was hideously stiff and rigid.. after 9 months I changed them out to 18" Continental NON RFT and it made only a very small difference in comfort.. the main reason I swapped out is that I couldn't get a replacement RFT for three months.

the 19" Continental RFT on my W205... are definitely a world ahead.. same roads I drove the BMW on yet the ride is 100 times better... yes this may have a fair bit to do with Airmatic.. I guess it really comes down to what car your coming from and the roads in your area.

PeteInGilroy

I feel the run-flats give an inferior ride, although I can't compare the ride to non run-flats on the C300. I checked two dealers and both said they would not install non run-flats due to liability reasons.

At some point (and definitely when my tires need replacing) I will put on conventional tires.

Car manufactures need to get away from run-flats. The disadvantages far outweigh the advantages.

I received my JD Power survey today and I slammed Mercedes for the run-flat tires.

PeteInGilroy

I just checked Costco and they too will not install non run-flats unless you can show them you have a compatible spare tire.

chicagofan00

I'm thinking it's the airmatic that is making most of the difference for you. I don't find the RFTs on my C400 to be any better than on my E92.

digitallust_aus

Might be the case, however the test drive I had before I ordered was non-airmatic and I did find a difference straight away.. who knows.. Im a first to MB owner... it must be the refinement of the MB that pushed it ahead of the BMW perhaps

bartola

Good point, I was going to chime in and say how forgiving these new 19" SP RF are compared to the RF I got on the CLA, but my CLA ran the same RF (I have the CLA SP with the same 18" that come with the standard C SP), but I the airmatic is a very different, flexible and forgiving setup, so to your point, the only way I will find out is when I change my wheels in June (hopefully).

bartola

America's tire is more flexible, they allowed me to change all four no-spare, but they would not mix RF with -RF (rightfully so due to the potential hazard).

PeteInGilroy

Costco said if you used the "slime" it would void the warranty. Not sure that is true because even instructional videos at MBUSA and the on line manual advise to carry their tire fit kit (slime/compressor) if you use traditional tires.

We have an America's Tire and I will check with them. THANKS!

mihaelb

Maybe the warranty on the RFT sensors?

miketc

Does RF from different manufacturers offer differences in ride and tire noise complains? I have 17" Pirelli RFs and I'm satisfied with the ride quality and noise. Of course 17" also help.

Engr Steve

Done just 8k on my Pirrelli P Zeros - not wearing well at all despite doing alot of motorway miles. All four will require changing in a few more thousand miles! Wont be putting P Zeros on again.

StanNH

I ran 18" non-runflat snow tires all winter. Granted, the more aggressive tread design is somewhat louder than all-seasons, but I expected the ride to be more compliant on the softer tires. Surprisingly, that wasn't the case.

While the snows had less "thump" over pavement breaks, the ride really wasn't much different. Maybe a bit more muted, but the difference was much less than I had expected.

chicagofan00

Not really all that surprising. Run flats don't seem to wear very well at all from my experience. I had to replace all four of mine on my 335 within the first 20,000 miles at a cost of $2k. Only have 3,800 miles on the C400 so we'll see how well they last but I don't have high hopes. On the "plus" side of things it looks like a set of four now runs about $1,500.

Carsy

Any news Glyn on South Africa MB's investigations into manufacturing a replacement spare tyre holder in boot.?

floridadriver

I don't like run flats but seems inevitable they will be the only choice. Hopefully more great strides in improvement, but physics of harder sidewall hard to ignore unless some new compound inventions.

Supposedly new driveguard by Bridgestone is the leas "run flat" like. Friend with A Mini running them said they're a big upgrade from his previous run flats. I have no personal experience.

If my Conti run flats went, I would look for an alternative though.

MASSC450

Personally I think this elusive goal of a run-flat tire ever riding like a non-flat tire is fantasy, and the only reason the market is gravitating this way is purely to cut costs or increase profit...for both the car & tire manufacturers. You need either tire pressure OR a stiffer sidewall to support the weight of the vehicle...and we all know the tradeoff of having a stiffer sidewall is a stiffer ride.

Current run-flat tires won't help in the least if you end up shredding a tire from road debris, accident, or a good hit up against a curb. Your only choice in those scenarios is having a spare or calling a tow truck.

Other than a multiple flat situation or limiting the chance of having to change a flat tire yourself, what are benefits of having run flat tires because all I seem to focus on are the negatives:

1) Increased cost
2) Stiffer ride
3) No spare tire from the manufacturer
4) Increased tire (rotational) weight
5) Increased difficulty finding replacement run-flats in emergency situations
6) Usually require a replacement instead of repair

CornishPasty

I am tending to agree with you here also MASSC. I am going to stick with the normal tyres and in the scenario that we really have a flat tyre call the breakdown service out. I have never had a flat tyre in all the years I have driven. I did once have a slow puncture but I could at least drive on that temporarily until I was able to replace the tyre

TorontoBenz

I switched my 17 inch run flats (Pirellis) for conventional tires (Michelin Premier) and found a dramatic improvement in ride quality. The ride on run flats was so harsh and jarring that it gave me lower back pain.
As I mentioned in a previous thread if I were to rate the ride quality on run flats as a zero and a perfect ride as a 10, I would rate the ride with conventional tires as a 7- dramatic improvement.
Unfortunately Mercedes refused to make the switch so I'm stick with 4 run flats and out $1200. CornishPatsy you're fortunate to be given a choice.
I have never had a flat tire and if I did would not change the tire myself.Should that happen I will call roadside assistance.

CorradoJr

Manufacturers claim the following as benefits:

1. Increased trunk space/interior volume due to no spare wheel.

2. Decreased vehicle weight due to no spare wheel, jack, tools, etc.

3. Increased "safety" in the event of a blowout.

Those of you who are experiencing issues changing out your run-flats need to find a better wheel/tire shop. Better yet, use it as a chance to order new wheels along with the new non-run flat tires. Tirerack.com will get you an entire new set of wheels and tires in 2 days flat.

PeteInGilroy

I went in to America's Tire today and explained my situation (wanting to switch from RF's to Non RF's. They said they would do it, but then went on to try and sell me Bridgestone DriveGuards, another RF tire. I told them I would research it, but there is NO way I'm switching one RF for another!

floridadriver

Interesting to hear more of your review of differences, the Michelin Premier is high on my list as a potential replacement. How large (if any) of a difference in noise? This seems to be one of the concerns online of this tire. How do you find ride smoothness/cornering differences? I have Conti RF, and uncertain if there's a difference between them and the Perelli RF. The Non RF version of the Perelli C7 is very highly rated.

PeteInGilroy

The last time I checked this site: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey....jsp?type=GTAS
the Michelin Premiers were rated higher for noise, but now I see the Pirellis are rated higher, but Michelin is still better for ride quality.