Silver

I have the Pirelli Cinturato P7 Run flats. Last night I must have driven over a nail or something. Not sure just yet. But anyway, my front passenger tire dropped from around the 30's PSI down to 1 PSI within 5 minutes. I could hear the air seeping out of the tire quickly. With that being said, is the Run-Flat designed to be driven on just 1 PSI, or would I need to get it towed to the dealership? You can tell the tire is flat now of course.


I have the Wheel and Tire Protection plus package, but that is another story, because i am worried that my tread may be below the 3/32" on the shoulder of the tire.

The dealership was not certain if it could be driven on the 1 PSI, but did say not to go over 50 mph and not drive further than 50 miles if I decided to do so. lol

Thank you in advance for your help if you know for certain how the run-flats operate.

Mikey53

Run flat means just that...you can drive on them when they are flat. 0 psi. Up to 50 mph and no more than 50 miles

Mike5215

Even though they're RF, a seal and fill kit in the trunk might be extra insurance. They make some that are TPMS safe.

Silver

Thanks guys. Here is a pic of the tire. So even though it's flat like that, your saying that's the intended purpose, is to be able to run like that for up to 50 miles?

I got nervous because the tire repair shop told me since it lost air so quickly that I could damage the wheel if I drive with it like that.

Mikey53

If you hit a pothole going 50, I'm sure you would damage the wheel but the runflats are supposed to be able you to get to a safe location to change the tire or sit and wait for help.

Mike5215

I wouldn't run the risk of wheel damage. Call for a tow.

Silver

Ok, I'll have to decide which one to do then. It's not too far of a drive to the tire shop and no potholes so I might try to drive on it. Thanks again for the advice guys.

cidtek

Go to the dealer if you have tire and rim insurance since they probably won't repair the tire.

StanNH

The run flats allow you to get off the road and, hopefully, to a safe spot to park until you can get help. The sidewalls are stiff enough to support the car without doing any damage to the wheels, but only below 50 mph and for distances less then 50 miles. It is safe to drive on them if you observe the restrictions. As long as the sidewalls are undamaged, the tires can be easily plugged if it's a simple puncture.

tivoboy

I would get a tow. That said, I carry a set of pliers in the boot to pull any nail or bolt from a RFT since running with it IN can sometimes cause damage to the wheel or wheel well over longer drives.

I'd certainly keep it under 50 mph at most.

Mike5215

For me it's not so much the question of whether a run flat can be run when flat. On a low profile tire like that, there's so little protection for the wheel now I wouldn't drive on it unless I absolutely had to. If you ding up the wheel it's not worth it.

gfmohn

What's the point of a run-flat, if you can't run it flat? However, Mike5215 is correct in pointing out that a low-profile tire gives little enough protection in the first place. So a "flat" run-flat gives almost no protection from road damage. Better be running on glass-smooth roads only! It gets worse. According to the TireRack.com discussion of Mercedes-Benz Original Extended Tires (MOExtended or MOE), that 50 mile distance limitation is only for lightly loaded vehicles. For fully loaded vehicles, the limit is only 20 miles!

("How much run could a run-flat run,
If a run-flat could run flat?")

The German roads for which Mercedes cars are designed are indeed mostly glass-smooth. When the pavement is broken, the state throws up a warning sign! Judging from the complaints about broken wheels that I read here (even because of speed bumps!), U.S. owners of cars with low-profile run-flats must have to drive in a very non-sporting way. Anyway, I don't think of run-flats being sporting at all, let alone "ultra-performance."

Mike5215

This is my first experience with them but they seem to be an imperfect compromise in every respect...cost, durability, ride comfort, handling performance...to solve a problem that wasn't much of a problem to begin with; A car that needed a spare and a jack kit.

kleinebin

When I called Roadside on both occasions I was told: If the wheel is still supported then you can drive 80Km at 80Km/h. If the wheel is compromised than you must get a tow otherwise you void your warranty for any damage to the axel or any other part of the vehicle.

Mike5215

Yeah I'd pay for the tow myself if necessary. (Or AAA). AMG wheels aren't cheap.

S63AMG888

iTrader: (3)

Mikey53

S63AMG888

iTrader: (3)

hogdad

My opinion. Get some kind of a spare that fits and a used jack from a scrapyard or online.

MBSebas87

lol

hogdad

Agreed. LOL thats Great. Maybe he's pacing himself, you never know.

kleinebin

KevinSmith1984

Same thing happened to me!

etaynor

I'd like to add my two cents to this discussion. Last month i drove from NY to San Diego. I set aside a week to take that drive. The lack of a spare with the compensatory "50 miles at 50mph" rhetoric was not comforting. In NY i live within 50 miles of 4 MB dealers. However, driving through Nevada, on straight roads as far as the eye could see, with no other traffic, minimal cell phone service, no MB dealer within 200 miles, the next gas station was 65 miles, with no garage shop, was not a good feeling. In addition, it was 103 degrees outside. What could 50 miles do for me?
Locally, i have a full spare, jack and necessities in the trunk of my e300. But for such a trip like this, i couldn't do that. So, I took my Honda.

MBSebas87

Same thought process every time I travel far distances. It’s a shame we can’t enjoy our cars because of fear of getting a flat .....btw I took my Subaru instead too lol