Went salmon fishing in a remote part of Canada with the car (2015 C400). First time on a dirt road but it is well maintained and the car has the air suspension with the ability to raise a few inches so I had no big worries. We drove about 70km on dirt before we hit a strange rock that blew a front tire just before we were about to exit the area and return to pavement. This was along the Matane river in QC. We continued on the run flat tire for 40km or so on pavement to a tire shop in Matane. Run flat worked out great! Nearest MB dealer is 400km away in Quebec City so that wasn't an option on a run flat.

Tire shop called MB Canada for an MOE tire, a Pirelli P Zero 225/40R19 run flat. Turns out they only have one in stock in all of Canada but they say you have to change the two front tires to maintain an even wear on both sides or you risk damaging the transmission (really??). So they won't even ship just one tire even though that is all we felt we needed in order to make it back to a dealership to find a permanent fix.

Tire shop looked for alternatives and found two Pirelli P7s run flat in Montreal (non-MB source and not MOE) that they had shipped to them overnight. Meaning we had to spend the night in this place to get replacement tires. Ah well, even if MB had had two tires in stock, we would have had to wait for them too so I guess that's the reality of a fancy car in a remote place. However I felt deep consternation about the fact that MB wouldn't keep spares in stock for such a situation. As much as run flat tires are great to get to a tire shop with a blown tire, getting replacements in Canada is a real pain. Very disappointed.

On another note, the rear differential developed a leak a couple of months ago and needed to be replaced. Not a small job, the car was in the shop for three full days to diagnose and repair. The air suspension compressor melted (their term) and the suspension stopped working completely. They had to replace it too. All on warranty, but still, I shiver to think of the bills for those things post warranty...

I love the car but I'm finding myself thinking about my next car more and more.

C owners, any comparable experiences?

The replacement tire problem is a real issue. I've had two flat tires (19 inch Pirelli run flats, different sizes, one front and one rear). Both times it took days to get a replacement tire. Fortunately, both times I was close to home and the dealership provided a loaner. If I had been traveling, I could have been stranded. I carry a Conti Comfort Kit (tire sealant and compressor) that hopefully would seal and inflate a tire long enough to get me home if I had a flat further away than the approximately 50 mile runflat range.

Interesting idea. However my tire had a 6-inch gash on the sidewall so not sure it would have worked in this case but could be useful for small damages. Thanks.

That's correct. It wouldn't work for a gash. One of my flats was a rip in the sidewall and the Contikit would have been useless. The other flat was a simple nail puncture. I think the Contikit would have worked for that one. I was so close to the dealer, I didn't try it.

Yeah, I had two front tires damaged from potholes and had to wait over a month to get the replacement tires installed. Apparently they are on crazy backorder. Next car I will have to select carefully and consider the type of tires that are installed on it.

Those tires should be called Go Flats. I've lost count of how many posts there have been from owners with sidewall ruptures in their run flats. I think the problem, especially in the 19", is that the sidewalls have to be stiff enough to hold the car up without air and as a result there's not enough "give" when the wheel hits a pothole. The momentary peak in pressure has nowhere to go and the tire ruptures.

Hate to say it, but your first mistake was to drive about 43 miles on a dirt road with low profile 19" performance run flat tires on your car. You're lucky you only blew one tire.

Your second mistake was not carrying a spare wheel/tire/jack in your trunk when taking a trip like that. What would have happened if you blew a tire close to your designation...drive miles back to civilization off-road on a damaged run flat tire?

Your third mistake was not renting more of an off-road vehicle for your fishing trip.

You might be right but beside the point I was trying to make. A pothole on an otherwise perfectly paved road could have resulted in the same damage. Getting replacement tires from MB shouldn't be so hard.

I agree...my MB dealership here in the States keeps an ample supply of run flats tires.

sorry to revive such an old thread but my warranty on the tire ran out and now im 100% not keeping Pzeros as my dailys.
ive gone thru over 20 tires thru my warranty and i wouldve been bank rupt if it wasnt for it.

now the question .. what else can i replace them with? that might be a little more all season, meatier and durable?

I went with Pirelli Cinturato P7 All-Season Run-Flats. So far so good. I had to replaced 3 of my original Pzero's due to pot hole damage. I've had the P7's for about a year now with no problems.

you got the p7's in the same sizes as before?

Yes. Same size as the original 19" P Zero's. It wasn't easy. The dealer didn't come up with that option at first. I found them on Tire Rack and pointed the dealer in that direction.

you got them to pay for it?

No. That would have been nice though.