J**2

guhvies

I had to change the two front tires on my C43 due to one having a bulge and my having to hit the motorway for a long drive. I wasn't willing to chance it. 18 inch Dunlop SportMaxx and these weren't run flats. Our roads in and around London are pothole strewn so you get the picture.

J**2

2007 E Wagon

Yes, I blew out a sidewall after hitting a pot hole. Bent the wheel too.


Greg

stockbmw

Went over a small pebble and got a flat, well runflat back home. 18" Conti pro contact. These tires are made of paper. And hearing from other runflat owners, other brands are similar.

chicago-guy

Blew out a front 18" Pirelli Cinturato runflat on Lake Shore Drive a year or so ago, but it was a pretty jagged and deep hole. Rim was fine. Was able to maintain control and safely steer off the busy road. Replaced with the same. I've hit probably half a dozen serious potholes since then with no issues. I think certain potholes will get you regardless of the tire type and size.

GJC400

The runflats are the main culprit with tire damage without wheel damage. 18" wheels are probably sturdier than 19" if they are the same style. I'm in the damaged 19" wheel club. However, the wheel was damaged prior to me buying the car. Several potholes that a poorly repaired cracked 19" wheel survived, caused bubbles in my new runflat sidewalls.

I switched to regular tires and have since hit several potholes (don't expect much in the way of road repairs in Cook county IL). No bubbles. No damage. Continentals in both cases. If you have the option of regular tires, I would go with 19s unless the roads by you are a barely passable moonscape.

For a softer ride and even less chance of wheel damage, you could go with the 18" 5 spoke. I don't even have airmatic, and I would do 19" again in a heartbeat if I had the option or need.

ItalianJoe1

The taller tire/smaller wheel will always be more resilient, but the very stiff sidewalls on the runflats mean they tend to be damaged more often in my experience, they can't give enough and either transfer the force to the wheel and bend it, or the sidewall breaks.

hogdad

I hit a lot of crap with my 18 AMG's and have yet to fudge up a wheel or tire. If I do I would transition away from runflats by buying 2 non runflats for the affected axle. I want regular tires for the smoother ride and I will be getting a spare of some sort soon. Thats my plan. I priced out good mid level tires for around 700 a set which leaves me a few hundred left to get a spare and jack from fleabay. MOE tires are about a 1000 a set so no difference initially but better off later plus like I said I want to try that non runflat ride on my W205. I read here its a lot nicer.

RemmyZero

My AMG sport rim on the front passenger side cracked last winter, although i'll be fair the pothole was very bad.