pet711

I hesitate to do any serious cross country travel in my 2017 e300 with run flat tires. I'm wondering if a spare tire, just tire and no wheel, would fit in the lower compartment of the trunk.

c4004matic

I thought it did, I was wrong. Though the tires are runflat I keep a sealer and pump system. Plus there is always mbrace. Trust me you will get over spare anxiety.

pet711

NUMBER OF Mercedes-Benz DEALERS BY STATE:

WY: NONE. Casper, WY closest MB in Loveland, 172 mi.

ND SD ID: One in each.

AR KS MT NE NM OK ME MS: Two in each.

I wouldn't want to travel with a can of goo in any one of the above.

c4004matic

That is if you think mb only provides emergency service from dealerships. I drive 20 thousand miles a year. In the last 30 years Ive had one flat that required using a spare.

Streamliner

Traveling outside of a large, metro area without a spare is simply NUTS! There are slow leaks, punctures and then there are road hazards that can SHRED a brand new tire. If you think "Earl's Fillin' Station" in Podunk, Wyoming is going to have a replacement in stock, you are in for a rude awakening. Sure, these things don't happen frequently, but it just takes one incident, at the wrong time & place, to truly mess up your plans, possibly put you in danger and if your family is with you, the risk goes up exponentially. No sir! I run conventional tires on my 2015 S550 and I carry an unused, compact spare in the trunk, along with a jack & tool kit. It takes up valuable trunk space, sitting on top of the trunk floor, seeing as how the FUxKING IDIOTS in Germany decdied to not even provide a SPACE for a spare, should an owner wish to have one, but it gives me peace of mind when out of town. Hopefully, I'll never need it, but, if I do, it will be worth its weight in gold.

ua549

I live in the Tampa Bay area. Last year I shredded relatively new a tire in town. I was fortunate to have a spare because it took 4 days to get a replacement tire. I didn't need to check into a fleabag boarding house to await a replacement tire.

larrypmyers

You wouldn't consider a tire retailer?

In any case the local M-B dealer not the best place to be looking for a replacement tire, either conventional or extended mobility.

ua549

Mercedes Roadside Assistance is an excellent free service that includes roadside tire service, fuel and towing. Unfortunately there is a distance limitation.

Streamliner

It doesn't matter, if the tire is damaged beyond repair. Even in a big city like L.A., many of the RFT MB uses can be difficult to locate. Out in the boonies? You are checking into the "No Tell Motel" for a few nights. There is absolutely no good reason that a company like MB cannot design their cars to accommodate and properly house a FULL SIZE, MATCHING, ALLOY spare, below the trunk floor, where one BELONGS on EVERY full size car.

c4004matic

Its like windows with hand cranks, most manufacturers are dispensing with the spare. You dont have to replace an RFT with another RFT. In a pinch you can replace it with any tire of the same size. We can ***** and moan all we want its...... "progress". One point Id like to make again, Im averaging 1 episode of using a spare in the last 400000, thats, 400 THOUSAND miles . I think those are pretty good odds. In fact my chances of getting killed in a car accident are much are about 40000 times higher given that your odds there are 1% lifetime odds.
I guess if you drive every day on a highway next to a road spike factory your level of worry should be a little higher

c4004matic

Jinxed it, Ill probably get a non drivable flat tomorrow

ua549

I get an unrepairable flat once or twice a year with mostly town driving on good roads (no potholes).
Fortunately, the road hazard warranty I got when I last bought tires covers replacements.

etaynor

So, if my old school mentality feels that a real spare tire would increase my comfort level, how do I identify specifically what rim, tire (compact) and tools would I need. I have an E300 2017 sedan 4wd. Currently i have the 18" run flats. Thanks in advance.

ua549

Here is my post from last February.

c4004matic

In fact I agree, but trying to argue against something that isnt going to change is pretty futile

petee1997

I could care less. Runflats do it for me since I am not about to change a tire. I would rather drive on the rim. Besides I haven't had a flat in 20 years. You guys worry too much.

larrypmyers

Well, if your running runflats, you will not have to be concerned about driving on the rim.

NFAREVIEW

1. You most likely have roadside assistance with your insurance
2. MB has roadside as well
3. Keep a gun in your car if your worried about breaking down in a bad part of town
4. Run flat tire will get you to a tire shop or dealer
5. There is no 5

Mbracer26

Friend had a flat on the way to Vegas with a s550 with wife and kids, 3hr trip took 11 hrs. Tire didn't exist in Vegas but luckly came in on the day they wanted to leave. He was fortunate to have had food and water while stranded until the tow truck came. He bought a spare tire from mb vegas and drove back.

ua549

Run flats have a severe range limitation if the tire sidewall isn't damaged. There are more places in the US that are NOT within 50 miles of a tire shop, let alone a tire shop that has run flat tires in stock. IMO run flat tires w/o a spare are strictly for metro use.

etaynor

Thanks UA549. I'll take your info to my local tire guy. Are there any specific tools that are needed to jack up the e300 correctly. And, are there MB part numbers for the tools?

ua549

Page 293 of the 2017 W213 owners manual makes reference to a provision for tire change tool kit located under the trunk floor. If available for sale in the US, your Mercedes dealer should be able to give you a quote.

An auto parts store should be able to provide you with a generic lug wrench and jack for much less cost.

Streamliner

I bought an unused W221 compact spare on eBay. It still has the special lug nuts shrink wrapped to it. I also purchased a brand new, genuine W222 jack & tool kit on eBay as well, from a supplier in Germany.

It is interesting-and depressing-to note, that MB in the USA will not even tell you the part number for a W222 compact spare, nor will they even admit that one exists, even though it does in other parts of the world. I feel like a child, being controlled and guided (MISguided) by an overbearing parent and I don't like it. I don't like it at all!

petee1997

Some of you Americans are very fearful. Need a gun in the car, must live in a gated community and need a spare for run flat tires.

Streamliner

Not fearful. Some of us are just smart and know the importance of being prepared for all eventualities, as every Boy Scout is taught.