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I've had 3 runflat failures on 2 separate BMWs. Fortunately I was not stranded but I was certainly not happy with the RFTs and eventually I swapped them out for normal tyres.
I'm back on RFLs now on my Mercedes as that's what was fitted as standard....
As I think about it more, there are really two issues; Run flats, and no spare.
I can see run flats as an owners choice or preference. With run flats, you have more latitude to continue driving to get to a safe location and/or service location. And in exchange for this flexibility, you sacrifice road noise and ride comfort. Depending on where you drive, I can see how run flats would be an attractive choice.
But no spare, no jack, and no spanner? WTF? That just seems unconscionable. Even with run flats and the ability to get off a busy highway or to an otherwise preferred location, I still want the ability to fix the car then and there and be on my way. But with no jack and spare, I have no choice but to put my life on hold until I can get the car to a dealer or tire shop, get a new tire and get it installed. That's the part that is completely unacceptable to me. With a spare, I can change the tire in 15 to 30 min tops. Or I can call someone to come change it for me, and take maybe 1-2 hrs. But with no spare, I'm looking at a full day very best case, likely 2 days, and very possibly 3-4 days. I just became a slave to my car instead of the other way around.
The rural scenario that I described is one I drive through on a regular basis. The actual flat that I got probably fit the expected scenario for run flats. I got in my car to head into Boston for a Dr appointment, and an appointment that if missed, would be reschedule for 6-9 months out, so very important to make. As I pull out of my driveway, I realize I have a flat. I'm in an urban area with tow services, and the dealer was maybe 20 miles away. Even if I had driven at 40 mph to the dealer, there is no way they would have been able to install a new tire in time for me to make my appointment. So I was totally screwed.
But since I was home with a floor jack and tools, I jacked up the car, removed the wheel, located and removed a 2" screw driver bit, and plugged the tire. Then reinstalled and went to my appointment, which I made just on time. This is when I realized how screwed I'd be roadside or anywhere away from home. With no jack, I couldn't have even plugged the tire. With a jack and spare, the whole process would have been 10 minutes, and I could have replaced or repaired the original tire at my convenience.
I've been looking at an Audi for my wife lately (it's what the lady wants) and there is an option to have a space saver tyre and toolkit installed at an additional cost of course. Obviously I will be ticking that box.
Having the same choice from Mercedes would have been much appreciated.
Yep, that's a pretty bad scenario.I've had 3 runflat failures on 2 separate BMWs. Fortunately I was not stranded but I was certainly not happy with the RFTs and eventually I swapped them out for normal tyres.<br />I'm back on RFLs now on my Mercedes as that's what was fitted as standard....
You won't have to wait long to switch to non-RFTs. The rear tires on my 2015 C300 Luxury lasted 13,600 miles. They weren't racing-compound rubber bands on 20" wheels either -- 17" wheels, full-sidewall height tires. The outer edges wore all the tread away, even though i had the alignment checked regularly. At 77 years old, I am not challenging curves. Besides, in the western suburbs of Boston, there is no such thing as sport driving. All that gets you is either a ticket or else a view of the rear end of a van driven by an illegal, who is not going to exceed the speed limit.* (And those limits are ridiculously low.)<br />*I didn't notice that you are in the UK, and the references to Boston and illegals are wasted on you. Of course, you have your own problems with illegals, and your legals aren't so great either.
You won't have to wait long to switch to non-RFTs. The rear tires on my 2015 C300 Luxury lasted 13,600 miles. They weren't racing-compound rubber bands on 20" wheels either -- 17" wheels, full-sidewall height tires. The outer edges wore all the tread away, even though i had the alignment checked regularly. At 77 years old, I am not challenging curves. Besides, in the western suburbs of Boston, there is no such thing as sport driving. All that gets you is either a ticket or else a view of the rear end of a van driven by an illegal, who is not going to exceed the speed limit.* (And those limits are ridiculously low.)<br />*I didn't notice that you are in the UK, and the references to Boston and illegals are wasted on you. Of course, you have your own problems with illegals, and your legals aren't so great either.
I have a 2017 E300 Luxury model. I drive like a senior and don’t care about speeding of taking curves instead just a comfortable ride. After 22 months and 17,000 miles as of yesterday I now need new front tires. Talk about a rip-off. I will be changing all 4 to standard tires, the new Bridgestone Quiet Track. Decided to get a floor trolley jack instead on a scissor jack since they are safer. Pickup up one today from Harbor Freight for $30 along with a torque wrench. Plan on getting a donut spare in my trunk. I am the only person in my car 99% of the time so I am fine with that
I have a 2017 E300 Luxury model. I drive like a senior and don’t care about speeding of taking curves instead just a comfortable ride. After 22 months and 17,000 miles as of yesterday I now need new front tires. Talk about a rip-off. I will be changing all 4 to standard tires, the new Bridgestone Quiet Track. Decided to get a floor trolley jack instead on a scissor jack since they are safer. Pickup up one today from Harbor Freight for $30 along with a torque wrench. Plan on getting a donut spare in my trunk. I am the only person in my car 99% of the time so I am fine with that
Looks nice. Where are you getting a spare tire? Can't find one anywhere. Thoughts?
E class has the spare up to 2016 (W212). I have a 2014 and when it wears out, I'll be looking at BMW and Audi. I like Mercedes better, but lack of a spare is a deal breaker for me.
Hi,
How secure does the jack fit into the Mercedes 'slot' under the car? I know the the slot has a rectangular slot and your jack has a round head.
thx
Hi,
How secure does the jack fit into the Mercedes 'slot' under the car? I know the the slot has a rectangular slot and your jack has a round head.
thx
The one I have fits perfectly, I tried it before purchasing. You will need to do the same depending on the Jack you decide to use.
JTK44. You said that if you have a blow out, you'd be ok running the car for 70 to 100 miles to get it fixed. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that a blow out will render the car inoperable. I have the same concerns about not having a spare tire. I will be ordering an E450 Estate in the next two weeks and have gone over this topic with several dealers and MB corporate, all to no avail. It looks like, particularly for the long-distance/pot hole heaven trips I plan to take in NY/NJ/PA and New England, that I'll be storing a full-size spare (not a very elegant solution). PS: I don't worry much about tire damage from a nail, etc, just from a side-wall blow out, which is somewhat common in RFTs, from what I understand.
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Been a while since I was on this thread.
I believe the RF are designed to go 50 to 70 miles, at up to 50 mph, without any pressure - the result of a blowout. The RF ride on the sidewall so no air pressure is needed.
Just my $.02:
As the RF are designed to run on the sidewalls I would think that a sidewall blowout is highly unlikely. The sidewall is the strongest part of the RF tire.
So far, knock on wood, I have 7,500 miles including 5 trips to Vermont in the winter, at least 20 trips into Manhattan and the balance on Long Island with no issues.
When new the tread was 10/32. I still have 8/32 of tread life left, (both front and rear so no need to rotate as they are wearing evenly) which means I should get between 25,000 and 28,000 miles before the tires reach 2/32 when they should be replaced.
I keep my tires at 36 psi cold - 10% higher than recommended on the fuel flap.
I believe the RF are designed to go 50 to 70 miles, at up to 50 mph, without any pressure - the result of a blowout. The RF ride on the sidewall so no air pressure is needed.
Just my $.02:
As the RF are designed to run on the sidewalls I would think that a sidewall blowout is highly unlikely. The sidewall is the strongest part of the RF tire.
So far, knock on wood, I have 7,500 miles including 5 trips to Vermont in the winter, at least 20 trips into Manhattan and the balance on Long Island with no issues.
When new the tread was 10/32. I still have 8/32 of tread life left, (both front and rear so no need to rotate as they are wearing evenly) which means I should get between 25,000 and 28,000 miles before the tires reach 2/32 when they should be replaced.
I keep my tires at 36 psi cold - 10% higher than recommended on the fuel flap.
See how thick the sidewalls are, it’s a half inch thick
2021 E450 Sedan 4Matic, 2005 E320 CDI, 2000 E320, 1980 240D (retired at 315K)
Just got my new 2021 E450 sedan and got a screw in the middle of the tire within the first 500 miles. I was lucky in that I was just driving out of the neighborhood and was able to turn around after only driving about 1500 feet on the RF tire. The exercise in getting it fixed, luckily with just a plug since I had no sidewall damage, definitely made me realize that this was NOT something I wanted to take place in the middle of nowhere beyond the 50 mile limit suggested for the tire. I'll have some "version" of a non-RF spare (with jack, lug wrench, etc.) that can be used for trips.
Appreciate everyone sharing their thoughts here. Helped me to explore backup options before taking a trip out West.
I'm also following in that I just purchased a 2019 E450 wagon, and I'd like to have the spare. Talking to the local dealer, they don't understand why.
When I purchased my last wagon, a 2012 Acura TSX Sportwagon, I had them add the spare, wheel well, tool kit, etc to the deal. I never had to to use it in over 9 years, but I really liked having it.
I did keep the compressor and fix a flat kit that it had, and it is now in the MB.
The E450 wagon, seems to have bolted in the underseat bar, where in the W212, this was hinged. So, the well is there, you just can't get a tire in and out without mods.
One of the members had mentioned that if you change to reg tires and get a spare, make sure the spare tire and wheel has the same outside diameter as the other tires or you can ruin the 4matic system.
2019 E 450 4 Matic T-model, 2014 Jag F-Type vert, 2004 Volvo V70R
JTK, Trust me there must be a million words on this subject on this Forum. I have had two nasty experiences with flats. One on I-5 between LA and SF. Disintegrated tire. I had to walk to the next mile marker to find out where I was. The worse experience was on I-10 past Van Horn TX, a road hazard hole the size of a silver dollar. I was stuck for three hours. But it could be worse, my F-Type convertible has a compressor and a can of goo. A donut will barely fit in the trunk, but if you employ the donut, where does the flat go. Either in the passenger seat or you leave it along side the road. My solution is a) avoid west Texas at all costs and b) buy the 200 mile tow package from AAA. I would give up the third seat and all its paraphernalia for a wheel well where I could put a spare of any type.
BTW, the tire manufactures virtually give the OEM tires away to get the follow on business. The car manufacture can pu on RFs for virtually nothing, and save the cost of the wheel, jack, etc.
I have never heard of anyone who prefers RFs, or goo to conventional tires.
I have a spare in the trunk of my E300 sedan. It takes about 1/4 of the available space. Because the tire diameter is the same for the road tire and the spare, the road tire will not take up any more horizontal space than the spare. The vertical space is not an issue because there are several inches of clearance above the spare in my trunk.
hey guys, this subject is bugging me and I am planning to change from RF to non run flat
I already bought the Mercedes jack tools and planning to buy the following (compressor, tire repair tools for small holes, spare tire bag or cover)
Also, i found this size for spare tire in ebay.
New Spare 125/70 R19 Linglong DOT 2019
Wheel 4J 5x112x66,6 ET22
is this the correct size?
if it is, what I'll do is buy it then inflate it to save some space in the trunk
02-13-2019, 04:19 AM
