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Dumping RFTs — A Cautionary Tale

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Old Feb 26, 2020 | 06:41 PM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by ua549
FWIW in over 60 years of driving and at least 1 flat per year, I've never had a "slow" leak. Typically I run over unavoidable road debris and the tire goes flat instantly. I'm more comfortable with a spare tire and a service guy that can mount the spare at the touch of a Mercedes help button. I would rather have a tire repaired than purchase a new tire that may take many days to obtain.
I got rid of my run flat tires a couple years ago an never looked back. I have a floor jack, tools, tire repair kit and pump in my trunk.

My issue is MB not giving an opinion to do so without sacrificing your trunk space. I am I my car by myself 99% of the time so I am fine with that. I still have enough space for a suitcase so not a problem
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Old Feb 26, 2020 | 07:17 PM
  #52  
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Found a donut spare and was about to buy it online. Before making the purchase I went outside and looked in the trunk at the well under the carpet........and saw that it does not fit (an earlier post on here motivated me to do that). Looks like that idea is history. Thanks to the earlier post that motivated me to look, you saved me a few dollars.
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Old Feb 26, 2020 | 07:43 PM
  #53  
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Originally Posted by IronBallsMcGint
Found a donut spare and was about to buy it online. Before making the purchase I went outside and looked in the trunk at the well under the carpet........and saw that it does not fit (an earlier post on here motivated me to do that). Looks like that idea is history. Thanks to the earlier post that motivated me to look, you saved me a few dollars.
I have a full-size spare with the same rim on the car. Be careful of donuts because they can through your AWD system off due to the fact that they are different circumferences. That could end up been very costly to repair and would not be covered under any warranty since it’s not OEM to your MY.

I purchased one online and found this out afterwards so it’s just sitting I’m my garage
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Old Feb 27, 2020 | 08:57 AM
  #54  
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Originally Posted by kingscorpian27
I have a full-size spare with the same rim on the car. Be careful of donuts because they can through your AWD system off due to the fact that they are different circumferences. That could end up been very costly to repair and would not be covered under any warranty since it’s not OEM to your MY.

I purchased one online and found this out afterwards so it’s just sitting I’m my garage
If you purchase the correct size spare the circumference will match exactly.
My car has 245/45R18 tires, 26.7" circumference, 779 revs per mile.
The spare is 135/70R19, 26.7" circumference, 779 revs per mile.
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Old Feb 27, 2020 | 10:12 AM
  #55  
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This is great insight, thank you so much
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Old Feb 27, 2020 | 12:13 PM
  #56  
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Originally Posted by kingscorpian27
I have a full-size spare with the same rim on the car. Be careful of donuts because they can through your AWD system off due to the fact that they are different circumferences. That could end up been very costly to repair and would not be covered under any warranty since it’s not OEM to your MY.

I purchased one online and found this out afterwards so it’s just sitting I’m my garage
That would not seem to be a viable option if you have different sized tires on the front and rear wheels, as my car does.
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Old Feb 27, 2020 | 01:17 PM
  #57  
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Even with different front and rear size tires, the diameter and revs per mile should be the same all around. You can check specs for each tire on tirerack.com.
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Old Feb 27, 2020 | 02:19 PM
  #58  
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Originally Posted by ua549
Even with different front and rear size tires, the diameter and revs per mile should be the same all around. You can check specs for each tire on tirerack.com.
My tires are close in those regards, but not exact. Here's the info from TireRack for the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires on my car:

Front : 245/40 R19 – diameter = 26.7inches; revs = 778/mile
Rear: 275/35 R19 – diameter = 26.6 inches; revs = 783/mile

Would that be OK for a short time until the tire is replaced with a new one of the correct size?
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Old Feb 27, 2020 | 02:20 PM
  #59  
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Originally Posted by ua549
FWIW in over 60 years of driving and at least 1 flat per year, I've never had a "slow" leak. Typically I run over unavoidable road debris and the tire goes flat instantly. I'm more comfortable with a spare tire and a service guy that can mount the spare at the touch of a Mercedes help button. I would rather have a tire repaired than purchase a new tire that may take many days to obtain.
I've always had slow leaks versus complete flats. Sometimes it was a bad seal on the tires or rust on the rims where they'd take the tire off, clean up the rim and reseal it and it'd be fine afterwards. With flats, when you get a nail in the tire, you get a slow leak. Usually I can put enough air in it to get to a tire shop to have it fixed. You also get slow leaks from cracked rims.
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Old Feb 27, 2020 | 06:10 PM
  #60  
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Originally Posted by The_Judge
My tires are close in those regards, but not exact. Here's the info from TireRack for the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires on my car:

Front : 245/40 R19 – diameter = 26.7inches; revs = 778/mile
Rear: 275/35 R19 – diameter = 26.6 inches; revs = 783/mile

Would that be OK for a short time until the tire is replaced with a new one of the correct size?
The dimensions you list are the OEM dimensions that RWD E-Classes ship with if you choose 19-inch wheels with performance tires. I know because those are the exact tire dimensions of the RFT Goodyear Performance Summer tires my car shipped with. They are also the dimensions of the non-RFT Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ I replaced the Goodyears with. I think that's as good as it will ever get if you want to keep your staggered setup. Also, to go non-staggered, say with 245/40 R19 all around, you would have to buy new rear wheels as the staggered rear wheels are 1 inch wider than the front ones, so a 245 tire would not fit them appropriately.
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Old Mar 12, 2020 | 09:24 AM
  #61  
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Originally Posted by ua549
Yesterday I changed from RFTs to non-RFTs. Immediately I could tell the difference in ride and handling. With the compact spare pushed all the way forward and left, I still have room for 2 suitcases and several duffles in the trunk.

How much better is it now that you had it for a few weeks??
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Old Mar 12, 2020 | 11:37 AM
  #62  
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The non-RFTs are much better. If I had it to do over I would have specified non-RFTs and a tool kit in my purchase contract with the dealer (at extra cost I'm sure).
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Old Mar 13, 2020 | 08:28 AM
  #63  
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Where can I find the rim for the 135/70R19 spare tire?
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Old Mar 13, 2020 | 08:44 AM
  #64  
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You won't find just a rim with the correct offset, etc. Purchase MB part #213-400-06-00 from your dealer or other OEM parts supplier.
Read this thread.
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Old Mar 28, 2020 | 01:10 AM
  #65  
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Ditched Pirelli RFT for Vredestein Quatrac Pro non-rft tires

Hi Folks,

Just a note to let you know that I couldn't those damn run flats off my new 2019 E450 Wagon. The Vredestein Quatrac Pro received fantastic reviews on Tirerack and what a deal for the price! More so, the ride is phenomenal. Picked up a Mercedes spare, a2124013302, a used Mercedes tire change kit and air pump. These tires are just so comfortable and apparently only available from Tirerack unless you want to have then shipped from Europe, they're made in Holland and have been around for about a 100 years.





Last edited by vinnybenz; Mar 28, 2020 at 01:11 AM. Reason: have to ask a question
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Old Mar 28, 2020 | 01:15 AM
  #66  
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Oh, I forgot to ask, I noticed that someone had mentioned that a smaller circumferential wheel could ruin the 4matic system. The wheel I pictured is 155/60/18. If I am only using the spare to slowly get to a tire service shop, would that be safe on the 4matic?
Thanks
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Old Mar 29, 2020 | 10:48 PM
  #67  
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Originally Posted by vinnybenz
Oh, I forgot to ask, I noticed that someone had mentioned that a smaller circumferential wheel could ruin the 4matic system. The wheel I pictured is 155/60/18. If I am only using the spare to slowly get to a tire service shop, would that be safe on the 4matic?
Thanks
That spare is about 1.4" difference in diameter, or over 5%. MUCH larger than the maximum recommended difference. I don't know.....
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Old Mar 29, 2020 | 11:45 PM
  #68  
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Thank you, could you tell me where the 'recommendations' can be found?
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Old Mar 30, 2020 | 09:45 AM
  #69  
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You need a spare with the same revs per mile as the 245/49R19 tires. That is 778 revs per mile (diameter 26.7"). One such compact spare is Continental CST 17 size T175/80R20. There are others with those specs as well. Make sure the wheel has the correct offset to avoid conflicts with body or brakes.
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Old Mar 30, 2020 | 10:48 AM
  #70  
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Originally Posted by ua549
You need a spare with the same revs per mile as the 245/49R19 tires. That is 778 revs per mile (diameter 26.7"). One such compact spare is Continental CST 17 size T175/80R20. There are others with those specs as well. Make sure the wheel has the correct offset to avoid conflicts with body or brakes.
Hi there ua549.I'm sure you mean't 245/40/19. now would there be any major problem using my 155/60/18 to drive 3-5 miles slowly to a garage in an emergency situation? There is only a 1.25 inch diff in height and obviously different rotation levels.it is extremely hard to find a used Continental CST 17 size T175/80R20..
Thanks again
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Old Mar 30, 2020 | 12:08 PM
  #71  
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A discrepancy of more than a tenth of an inch is detected a wheel slippage and can will damage the transfer case.
For an authoritative answer ask your MB service agent.
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Old Mar 30, 2020 | 01:05 PM
  #72  
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Originally Posted by ua549
A discrepancy of more than a tenth of an inch is detected a wheel slippage and can will damage the transfer case.
For an authoritative answer ask your MB service agent.
I think that is way tighter than required. Some of the stock tire configurations are close to that. There's a previous discussion here, and I think recommended is within about 0.3", more than a tenth, but far less than the above 1.4". But yes, an authoritative answer would definitely be preferred.
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Old Apr 15, 2020 | 08:53 PM
  #73  
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where did you find the spare please?
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Old Apr 16, 2020 | 07:45 AM
  #74  
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Originally Posted by vinnybenz
where did you find the spare please?
My local MB dealer's parts counter.
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Old Jul 7, 2020 | 12:36 AM
  #75  
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Got my spare from Mercedes Benz

I finally got the correct tire from Mercedes Benz. They did not have it in stock and ordered it in from Germany. Thankful to have it. Next will be replacing the RFT's. Appreciate your information and everyone else on the thread. If anyone else wants one, I posted the tire and the order sticker. I got mine from MB of Scottsdale on mbpartscenter.com. They did a great job.



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