Having no spare and tires that I have to take somewhere to replace makes me nervous. I'm thinking of replacing them with regular tires and using a spare. Any suggestions?
I'm looking for tires I can leave on year round
Can I use the 19 inch rims?
thanks in advance

 

I have these on my pickup truck, a lot of people seem to like these, Pirelli P7. Long wear rating it's a grand touring tire meaning it will probably give a little bit better of a ride than a Ultra high performance tire. https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes There really is no place to put a spare unless you want to take up trunk space. You could get a can of fix a flat, I guess now they have stuff that washes off with soap and water so it won't damage the Tire Pressure monitors. This is probably what I'll get when I wear out my Run Flats, I've about had it with Run Flats, they ride horrible and start vibrating if you hit enough big bumps.

 

I bought my '17 CPO on Thursday with 28k miles. It still had the miserable OE Michelin MXM4 runflats on it.

Today I replaced them with the Pirelli Cinturato Strada A/S from Discount Tire. DT is also running a Labor Day sale which includes a 10% rebate.

Now my E300 rides closer to an S-Class.

 

Sounds like a good deal to me, 4 really good tires for under 700 bucks, can't go wrong. I think thats a new tire based on the old P7.

 

I wonder how good those El cheapo Milestone tires are.? $91 bucks each less ten percent. 82 bucks a tire, lol. Probably better than any run flats. Gotta love China.

 

I just put my '17 E300 with 18 inch run-flats in for service and got a '19 E300 with 19 inch Continentail Procontact SSr tires (MOExtended sidewall). Man these tires ride nice like normal tires. I looked them up they are just like run-flats engineered for Mercedes but a bit pricey.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=234

 

Why is MB so obsessed with putting run flats on cars these days?? Is it purely so they can avoid using up the space where a spare might go?

 

I was just going to mention: Every time in my life that I've put new tires on a car, all of a sudden it rides better, corners better, and I wonder why I didn't do it before then. Plus there's the psychological effect of wanting to justify that large purchase. And I've never used runflats (although I almost always replace with Michelins.) We may be forgetting that normally, the runflats being removed have been used, possibly for a good while, are maybe out of balance, and we're putting brand new tires on. Somehow these "brick" runflats ran well enough during test drives to get us to buy the cars in the first place, after all.

 

I think it's the weight, and the tiny difference that makes in the corporate mileage rating, which is federally controlled these days. Mercedes, especially, spends a LOT of money researching, and by using premium materials like aluminum, to keep weight down. That is certainly to help performance, but also helps mileage. Of course, it's not just Mercedes doing it: most manufacturers I know of have eliminated spare tires (of any size). And I think they way for cars like BMW and Mercedes to rationalize no spare is to have runflats. After all, they do have about the same range and limitations that a compact spare has. BMW have at least started offering them (compact spares) as a $150 option. I just wish they would provide an empty space for them and allow you to buy one to put in.

Assuming I get my E wagon, I may just buy a compact spare, put it in a garbage bag, and keep it in the car, except when I need /all/ the space in the car. And if I never use it, it may just transfer to my next car.

 

After buying my E300 I just WISH tat I cold say that I have never used runflats. I recommend that you never do.

Mike.

I would like to add that runflats probably have a place in the world but not on a 60k dollar luxury car. At least not until they make them ride comfortably and not beat the hell out of my suspension.

 

While I don't yet own a Mercedes, every one I've driven has had runflats, and every one I've driven rides just fine, to me. They ride fine, very comfortably, and the suspension appears to be designed for them (since the tires are stiffer, the suspension would be softer). And the vast majority of MB owners must not have very bad experiences with them, or dealerships would constantly be hounded and they would no longer provide them (admittedly, just an opinion). I'm sure replacing them with non-runflats make the suspension and ride softer; that may or may not be an improvement. If MB wanted the ride softer, all things considered, they'd simply do it. Making the ride softer by changing /anything/ may well affect handling, etc. I think if someone wanted to sell new springs, to "make your MB ride softer", most owners would say "no thanks!" So, softer ride from non-runflats doesn't sound like a big advantage, to me.

I'll just have to learn on my own, of course. I'm not the least concerned about the runflat ride, as I've experienced it, and it's just fine. Great even. Yes, I'll be upset if I have multiple blowouts a year, ruining tires. That's one reason I'm getting 18" tires instead of 19" or 20". I'll be surprised if there is a problem. Of course, I've been surprised before.

 

Previous to my present MB 2019 E450 I had a 2016 E350 and prior to that two BMW 5 series with the 6 cylinder engines and RF.

The E350's, without RF, ride was superior to both BMW's, although the handling on the BMW was better - but not the ride.

My E450 with Pirelli RF rides smoother and better than my E350 and the handling is better than my E350.

I have previously posted, and again it is my opinion, that most of the fault found seems to relate to larger wheels with lower sidewalls which transmit bumps and imperfections in the road more than standard wheels, as opposed to RF vs. non run flats.

I for one am not going to spend upwards of $1000 to take off brand new RF and replace them with non run flats.

As to mileage: I lease my cars, 10,000 miles per year. At lease return I usually have between 27,000 and 29,000 miles on my tires with tread ware left - including the RF on both of my BMW's. I anticipate my Pirelli to last me through my lease.

I do not accelerate hard, but on the open road usually cruise 5 to 10 mph over the posted speed limit. I also keep my tires inflated 10% above recommendation as posted in the fuel tank label. I find that 36 psi does not effect the ride, makes handling a little bit more precise and improves fuel mileage and wear.

I also keep a high quality air compressor in my trunk which I purchased from Home Depot for under $50. If I do have a flat, I intend to keep the tire pressure up, and limp to gas station to have the repair fixed.

On another post, Pirelli permits up to one repair.

I tried to find a donut to fit in the wheel well but without success. I do not want to give up my trunk to carry a spare.

I realize that Merceds and most other luxury brands are now making RF standard. This saves weight and hence enhances EPA fuel mileage. With the number of S Class gas guzzlers being sold in the United States, every tenth of mile saved because of weight reduction in other cars is necessary. MB also found that the vast majority of its owners would never change a tire and had to way waiting for a tow truck to change a tire or using RF where the driver could continue on his way.

I think continuing on their way won out - but of course there are areas of the US, which are quite rural and the 50 miles range might not be sufficient.

Clearly, at least in my opinion, the BMW offer of a spare for $150 is the better solution.

Just my $.02.

 

JTK44, +1 Everything you just said, my thoughts exactly. Hopefully, that will be my experience as well.

 

I like to throw in here it really depends on how smooth the roads are where you live. If I lived in Florida year round I'd probably never have a problem with the run flats, but being up in NY and RI where the roads are bumpy as all hell and sometimes driving down I 95 it's like you drove off a curb, that is what creates the problems with the run flats, you get a imperfection on the inside of the thick material of the tire (the foam deadening material I think someone said) and the tire is gonna ride not so smooth the rest of it's life. So to me driving on these roads in the future whenever I get a car with run flats I'd would insist they be removed right from the start. I'll never buy another set of run flats again. Not worth the aggravation.

 

Not to beat a dead horse:

Just drove from Long Island to Chatham, Mass (Cape Cod) through Rhode Island, along I-95 in my 2019 E450 with RF: Ride was silky smooth.

I drive I-95 to I-91 to Vermont 8 to 10 times a year in the winter for skiing: Ride is silky smooth

I drive everyday on the Long Island Expressway: ride is silky smooth

I would never give up the convenience of RF for non run flats without a spare: I find the ride just fine.

Again I have the luxury styling with the standard wheels and Pirelli P7 RF inflated at 36 PSI.

 

I have the luxury to on a wagon with the Michelin tires and originally the car rode not too bad right after I got the tires which was 7000 miles ago, but now the ride is pretty bad. I went to the US open in NY last thursday and some of those bumps you hit on Rt. 95 north just after getting on the highway after the whitestone bridge are pretty intense, the suspension bottomed out a few times, it was like driving over a curb in the highway the cracks were so bad. So I dunno how your car could be riding silky smooth over roads like that. NY the roads are really not much better than RI. Rt. 138 where I live off near newport RI is horrible, ruts and bumps everywhere, the roads in Newport are pretty bad too. Anyhow, the roads are bad enough to cause damage to run flats and once it's done it's done and the tire is gonna have a permanent vibration on the highway.

 

My trips to New England take me over either the Whitestone and/or Throgs Neck Bridge and then I-95 north. I have never bottomed out. I think you may have a problem with your suspension and since you are still under warranty you might want to have your suspension checked out.

My recollection is that I-95 from either the Throngs Neck Bridge or Whitestone going north, the road has been milled and is down to the concrete which is eerily smooth, albeit not as quiet as macadam. So if you are bottoming out, I would definitely have your suspension checked out especially if as you say with only 7,000 miles on your tires, you have done damage to your tires.

 

As a fellow New Yorker, I'm just going to add that anyone who thinks that our highways are smooth is fully delusional. I-95 by New Rochelle in the left lane has two of the biggest potholes I've ever seen and sadly felt. Right along the yellow paint. Not only did it bottom out my 911, but my wagon also. It's an embarrassment given the taxes we pay.

Also:

I95 road seams by coop city
Bruckner just past the cross Bronx heading south
The entire elevated Bruckner after the triborough bridge heading north
The deegan before the GWB heading south
The BQE heading south from the grand central Parkway until, well, all of it.
The entire FDR is pocketed with potholes.

And seriously, the LIE? Unreal.

 

Yep, I've hit all those bumps, lol. I'm through those areas quite a bit. Sad to think my Michelins I forked out 1500 for just last April are trashed already. I'm just riding them out for around another 10K miles or so and then at that point I'll replace them with non run flats. One thing I do wonder about though is that when you go and trade in the car if it does not have run flats like what came with the car they deduct for new replacement run flats? It would not surprise me especially if the car is gonna be MB certified, that might be one issue with switching out the tires, oh well I guess I'll keep the original goodyear sport tires I have in my garage in Florida that I took off at 10K miles and put them back on when I get rid of the car if thats an issue.

 

As far as getting a spare in a wagon there's something you should consider. If you're ever in an accident that spare will turn into a deadly missile unless it is bolted down really well. IMHO, it isn't worth risking your life to get a little softer ride.

 

So here is a different experience - I had 2 x 2015 c300s with run flats, both 18 inch sport packages, I also had 2015 SL550, can't recall but was possibly run-flats. I had no issues with them whatsoever in comparison to non-run flats and they all drove just great..

But then, why are they so noticeable on my E300? Anyone else on this post have run flats on their other non - eclass MBs and how was the experience?

 

That's a very good point. Plus, when you leave on a trip (short or long), you don't know what you may end up picking up that would required that additional space.

 

Good article here:

https://www.tirereview.com/run-flat-tires/

 

Good article. So far the Michelin run flats that came with my cabrio are doing good. The cabrio rides much better than the wagon too. Wagon has the same tires. Strange because the wagon is luxury package and the cabrio is amg package. I’m actually quite happy with the ride quality of the cabrio. Not so much the wagon. Maybe next time I should get the amg package on the wagon.

 

Yes, a very good and relatively unbiased article. The user comments, however....