Winter Tire Rentals?
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Newbie
Joined: Dec 2018
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CLA250
Winter Tire Rentals?
I am picking up my new GLC300 Coupe in January and the vehicle comes with summer performance tires. I know there was a previous thread discussing how the tires can not be changed out at the factory, but I was wondering if there was a tire shop nearby the factory in or around Stuttgart where I can rent winter tires. There is a tire rental place in Munich for BMW European deliveries, but I have yet to find one online for Mercedes vehicles.
I was planning on driving through Switzerland into Italy, but I obviously can not do that without changing my tires out.
Also, if I purchase new tires would I be able to leave the extra set of tires in the vehicle for transport? I am assuming this is a "no" because of customs.
Thanks for your help!
I was planning on driving through Switzerland into Italy, but I obviously can not do that without changing my tires out.
Also, if I purchase new tires would I be able to leave the extra set of tires in the vehicle for transport? I am assuming this is a "no" because of customs.
Thanks for your help!
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 8
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E53 AMG
Hi, Looks like we are in the same boat. When is your pick up? Mine will be on Friday Jan 18th for an E53 AMG
I did some research and reached out to the following companies today
https://schaefer-reifen.de/reifen-tr...reifen-mieten/ (rosi.hermesdorf@schaefer-reifen.de)
https://www.reiff-reifen.de/de/conte...Standorte.html (rs.moehringen@reiff-reifen.de)
I did some research and reached out to the following companies today
https://schaefer-reifen.de/reifen-tr...reifen-mieten/ (rosi.hermesdorf@schaefer-reifen.de)
https://www.reiff-reifen.de/de/conte...Standorte.html (rs.moehringen@reiff-reifen.de)
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2018
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CLA250
I am picking mine up on Tuesday, Jan 15th for a GLC 300 Coupe.
I have actually contacted EDtires.com and he advised that he is unaware of any rental companies for Mercedes. I also have emailed quite a few tire stores to see if they would rent and/or buy back tires from me used but so far I have had no luck. It is amazing that Mercedes does not have a program for winter tires, as I would think they would not be able to deliver a car not legal to drive. I may end up having to purchase winter tires form a store in Germany and after my week, ship them back to the US. So far the best pricing I have received for shipping is about $400.
I have actually contacted EDtires.com and he advised that he is unaware of any rental companies for Mercedes. I also have emailed quite a few tire stores to see if they would rent and/or buy back tires from me used but so far I have had no luck. It is amazing that Mercedes does not have a program for winter tires, as I would think they would not be able to deliver a car not legal to drive. I may end up having to purchase winter tires form a store in Germany and after my week, ship them back to the US. So far the best pricing I have received for shipping is about $400.
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Joined: Dec 2018
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E53 AMG
That is very unfortunate. I received the same responses as well.
My tires would cost $1200 not including shipping, so I am not entertaining that option for just a week. I may just pick up the car, drive it for a bit and park it if the road conditions were snowy or icy. In addition, I live in Texas and have no use for winter tires.
I reached back out to the ED department at MBUSA to look for options. I think we need to apply more pressure there. This is really unacceptable if you think about it.
My tires would cost $1200 not including shipping, so I am not entertaining that option for just a week. I may just pick up the car, drive it for a bit and park it if the road conditions were snowy or icy. In addition, I live in Texas and have no use for winter tires.
I reached back out to the ED department at MBUSA to look for options. I think we need to apply more pressure there. This is really unacceptable if you think about it.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
MBUSA specifically warns about this and specifically states there is no winter tire program. There's a PDF included about this in the email you got from them with the order confirmation. Car manufactures in Europe are not responsible for car owners/drivers to adhere to local traffic regulations. It's your responsibility to either not drive during winter conditions or to organize winter tires. Due to customs regulations, the car must return to the states with the original tires and all loose items must be removed, so you can't ship a set of winter tires in the car. It is generally a bad idea to schedule ED between November and April if the car comes with summer tires from the factory. Audi before they terminated their ED program at the end of last year was the only German manufacturer that didn't even deliver ED cars on summer tires between November and April. MB, BMW and Porsche as far as I know leave it up to the owner. I scheduled my C63CS delivery for the beginning of May, specifically because of the winter tire situation and the fact that many great mountain passes that are worth driving are closed during the winter.
Here's the text that should have been part of the email you got from MBUSA.
Here's the text that should have been part of the email you got from MBUSA.
Winter Travel:
MBUSA European Delivery does not have a winter tire exchange program do to legal and logistical issues. We do not recommend driving in winter conditions.
In Europe, vehicles must have winter tires in wintery weather. Cars with “R02 code” All Season Tires (M+S marked on the side of the tire ) meet the winter tire laws in Germany and Austria.
Due to Customs regulations, the vehicle must return to the States with the original tires from the factory.
*While traveling in Europe during the months of November through April, it is the
responsibility of the car owner/driver to adhere to local traffic regulations, which require that a vehicle must have winter tires in winter driving conditions, and take appropriate measures for travel in prevailing weather conditions. As stated in the Operator's Manual for your vehicle, always use winter tires at temperatures below 45 degrees F (7degrees C) and whenever wintry road conditions prevail. See your Operator's Manual for specific details concerning operation of your vehicle, including information concerning tires and snow chains for winter driving conditions.
While traveling in Austria during winter months of November through April, you must have winter tires.
If you disregard this, you can be assessed with a fine of up to € 5.000. Austria & Switzerland:
If you travel through Austria, and/or Switzerland an International Driver’s License is needed. It can be obtained from any AAA location in the U.S., and its cost varies. The vehicle must also have a sticker for travel on the roadways, which can be purchased at gasoline stations (Germany and Austria) and at the borders. Authorities in both countries fine heavily for non-compliance with these regulations. These additional costs are the responsibility of the customer. Cars with “R02 code” All Season Tires (M+S marked on the side of the tire ) meet the winter tire laws in Germany and Austria.
While traveling in Austria during winter months of November through April, you must have winter tires. If you disregard this, you may be assessed with a fine of up to € 5.000.
MBUSA European Delivery does not have a winter tire exchange program do to legal and logistical issues. We do not recommend driving in winter conditions.
In Europe, vehicles must have winter tires in wintery weather. Cars with “R02 code” All Season Tires (M+S marked on the side of the tire ) meet the winter tire laws in Germany and Austria.
Due to Customs regulations, the vehicle must return to the States with the original tires from the factory.
*While traveling in Europe during the months of November through April, it is the
responsibility of the car owner/driver to adhere to local traffic regulations, which require that a vehicle must have winter tires in winter driving conditions, and take appropriate measures for travel in prevailing weather conditions. As stated in the Operator's Manual for your vehicle, always use winter tires at temperatures below 45 degrees F (7degrees C) and whenever wintry road conditions prevail. See your Operator's Manual for specific details concerning operation of your vehicle, including information concerning tires and snow chains for winter driving conditions.
While traveling in Austria during winter months of November through April, you must have winter tires.
If you disregard this, you can be assessed with a fine of up to € 5.000. Austria & Switzerland:
If you travel through Austria, and/or Switzerland an International Driver’s License is needed. It can be obtained from any AAA location in the U.S., and its cost varies. The vehicle must also have a sticker for travel on the roadways, which can be purchased at gasoline stations (Germany and Austria) and at the borders. Authorities in both countries fine heavily for non-compliance with these regulations. These additional costs are the responsibility of the customer. Cars with “R02 code” All Season Tires (M+S marked on the side of the tire ) meet the winter tire laws in Germany and Austria.
While traveling in Austria during winter months of November through April, you must have winter tires. If you disregard this, you may be assessed with a fine of up to € 5.000.
Last edited by superswiss; Jan 9, 2019 at 08:38 PM.
Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 82
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From: Valley Springs, CA
2017 Jaguar XE (TDI)
I lived in Germany for 6 years (near Heidelberg) and never had a problem driving with normal tires. If you're going to be in central Germany and France you probably won't need winter tires, however, if you want to go to Italy you'll be going through mountains that may require winter tires. Hopefully your trip went well and you didn't experience winter driving problems, but please give us a brief summary of your experience.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,427
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
I lived in Germany for 6 years (near Heidelberg) and never had a problem driving with normal tires. If you're going to be in central Germany and France you probably won't need winter tires, however, if you want to go to Italy you'll be going through mountains that may require winter tires. Hopefully your trip went well and you didn't experience winter driving problems, but please give us a brief summary of your experience.
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Member
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From: Valley Springs, CA
2017 Jaguar XE (TDI)
That really seems to be a remote possibility, although possible. But in the time I lived in Germany, Italy and Hungary no American I knew switched to winter tires and none of them ever had a problem. But I guess if you caused an accident because you were driving unsafe with tires that were not meant for the road conditions you could have a problem. I just never found conditions such that winter tires were necessary.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,427
Likes: 5,336
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
That really seems to be a remote possibility, although possible. But in the time I lived in Germany, Italy and Hungary no American I knew switched to winter tires and none of them ever had a problem. But I guess if you caused an accident because you were driving unsafe with tires that were not meant for the road conditions you could have a problem. I just never found conditions such that winter tires were necessary.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2019
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2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK350
Never knew that you could rent tires. What brand of winter tires are you planning to rent. You might want to go for Toyo Observe G3-Ice Tires, in case they have it. It helped me survived extreme winters during cross-country road trips.
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