mpenkie

Hi guys,
Just got 2014 GL 550 moving from 2007 GL450. Wondering if you guys have spare tire or foam spare tire kit on your GLs. I have foam filler with compressor. Not too happy about as I pool trailer for me spare tire seems more reliable than foam filler. Do you have experience with the foam filler? Should I replace foam kit with spare tire kit? I don't even know if spare tire would feet as there are some ECUs or AMPs under the carpet.
Thx!

Chedman13

Foam/slime can + air compressor. B&O sound system doesn't have a spare tire. I also have AAA towing, I think up to 250 miles.

The spare tire will actually fit those with or without B&O sound system (friend did it).

Luckily I've only had nails/slow leaks where the TPMS warned me and was enough to get home/dealer to fix.

I don't have a spare tire in any of my cars and don't use run-flats either (Panamera, GL63, Sienna AWD).

Spare tire is clearly the best option, but space, weight, etc... I've been fine with the emergency kit.

mpenkie

Thx Chedman13! Hard to fine full spare kit ... probably won't be rushing to get it (there was one on ebay from GB).. will wait for a good deal locally Thanks again!

corkshoppe

i have b and o sound system in trunk and no spare, so bought a spare of off ebay for $150 and put it in truck when going out of town. i tried evey possible way to put spare in the tire well but no luck, its not a full size spare but it is a 21 inch height tire. keep looking. youll have to buy shorter lug nuts for that spare as well the stock ones will not fit. btw, no new cars have a spare anymore, just run flats.

mpenkie

Thx!

Gbike

I have the compressor and foam kit due to the BO system (2013 GL550) - two things, maybe 3 - 1 - the pump can be used without the foam canister, so if you have a slow leak, you can pump it up to get to the shop (Have done this). 2 - from what I've heard - if you actually use the foam canister, it will likely ruin your tire and also the TPMS sensor as well - a $50 tire patch becomes a $500+ issue... - many tire shops tire shops won't repair "slimed-up tires" from what I've heard, but YMMV. 3 - the foam says it expires every 4 years, so be aware of that. I've considered pulling a trailer on a long trip, and thought about two options - one would be storing a full spare on the trailer as extra cargo, or possibly just keeping an older, used but serviceable unmounted tire on there so that a shop could remount if a major issue, and the tire size is hard to find in remote parts of country. Another issue to consider is that the 4-matic system says it really requires all 4 tires to be the same circumference, otherwise there is risk of damage driving it a long distance, so there's that to consider. Yeah, overall not ideal...

mpenkie

thx! Good point