Nail in tire
#1
Nail in tire
I recently bought a GLE350 4Matic. It has less than 1500 miles on it. I noticed that my right rear tire has a nail wedged in it. Tire isn’t losing any air. This is my first Mercedes. I am looking for recommendations on how to get this fixed. One of the option is to take it to dealer but I believe they would charge a lot to fix it. Another option is to take it to a local tire shop. From the looks of it, the nail is in the middle of the tire and away from the tire walls so I don’t think I’ll need a new tire. Is it worth it to get it fixed at the dealer?
#2
I'm a big fan of the Dynaplug tire repair kit for nail punctures. Super easy, and well suited to small diameter objects, as opposed to the traditional sticky rope kits which are meant for larger objects and are a pain in the ***.
Used a dynaplug on my GLE with no problems.
Used a dynaplug on my GLE with no problems.
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mikapen (04-15-2022)
#3
Member
No need for the dealership for that. Go to your local tire store. Any can easily repair that. We have a small shop two miles from me that does it for $10 . I send people there all the time. Probably $15 to 25 bucks depending on what watch and shoes you wear when you bring it there.
#4
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19 E63s(wifeys) & a 21 GLE580
No. Don’t go to the dealership.
They will probably not fix it the first time and then you will end up calling MB customer service and speaking to Executive Referral Manager Chris, who really isn’t a manager but just has the special title, and he will tell you ever thing will be ok that they will take care of it by calling the dealership to see what going on only to then forget who you are and not respond to anymore of your phone calls or emails because the dealership says they are working on it but in reality they only have one guy that knows what he is doing and can work on cars like that and he just got Covid so he is out for two weeks but they might be able to give you a loaner next month when the guy that just needed air in his tires gets his car fixed and returns the only loaner car your service person has then in the service department will only have an appointment slot for you to return so they can look at the tire in about 1.5 months. Then you get the bill. Sound about right?
Just go to a local tire shop and have them patch it, not plug it, if it can be fixed.
They will probably not fix it the first time and then you will end up calling MB customer service and speaking to Executive Referral Manager Chris, who really isn’t a manager but just has the special title, and he will tell you ever thing will be ok that they will take care of it by calling the dealership to see what going on only to then forget who you are and not respond to anymore of your phone calls or emails because the dealership says they are working on it but in reality they only have one guy that knows what he is doing and can work on cars like that and he just got Covid so he is out for two weeks but they might be able to give you a loaner next month when the guy that just needed air in his tires gets his car fixed and returns the only loaner car your service person has then in the service department will only have an appointment slot for you to return so they can look at the tire in about 1.5 months. Then you get the bill. Sound about right?
Just go to a local tire shop and have them patch it, not plug it, if it can be fixed.
Last edited by BACnMercedes; 04-15-2022 at 07:35 AM.
#5
I recently bought a GLE350 4Matic. It has less than 1500 miles on it. I noticed that my right rear tire has a nail wedged in it. Tire isn’t losing any air. This is my first Mercedes. I am looking for recommendations on how to get this fixed. One of the option is to take it to dealer but I believe they would charge a lot to fix it. Another option is to take it to a local tire shop. From the looks of it, the nail is in the middle of the tire and away from the tire walls so I don’t think I’ll need a new tire. Is it worth it to get it fixed at the dealer?
One call-out, you might want to make sure you know what pressures the rear tires should be set to (look inside fuel door), as they differ depending on load and use. The tech wasn't exactly sure what to use and under inflated it slightly. He corrected it immediately when I pointed out the proper inflation.
#6
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2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Plug it yourself. Less than $20 for a plug repair kit at your nearest auto parts store. All tires can be plugged including runflats, low profile and most particularly Mercedes tires. There is nothing magical about MBs generally and MB tires more specifically.
Alternatively take it to a tire shop who can do the job in 5 minutes.
Alternatively take it to a tire shop who can do the job in 5 minutes.
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#8
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2023 GLE 450 4matic
No. Don’t go to the dealership.
They will probably not fix it the first time and then you will end up calling MB customer service and speaking to Executive Referral Manager Chris, who really isn’t a manager but just has the special title, and he will tell you ever thing will be ok that they will take care of it by calling the dealership to see what going on only to then forget who you are and not respond to anymore of your phone calls or emails because the dealership says they are working on it but in reality they only have one guy that knows what he is doing and can work on cars like that and he just got Covid so he is out for two weeks but they might be able to give you a loaner next month when the guy that just needed air in his tires gets his car fixed and returns the only loaner car your service person has then in the service department will only have an appointment slot for you to return so they can look at the tire in about 1.5 months. Then you get the bill. Sound about right?
Just go to a local tire shop and have them patch it, not plug it, if it can be fixed.
They will probably not fix it the first time and then you will end up calling MB customer service and speaking to Executive Referral Manager Chris, who really isn’t a manager but just has the special title, and he will tell you ever thing will be ok that they will take care of it by calling the dealership to see what going on only to then forget who you are and not respond to anymore of your phone calls or emails because the dealership says they are working on it but in reality they only have one guy that knows what he is doing and can work on cars like that and he just got Covid so he is out for two weeks but they might be able to give you a loaner next month when the guy that just needed air in his tires gets his car fixed and returns the only loaner car your service person has then in the service department will only have an appointment slot for you to return so they can look at the tire in about 1.5 months. Then you get the bill. Sound about right?
Just go to a local tire shop and have them patch it, not plug it, if it can be fixed.
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DavidBN (04-19-2022)
#10
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#11
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2012 CLS63
No dealer!
Do you have a Discount Tire near you?
They remove the tire, patch it....not plug, and then mount and balance.
Best in the business!
GL, and now enjoy your car
Do you have a Discount Tire near you?
They remove the tire, patch it....not plug, and then mount and balance.
Best in the business!
GL, and now enjoy your car
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2017 GLE350 4MATIC
#13
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2023 GLE 450 4matic
Interesting. I've had several instances over the years where our fleet management company advised against repairing them. It never made sense to me since I'd think the major difference between run flats and conventional tires is in the sidewall construction, not the tread area.
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chassis (04-15-2022)
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2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Interesting. I've had several instances over the years where our fleet management company advised against repairing them. It never made sense to me since I'd think the major difference between run flats and conventional tires is in the sidewall construction, not the tread area.
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mikapen (04-15-2022)
#15
Super Member
Interesting. I've had several instances over the years where our fleet management company advised against repairing them. It never made sense to me since I'd think the major difference between run flats and conventional tires is in the sidewall construction, not the tread area.
#16
IMO though if you go long distance with this vehicle, I would have it replaced for peace of mind. If you just drive local, plug is fine. If you're not losing air, it'll most likely be fine. I was losing air fast but they could still plug it. I replaced it afterward for peace of mind. Some are not allowed to plug for you due to their corporate guideline. Lastly I read some tire brands do have warranty and you can have it replaced at no charge.
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chassis (04-15-2022)
#17
Thank you for all the replies. I think the general consensus is to skip the dealer. I will check out my local tire shop and have them fix it. I don’t have runflats. I have AMG exterior with 20 inch rims. Thank you again.
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chassis (04-15-2022)
#18
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2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Flat repair
Plug it yourself. Less than $20 for a plug repair kit at your nearest auto parts store. All tires can be plugged including runflats, low profile and most particularly Mercedes tires. There is nothing magical about MBs generally and MB tires more specifically.
Alternatively take it to a tire shop who can do the job in 5 minutes.
Alternatively take it to a tire shop who can do the job in 5 minutes.
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#19
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I'll do a plug with my Dynaplug, set my cluster display to show tire pressures, and go in for a patch at a convenient time.
#20
Senior Member
Don’t Go To Dealer
Had several flats over the years on various MBs. The dealers near me will tell you that the tire must be replaced because they are run flats. Will not even attempt to plug or patch the tire. They claim that your safety is compromised. There are some unscrupulous MB dealerships near me unfortunately. Each time we had the tire patched and rebalanced, it was fine. The cost was $40- $50. There’s several knowledgeable people on this site and if they recommend using a plug and getting it done for under $20 then do it.
#21
I had the exact thing. I don't have run flats. You should not do a plug. These tires have a layer on the inside attached to the rubber that needs to be grinded away so that a proper patch can be installed. Any tire dealer should be able to do it...cost is about $40 but you'll have the assurance.of a proper repair