pet711

Do all 2017 s550 sedans have run flat tires?

Streamliner

At least in the USA, the answer is yes. Worse, is the fact that MB did not leave even a space in which one could put a compact spare, should they wish to change to conventional tires. Several folks here, myself included, have switched to conventional tires and have opted to store a compact spare in the trunk, on top of the trunk floor, even though it takes up valuable space.

Sorry if I gave you too much information in response to your simple question, but this topic has been a hot one on this board and in the minds of many, signs of complete idiocy on the part of MB.

pet711

Thanks, I'll just keep my 2011 s550 for another 7 years. Your loss, Mercedes.

Streamliner

Do us all a favor and TELL MBUSA and your dealer how you feel on this subject. The more complaints they hear, the more likely they will change things with the W223.

RJC

You can always get an AMG...no run flats...win/win

jfz219

There is a lot discussion about run flats and spare tires. I have had a false sense of security with the mini spare in my W221. I discovered the air pressure in the spare was 23psi. I doubt that the service department or prior owner ever pulled the spare out to check.

Streamliner

I always tell my SA that I have a spare in the trunk and they always check it when my car is serviced. I am planning on adding a TireFit kit, which will fit under the trunk floor, along with my jack, as an added layer of safety. Like a Boy Scout: Always be prepared.

Nice Ride

So, quick story and a question. Heading back from a short vacation, in bumper to bumper traffic by the GW Bridge, the CHECK TIRE Pressure came on. One tire went below 35lbs. 34 to be exact and stayed there.

I started thinking about what I would do if I did not have the run flat. No where to pull over, traffic B2B, not the best neighborhood even if I could get off the next exit.

The anxiety thinking about it made me feel I have the best solution. Run Flat Tires. It gives me time to get to my destination safely and not have to worry waiting for Road Side Assistance to change a tire or yet leave my family in the car and spend the time / risk to do it myself. With the traffic and no where to pull over, road side would have been over 2 hours and not allowed to change the tire where I was, not to mention the Staggered AGM Rims that would not work with just any spare....

I understand the comfort will suffer a bit and also, when was the last time I actually got a flat.... Not in 5 years.... But the peace of mind with the RF's works for me.

Now the question. When do you learn in the new set reading from the DIC? So I set the Rears to 36lbs and the front to 35lbs. (Cold) Is this the reading you store in the DIC? If so, when will the DIC actually send you the Warning of Low Pressure? If the temperature gets a bit cooler out, the tire that was 35 Cold will and can be 33 Cold. Will this not set off a false reading?

Thanks
Run Flats All the Way for Me.....

I

jumpman726

I'm not 100% positive, but I believe the "low tire pressure" warning will only come on if the PSI drops 10psi or more of where it was set. So if you set the pressures at 35psi you won't get a warning until the psi drops to 25psi or below.

On my E550, the recommended psi is 41 all around. I usually put a little more...around 43psi.

1bad540

what is this tire fit kit? Id like to swap out the runcraps to reg tires, and up the size to the 20" amgs. I have a 221 spare and jack already.

Streamliner

The name is a bit crazy, but it is an electric pump with a can of sealant. If you get a simple puncture, in theory, the sealant will seal up the hole and the pump, which I believe plugs into the cigarette lighter outlet, will inflate the tire. There are a few different
makers of these types of kits, similar to the photo above.

1bad540

I actaully have one in each of my cars, I have the continental kit, but also a craftsman small one thats great as a quik fill. Thanks. so what do you carry in yours? spare?

swaynesworld

I use a Tire Fit Kit I purchased from Amazon but I am an advocate of Run Flat tires (Pirelli 275x35, 20)! I love how beefy and sturdy they are especially here in the NE (Baltimore) part of the US (pot holes). I keep mine inflated just under 45 psi for a firmer ride and rim protection.


Plug and Inflate

BenzV12

That's good but in case of sidewall damage I doubt it would work .It's better than not have it though

MikeAtLincoln

The run flats are a huge ripoff! No only do they give a harsh ride but wear out very quickly. On my 2015 C300 sport I had 20" tires and the fronts were worn at 11K miles! The dealer said that's normal for a lot of around town miles.
The low profile tires are the worst for ride comfort. I ended up replacing the run flats with Michelin Pilot Sports and bought a Slime kit from Amazon.
BTW: In 55 years of driving I have never had to change a tire on the road. I did get a screw in one of my tires on a Prius but the TPMS gave me enough warning to get it fixed before the tire became unusable.

Rocketman

Wow - is that cold? I thought the max rated for that tire was 45 psi. The pressure shown on the tire sidewall is the max pressure - not the factory recommended. My S 550 recommended is 34 cold.

RJC

Over the years I've heard this kind of product makes a mess inside the rim and is difficult to remove...any truth to this?

1bad540

It prob does but i doubt you'll care if your stuck on the side of the road. Good stuff guys.

MikeAtLincoln

Here is what the Slime website says about long term effects of the product:

I’ve heard Slime will ruin my rims, is that true?

Our Slime Sealant for tubeless tires is formulated with rust and corrosion inhibitors as well as a pH buffer making the product more alkaline. All of these ingredients work to protect the integrity of your rim. It is important to note there are factors which can allow damage to occur in spite of this. If you want to err on the side of caution, you can use Slime as a roadside repair. All you need is Slime and an air compressor! Slime can have an adverse effect on certain types of aluminum rims. Because alloys differ, it is difficult to predict how Slime will react with your rims specifically. Over the years, though, we have found that older rims are more susceptible to damage from Slime. Make sure that, if you have tubeless tires, you are using our tubeless formula. Our inner tube formula does not contain rust and corrosion inhibitors. Do not leave Slime inside your tires for more than 2 years. After that time, we cannot guarantee the integrity of your rims. If pre-existing damage is present, we do not recommend using Slime.

RJC

Thanks for the reply...I would not use this stuff and have heard most tire shops hate cleaning this gunk out.