Run Flats?
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From: Iowa
2025 EQS580
Tom, it's good to hear that you have no major issues with your 20" run flats. I have also decided to stay with the 18" run flats. I'll see how it goes. My guess is that I will be picking up my car in Kansas City on Monday.
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From: NYC
2014 S550
I hope to pick my car up tonight, or tomorrow.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
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From: Iowa
2025 EQS580
Damn! I just heard from the dealer. Evidently, the truck makes a lot of stops on the way to KC. So, the ETA is slated for Thursday, March 27. Oh well. I will survive (barely). At least, March Madness is helping to take my mind off the car.
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From: NYC
2014 S550
OK!
Just picked up the car.
I can say without a shadow of a doubt, without any emotion involved, there is absolutely a noticable difference between now and then.
I IMMEDIATELY felt it when I exited the dealership down their driveway. There is a 2"-3" drop between the driveway and the actual street pavement. Normally, you'd hear a distinct THUMP and feel the shudder. Here - it was much quieter and very smooth with only a hint of a drop. Right away I breathed a sign of relief.
Going over BASIC potholes (manhole covers and the like) - there is a complete difference. Not 15% for me but more like 50%. You hear it slightly but not THUMP. You feel it slightly but not BANG.
Driving on smooth roads, it is quieter, and smoother. FAST lane changes are also better.
Driving on the belt parkway I purposely put the car in the indents of the road (NOT CRATERS) and it felt a heck of a lot smoother.
Granted there was traffic so a more formal review will be posted once I have a chance to really test it out by experience my everyday driving.
I can tell you right now - if you are ordering the car with 20s.... do NOT pick run flats unless you really don't care about the comfort.
I promise you - there is a difference.
Just picked up the car.
I can say without a shadow of a doubt, without any emotion involved, there is absolutely a noticable difference between now and then.
I IMMEDIATELY felt it when I exited the dealership down their driveway. There is a 2"-3" drop between the driveway and the actual street pavement. Normally, you'd hear a distinct THUMP and feel the shudder. Here - it was much quieter and very smooth with only a hint of a drop. Right away I breathed a sign of relief.
Going over BASIC potholes (manhole covers and the like) - there is a complete difference. Not 15% for me but more like 50%. You hear it slightly but not THUMP. You feel it slightly but not BANG.
Driving on smooth roads, it is quieter, and smoother. FAST lane changes are also better.
Driving on the belt parkway I purposely put the car in the indents of the road (NOT CRATERS) and it felt a heck of a lot smoother.
Granted there was traffic so a more formal review will be posted once I have a chance to really test it out by experience my everyday driving.
I can tell you right now - if you are ordering the car with 20s.... do NOT pick run flats unless you really don't care about the comfort.
I promise you - there is a difference.
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2013 Porsche Cayenne
That's awesome. Thanks for the review.
I ordered mine with the 19"s. I figured you get an inch of more comfort lol.
But I already talked to my dealer, that I will be switching to Non RFTs for additional comfort.
I ordered mine with the 19"s. I figured you get an inch of more comfort lol.
But I already talked to my dealer, that I will be switching to Non RFTs for additional comfort.
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From: NYC
2014 S550
I was really pleasantly surprised.
We are talking about cars here right? lol 
Trust me - you should drive the car before and after so you can appreciate the improvement.
I ordered mine with the 19"s. I figured you get an inch of more comfort lol.
But I already talked to my dealer, that I will be switching to Non RFTs for additional comfort.
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From: NYC
2014 S550
Banned
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From: NYC
2014 S550
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From: McComb MS
2014 Mercedes S550
Well I've been thinking about the differences between us both and why we would have different results...... We started out with different tires and the Pirelli's may be smoother than the Goodyear's...
Last edited by Kratos-TM; Mar 26, 2014 at 05:57 PM.
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From: NYC
2014 S550
Well I've been thinking about the differences between us both and why we would have different results...... 1) We started out with different run flats. I'm thinking the Pirelli's are a little better comfort wise than the Goodyear's.... and 2) my road hazards are more elevations, while yours may be more depressions, causing us to have vastly different experiences and expectations from the switch..... if I'm making sense...
hehe
Well, I'm not sure. Al i can tell is that the car doesn't thump around on imperfections anymore. The jarring feeling inside the car has indeed vanished.
As I said, I want to drive it around to see how it handles and feels over the next few days. I'll tell ya - the moment I left the dealer and the thump i felt from their driveway to the street pavement disappeared, I was already smiling.
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From: McComb MS
2014 Mercedes S550
Well, I'm not sure. Al i can tell is that the car doesn't thump around on imperfections anymore. The jarring feeling inside the car has indeed vanished.
As I said, I want to drive it around to see how it handles and feels over the next few days. I'll tell ya - the moment I left the dealer and the thump i felt from their driveway to the street pavement disappeared, I was already smiling.
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From: NYC
2014 S550
Do you notice going over manhole covers that the THUMP is no longer there? That was my first real site.
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Joined: Jul 2013
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From: McComb MS
2014 Mercedes S550
Yes I did. The way I described it to my wife was it was as if someone took a filer and smoothed off the sharp edges of the bump. Feels like you roll over it more than jumping over it.....
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From: NYC
2014 S550
Also I noticed on roads with a bunch of cracks crevices and bumps - it felt more of a glide vs the hopping feeling.
I'll know more over the next few days.
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From: NYC
2014 S550
Drove home tonight and I'm convinced NO ONE ON HERE SHOULD HAVE RUN FLAT TIRES IF YOU HAVE 20" WHEELS.
The pitter patter parts of the belt parkway where there's a stretch of 50 feet of the most lumpy bumpy (but still flat) roads used to jar me up the wall . WIth the new tires, i am filtered from this big time.
You still feel something but its totally acceptable - especially for 20".
Can;'t even imagine how smooth the car is with 18" and non runflat...
The pitter patter parts of the belt parkway where there's a stretch of 50 feet of the most lumpy bumpy (but still flat) roads used to jar me up the wall . WIth the new tires, i am filtered from this big time.
You still feel something but its totally acceptable - especially for 20".
Can;'t even imagine how smooth the car is with 18" and non runflat...
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Drove home tonight and I'm convinced NO ONE ON HERE SHOULD HAVE RUN FLAT TIRES IF YOU HAVE 20" WHEELS.
The pitter patter parts of the belt parkway where there's a stretch of 50 feet of the most lumpy bumpy (but still flat) roads used to jar me up the wall . WIth the new tires, i am filtered from this big time.
You still feel something but its totally acceptable - especially for 20".
Can;'t even imagine how smooth the car is with 18" and non runflat...
The pitter patter parts of the belt parkway where there's a stretch of 50 feet of the most lumpy bumpy (but still flat) roads used to jar me up the wall . WIth the new tires, i am filtered from this big time.
You still feel something but its totally acceptable - especially for 20".
Can;'t even imagine how smooth the car is with 18" and non runflat...
Told me they haven't heard anything like that in Huntington MB. Glad to hear that it improve so much for your ride comfort.
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From: NYC
2014 S550
If all else fails, just call Manhattan and get them involved since they are the factory dealership - going to them would be like going to MBUSA itself.
Yes absolutely it's an improvement. I am actually REALLY looking forward to driving to work today. Before, it was blase' and annoying that I had to brace for impacts.
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From: Iowa
2025 EQS580
I am in no way doubting the terrible experience of Chucky and Kratos with the RFT's. I forgot to mention here that my sales guy informed me a couple weeks ago that when I test drove an S550 in Kansas City back in January, that S550 had 20 inch wheels. I was quite surprised to hear this. The ride did not feel too bad at all to me with that vehicle. Yes, I could feel significant cracks on the road surface, but I thought that was pretty typical. TomS also indicated that his experience driving on European roads with 20 inch RFT's was rather comfortable.
So, here is why I am bringing this up. Do the 20 inch wheels automatically come with a sport package or can you order 20 inch wheels without a sport package? In other words, If Chuky's car has the sports package but TomS's does not that could possibly explain the difference on the comfort level with RFT's. Maybe there is something with the sports package that makes for a rougher ride with RFT's. Maybe I am picking at straws here, but I thought I would ask.
So, here is why I am bringing this up. Do the 20 inch wheels automatically come with a sport package or can you order 20 inch wheels without a sport package? In other words, If Chuky's car has the sports package but TomS's does not that could possibly explain the difference on the comfort level with RFT's. Maybe there is something with the sports package that makes for a rougher ride with RFT's. Maybe I am picking at straws here, but I thought I would ask.
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2013 Porsche Cayenne
I am in no way doubting the terrible experience of Chucky and Kratos with the RFT's. I forgot to mention here that my sales guy informed me a couple weeks ago that when I test drove an S550 in Kansas City back in January, that S550 had 20 inch wheels. I was quite surprised to hear this. The ride did not feel too bad at all to me with that vehicle. Yes, I could feel significant cracks on the road surface, but I thought that was pretty typical. TomS also indicated that his experience driving on European roads with 20 inch RFT's was rather comfortable.
So, here is why I am bringing this up. Do the 20 inch wheels automatically come with a sport package or can you order 20 inch wheels without a sport package? In other words, If Chuky's car has the sports package but TomS's does not that could possibly explain the difference on the comfort level with RFT's. Maybe there is something with the sports package that makes for a rougher ride with RFT's. Maybe I am picking at straws here, but I thought I would ask.
So, here is why I am bringing this up. Do the 20 inch wheels automatically come with a sport package or can you order 20 inch wheels without a sport package? In other words, If Chuky's car has the sports package but TomS's does not that could possibly explain the difference on the comfort level with RFT's. Maybe there is something with the sports package that makes for a rougher ride with RFT's. Maybe I am picking at straws here, but I thought I would ask.
