LovinMercedes

Thank you very much. This is incredibly helpful.

What is the spare tire? Is it the regular tire and rim or is there a donut type spare?

One would assume from this that MB has gotten a considerable number of complaints about the run flats and has decided to do something about it. Clearly, only conjecture on my part.

JLamg

Having read all these posts - I have been checking on tires for the S65 that I have on order - the specs say hi performance (vs "extended mobility").
Does anyone have any other insights?

LovinMercedes

All AMG models, S63 and S65 come with conventional tires. The S600 has run flats for the 19 inch wheels and conventional tires for the 20 inch wheels. All S550's come with run flats.

JLamg

Much appreciated!

SB_NYC

It looks like I'll be making the switch as well. I've already replaced 3 or 4 tires in the past 6 months.

I called up MB corporate and they are escalating the case and they said they will try to swap my tires to non run flats.

I did a search on tirerack, but for curiosity's sake, I searched under S65, instead of a 2014 S550 which I currently drive. Surprisingly, the OEM size for this vehicle is 255/40ZR20 front and 285/35ZR20 rear. The 2014 S550 with 20" sport wheels has OEM 245 front and 275 rear...

I wonder why this is? Should I ask for this higher profile tire instead?

JLamg

A couple of possibilities. .
1) Impact of design of forged alloy wheels for S65 (696)
2) specific manufacturer

I have a 2012 ML 63 - when I went to replace tires, there was only one manufacturer that made the tires that matched OEM tires

LovinMercedes

I believe for years the AMG's have had slightly different tires. I think it has to do with the "AMG" performance requirement based upon its specifications.

I've asked this question to MB and this is what I have gotten.

LovinMercedes

There is only one 20 inch approved conventional tire for the S550 and it is the Dunlop as previously mentioned in this thread. They will not replace your tires with anything else.

Before going to a different tire on your own, I would check to make certain you are not voiding any warranty by doing so.

Also, I wonder if the 255/285 tires are only slightly wider or they have a lower aspect ratio as well.

SB_NYC

I just dropped off car at MB Manhattan and we are waiting for approval to have tires swapped...should get final word in a few hours.

On a side note, I went to look at a 2015 and its seems as if the interface for both screens is slightly different regarding font and coloring, I wonder if there are any other changes....

Chucky- I think I might have seen you car there today as well...

WEBSRFR

I've never heard anything good about runflat tires. Would be nice if one day we end up with high performance and durable "airless tires"

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tweel-airless-tire.htm

Chucky300

Hi!

Yes - had a flat on Saturday and wanted them to check that click noise in my seat. I think they found the problem. Going to get it back tomorrow I believe.

LovinMercedes

Now that you have conventional tires, what did you do when you got a flat. Did you try that spray can that is supposed to temporarily fix/seal the flat?

Chucky300

In this case, no - I had hit a pothole that had sharp edges and busted the sidewall.

Had to call roadside.

That was a different story. Took 4 hours to get me. I was really annoyed. Long story short - they called one tow truck and accepted their 2 hour wait without calling anyone else. I had to call them to ask them to please call another tow truck. They called one more - and they were quoted a similar time.

4 hours later I was towed.

Not Mercedes finest hour.

On top of all that - the dealership was closing at 5pm while I was in route - and I called ahead to let them know i was on my way to get my loaner which was waiting for me. The guy who answered the phone said I might be out of luck when I show up to a locked door because everyone goes home at 5.

Nice treatment. I told him I had just waited 4 hours for a tow - and might be ten minutes late - don't leave...

Shouldn't have to ask for these things.

Anyways getting the car back tomorrow and already spoke with the manager there because if this was my first S Class (or any mercedes) - it could have been my last.

If the guy wasn't sure of my request to stay open past 5 - he should have put me on hold and asked his supervisor in these circumstances what they would be willing to do.

jrpisha

Sorry to hear about the way you were treated by your dealer. You had the dealer dismount the run flats & you're running on the Dunlop sport maxx GT's, correct? Is the dealer covering the new tire? Did you purchase a tire/rim warranty?

Chucky300

Yea a couple months ago I guess when this thread started - they changed at their expense, all 4 tires to Sport Maxx Gt.

I had purchased when I got the car - the tired and wheel warranty. So it essentially transferred over to these tires.

TomS

Based on your horror stories of those roads, maybe a nice 6 wheel G wagen with the tires you can inflate and deflate would be a better fit for up there. I'm taking my car to the Northeast next month but avoiding the NY area with my 20 in RFTs.

jrpisha

Ok, good call on your part.

Does the tire & wheel warranty need to be purchased from the selling dealer - or can it be purchased from any MB dealer within a certain timeframe - like the extended warranty or pre-paid maintenance packages ?

Chucky300

I'm not sure, and I don't want to give you wrong information.

My suggestion would be to call MBUSA or your local dealer to ask them to email you in writing the time frame.

I purchased it at the time I took delivery. Living in NY - I wouldn't have these wheels and tires without insurance.

I replaced 8 run flat tires because of bubbles. All Four only 3 weeks after delivery. Then those replacement tires developed bubbles 3 weeks later! They then replaced to the Non Runflat. No bubbles for 3 months or so. Then I hit a pothole and got 1 flat, so that one is being replaced.

But definitely an improvement. I was not going to go to the dealer every few weeks for replacement. That was just ridiculous.

LovinMercedes

I don't have my car yet but when I had a 7 series Individual, I was replacing the run flats all the time. I had so many of them that the insurance company said they could no longer honor any more tires and that I had reached my maximum.

It was ridiculous. Drive over a pothole and you had a bubble... and you don't want to be driving down the highway at 70 mph with a bubble in your sidewall.

Chucky300

How'd you like the 7 series Individual? My dad just bought one. One of the most impressive looking interiors I've seen in a BMW (or any car for that matter).

LovinMercedes

I didn't like the standard 7 interior. I thought the Individual was a major upgrade to a completely different level.

The pictures look like their champagne interior. I had the amaro and I agree it was a gorgeous interior, better than most other cars... until... the new S interior.

In the Exlcusive Nappa, designo or semi-aniline interiors, I think it has it beat. I am only talking about the plushness and detail of the interior. From an overall point of view of technology, screens, etc. the S class is far superior. It will be interesting to see what the new 7 looks like for 2016. My money is till on the S class.

Chucky300

Agree with you on technology.

The car isn't champagne, its Caramel/Black Full Merino Leather. Really really nice. Not an ounce of plastic anywhere....but you pay big bucks for it. $6700 for Individual Composition Package plus $3500 for the Caramel/Black Full Merino Leather plus $2000 for the Citrin Black Individual Paint color. Thats $12,200 for it to look as good as it should look in standard form for a $94,000 base 750LI X Drive.

The new 7 may be delayed I am told. I saw spy photos which look very little like the concept that someone rendered.

Here's the concept:


Here's the proto being tested:


Here's the video:

SB_NYC

I too replaced well over 12-15 tires on my old 2011 750 individual. Those goodyear excellence were brutal.

jrpisha

Ok, I'll talk with my Sales lady this morning and ask here about the tire/wheel insurance.

I live in Michigan & our roads are pretty lousy here too. I just sold my 2008 550i (to make room for my new 2015 S550 4MATIC), and made it through six years with that car & it's 19" rims - never bent a rim or cut a tire. But, the first trip out my my wife's new X5 (with 20" "M" rims, I cut a tire/bent a rim after being on the road for less than 50 miles. You never know I guess...

michaelslx

Are any of you guys having a problem with the run flat tires on the 2014 S550? I currently have a 2012 BMW 750, and at least 10 my rims cracked. I had to get them all replaced.. This is all during an 8 month period. Yesterday, I went to a Mercedes Dealer to get the 2015 S550, and to my shock found out that Mercedes is also using the run flats...

And the biggest reason to get rid of the BMW, is because of these rims and tires. But because Mercedes is now doing the same thing, I hesitated and did not make the purchase..

I've had the last two models of the S class, prior to the BMW, and never had this issue.. Until now..

Can anyone give me some feed back? Thanks guys!

Mike