Kratos-TM

I ordered a 2015, and I'm trying to decide how i could get the tires I want without paying 2K. It seems that if my car isn't built yet, and it's my custom order, I should be able to build it the way I want it......tires included.

LovinMercedes

Been down this road. Absolutely no shot, even on my custom ordered car that has lots of custom things.

You can however, get them to replace the tires that come from the factory, at no charge, at the dealership.

Kratos-TM

But I still have to buy the tires correct?

LovinMercedes

No, call MBUSA and explain your position on the run flats and they will work out with the dealership to exchange, at no cost to you.

Kratos-TM

Thanks. I'll look up a contact at MBUSA. I've been contacting my dealer about this, and I think they're gonna play dumb on this one, so once again it's all up to the customer to make things happen for himself.

Streamliner

Run-flat tires are truly horrible and we should all make our feelings on these ridiculous tires known to the dealers and to MBUSA. There is no good reason to equip a huge saloon like the S550 with these harsh riding tires. The factory should develop some sort of an inflatable "super donut" spare wheel/tire that would be good for maybe 50 miles of use, to at least get us off the highway and into a shop. The whole thing, uninflated, should be very compact--much smaller than current "donut" spares. MB prides itself on being so innovative, they need to put all their engineering prowess to work and come up with a solution to this mess. They expect us to cough up well over $100K for their ultimate luxury ride and then they resort to the same crappy solutions that other, much less prestigious car makers employ. Run flat tires SUCK, and WE--you and I and everyone else on this forum should start SCREAMING about it right now. I'm sure there is a fairly simple fix for this and it shouldn't be driving on conventional tires without a spare. Each and every time we interact with an MB dealer or MBUSA, make sure you mention how utterly disappointed you are with them over this issue. They will get the message. If we keep quiet, we are just in line for more of the same.

jrpisha

This is the tact that I took, and it worked for me. It took a handful of phones calls & emails to get it done, but it was time well invested.

TomS

Not to stick my head in the lion's mouth, but it is not a universal position that the 20" run flats "suck". It depends upon your roads. Of course, if you live in the Northeast or any cold climate with potholes ( or neglectful local governments) you don't want RFT based on the reports on here. I'm in a Florida and I have no complaints with the RFTs. Not to argue the point; I'm just stating the sentiments are not universal.

jrpisha

Point taken. Florida roads are much smoother than what I drive here in Michigan.

MTrauman

Tom--Thanks. I too have not had any issues with my 19" Continental GX GSSR MO Extended tires that came with the AMG 19" Sport Package (we here call them run flats but they are MO Extended as MB has explained).


And I live in the Northeast in PA where the potholes are larger then a car but not as large as a 18 wheeler like they are in NY. It appears it is the 20" MO extended tires that have been the issue with the 20" Sport Package.


To add to this--I was very much against these MO Extended tires. In fact, I started the process of buying a lug wrench and looking to buy a jack and "donut" tire. But realized it was going to be a problem finding the donut tire so I stopped after the purchase of the lug wrench and decided to just "try" the MO Extended. I have been converted to the MO Extended on the 19" AMGs since they really work well with the car.

TomS

I should add I have the 20 inch Goodyear MOE tires to be specific. I drove in the Poconos area last month and steering around the potholes on 84 was a bit of a sport

Kratos-TM

Andrew from MBUSA called me, and basically gave me 10 minutes of political gibberish that all was a fancy NO. So I politely ended the call with him since it was getting nowhere, and now I need to go higher up in the ranks or go directly to the person who's helped some forum members.

Vik888

We haven't had any issues in SoCal either. The ride is beautiful and my dad who is VERY picky on ride quality loves the ride.

Chucky300

I left two messages to speak with Robin - no phone call back for her extension.
Haven't forgotten about you.

What the hell is going on there at MBUSA?

Kratos-TM

Don't know. But they are playing dumb to the situation, and acting like there was no conventional tires approved by them, and that they are not recommending any because MB didn't design it that way. They are also playing dumb to ever hearing about any runflat dislikes from any other owner. So basically if we don't talk to the exact person that handled the matter, we won't get anywhere with this.

Thanks for all of your help Chucky. You are a stellar member of this forum.

sagers2

They did the same thing with me, I got it done through my service manager and the built in $2500 dollar "keep the customer happy" fund built into each car. I just called and said I wanted them switched due to what I felt was deceptive advertising on the brochure. My tires were a swap from what came on the car originally which were the 18 inch tires, I went to the 20" AMG's.

TwinCam

I have had the same experience with MBUSA. I had the original customer service rep transfer me to a supervisor and I got nowhere with him after numerous calls and discussions. He held firm that MB would not approve any tire other than a run flat tire for my 2015 S550. The dealership refused to make a changeout without MBUSA's approval. My car should arrive in Brunswick next week and I hope to have it delivered by the end of the month. After approximately 15 calls with MBUSA I have given up on getting the run flats changed out at their expense. At least my car will be driven in southern Florida where the roads are good and we never experience below freezing temperatures.

Kratos-TM

Yeah, I figured this is how it would play out for me as well. I'm gonna quit the hassle and just buy the tires myself and have them shipped to the dealer to install at delivery.
Now to decide on the Bridgestone's or Dunlops.....the BR's are half the price, but are the Dun's twice better.....???

konigstiger

Curious, what happened when you mentioned (or presented) document posted here https://mbworld.org/forums/new-s-cla...ml#post6068164 “All tire makes recommended in the document (except PAX tires for special protection vehicles) have the identifier "MO" (Mercedes Original).

Kratos-TM

....

Kratos-TM

Nothing so far.

TwinCam

The supervisor said MBUSA pays no attention to what appears on the various MB forums. He then said, Let me repeat, there are no conventional tires approved for the 2015 S Class. My take on this was that Mercedes may have approved some conventional tires for the 2014 model, but they were putting a stop to it on the 2015. I even mentioned MB Manhattan having changed out tires for customers and the supervisor repeated "no conventional tires are approved for the 2015 S Class". End of discussion with him.

LovinMercedes

The supervisor is incorrect. The approved list, including 20 inch, is in this MB document, second post up from the bottom. https://mbworld.org/forums/new-s-cla...ml#post6150868

emilner

I am picking up my 2015 S550 4matic this week. The dealer is swapping the tires with Michelin Pilot A/S's for me. In the end they can actually make out- the tires are brand new. I think it's really up to the dealer when MBUSA fails...

Kratos-TM

MB put conventionals on the S600.......hmm...the runflats weren't good enough for the premium flagship?