I had my third flat on my S550 yesterday, coming back from my second home. This is the third time in 12 months. The first 2 times, I was too far from the dealership to make it and had to be towed in. This time I was about 45 miles out, and fortunately it was in the afternoon. I was able to limp in. But....we need a SPARE tire option of some kind, that doesn't intrude into trunk space. This is silly....

 

I agree

 

I suspect this has more to do with your eyesight than the way the cars are built and suspended.

I have not had a flat in almost 500,000 miles (1979).

 

 

This hits home for me, Popped a tire just last night, My fault, misjudged a curb in a crowded area. I've had very few flats over the years and will absolutely never buy a car without a spare.
Kudos to roadside assistance. They changed the tire within an hour. If you've ever had a car with runflats, you can't wait to get rid of them.

 

You were able to limp in, lol I have to use that. Anyways glad you made it back and a spare is a definite must.

 

Actually, it's anything BUT silly. It is asinine, ridiculous and a crying shame that the frigging, PIGHEADED folks in Germany, who constantly flaunt their engineering prowess, cannot seem to understand the simple idea that a spare wheel & tire are absolutely essential to the safety and security of their customers. These clowns reside in their ivory towers where nobody ever gets a flat when they are not within eyesight of a dealership. Can they not imagine the vastness of the USA and other countries, where there are huge areas where nobody and I mean NOBODY has a frigging idea of what a P255/35ZR20XL is?

As many of you know, I have a W221 compact spare, sitting on TOP of my trunk floor. I have a W222 jack & tool kit that came from Germany. Every time I open my trunk, I curse the condescending idiots at Mercedes-Benz who think so little of us here in the USA and who just one day decided, as they were having a strudel and listening to Wagner, that their customers have no need for a spare. it really is a slap in our collective faces. The best or nothing. Yeah, right.

 

It is much worse with sport package tires....will avoid in future

 

I understand what you mean. I had a flat in Croatia and was on the way to The Netherlands... Runflat isn't as practical as spare tires. Took me a day and a half to be on my way again...

 

Gosh, what a nightmare!! We need SPARE TIRES!!!

 

I've said this here before: EVERY TIME you interact with any MB sales person, service advisor, tech, manager, etc., convey your unhappiness and your concern for the safety of your family over not having even the OPTION of a spare and do this in NO UNCERTAIN WORDS. This is the only way MB will ever come to their senses.