W222 S550 spare tire

Subscribe
Feb 10, 2019 | 02:25 PM
  #1  
I am not confident in the run flat tires I have on my S550. They are 22” wheels and the trunk does not have a place for a spare. I wanted to check with others to see if they found a solution to this.
Thx, John
Reply 0
Feb 10, 2019 | 02:52 PM
  #2  
Quote:
I am not confident in the run flat tires I have on my S550. They are 22” wheels and the trunk does not have a place for a spare. I wanted to check with others to see if they found a solution to this.
Thx, John
Do a search... Lots of discussions on solutions. W221 Spare will work on a W222. However if you have staggered wheels, ya may have to do some swapping depending on where you get the flat. There is no way to mount in trunk. You will have to fabricate your own way to mount or just have it float around.
General Understanding ….
I have personally been thinking of going with Full Summer (Non Extended Mobility) Not Run Flats, separate discussion.... and full Winter Tires since I am in the NY area. However, I am stuck with the following.....
1. Stay with Extended Mobility All Season Tires Rougher ride, great steering response, risk damaging rims due to stiff sidewalls, no need to extra set of rims, no need to swap tires, long tread life, good balance in Dry/Wet/Snow conditions.
2. Get Winter Extended Mobility Tires and Summer Extended Mobility Tires. Stiff ride, Noisy, short tread life, (Winter, BEST FOR DRIVING IN SNOW AND SLUSH ( Almost 50% better in Traction and STOPPING distances.) Summer, BEST FOR DRIVING IN DRY/WET ( Almost 50% better in Traction and STOPPING distances ) Risk of damaging Rims due to Stiffer Side Wall.
3. Get a W221 Spare, eat up limited trunk space, Install Standard All Season
4. Get a W221 Spare, eat up limited trunk space, Use Non Extended Mobility Summer tires, *** However, they are noisier, and have thicker side walls and minimum useful thread life.
. . . and the stories, comments will go on and on and on and on....
Bottom line...…. Its a Personal Choice once you have all the data.
If stopping distances are most important, True Summer/Winter Extended Mobility or not.
If Noise / Comfort is most important, Non Extended Mobility, Non Dedicated Summer/Winter
If Rim Damage is biggest concern, Non Extended Mobility, Non Dedicated Summer
Yadda, Yadda, Yadda...

The above is my general observation from reading through tons of Zero's and One's...

Now, lets get the Nitro Fill going again...
Extended Mobility Tires are not Run-Flat
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=234
Reply 1
Feb 10, 2019 | 06:51 PM
  #3  
I have been a Mercedes addict for a while. Now there is neither a spare tire nor a CD player in the Sedans.
Goodbye Mercedes. My new car list now has BMW, Audi, and Genesis models which I research as my hobby.
I'll insist on a spare and a CD player and probably get run flats also when it is time to buy.
Reply 0
Feb 10, 2019 | 07:55 PM
  #4  
Quote: I have been a Mercedes addict for a while. Now there is neither a spare tire nor a CD player in the Sedans.
Goodbye Mercedes. My new car list now has BMW, Audi, and Genesis models which I research as my hobby.
I'll insist on a spare and a CD player and probably get run flats also when it is time to buy.
The lack of a spare tire is the only complaint I have with the W222, other than that I love it. Rides great and no service issues. If you drive on a run-flat w/o air it pretty much destroys the tire. I don’t trust a run flat to get me to a safe location if I get a flat while on a trip. The minimal savings in space/weight & cost do not justify the elimination of a spare.
Reply 3
Feb 10, 2019 | 08:14 PM
  #5  
Quote: I have been a Mercedes addict for a while. Now there is neither a spare tire nor a CD player in the Sedans.
Goodbye Mercedes. My new car list now has BMW, Audi, and Genesis models which I research as my hobby.
I'll insist on a spare and a CD player and probably get run flats also when it is time to buy.
If you're an old school Mercedes person like me, the A8 will quickly end up on the top of your list. Even with the B&O Advanced 3D sound system with 1920W and 24 speakers (IIRC), even with that, there's a spare tire underneath the trunk floor.
Reply 1
Feb 10, 2019 | 08:27 PM
  #6  
Quote: If you're an old school Mercedes person like me, the A8 will quickly end up on the top of your list. Even with the B&O Advanced 3D sound system with 1920W and 24 speakers (IIRC), even with that, there's a spare tire underneath the trunk floor.
The A8 is a nice car, I considered it before purchasing the W222.
Reply 0
Feb 11, 2019 | 11:15 AM
  #7  
Looks great (better than S) except for $. Also no CD player in 2019. I'll look at used.
Reply 0
Feb 11, 2019 | 11:23 AM
  #8  
With 22” wheels and the “rubber band” profile tires they require on a W222, you are just begging for trouble, but I’m sure you know that. I run non-run flat tires and carry a W221 compact spare, which sits on top of my trunk floor. It’s a nuisance, but provides great peace of mind, especially when traveling outside a metro area.


Reply 1

MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

Explore
story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo
Feb 11, 2019 | 11:31 AM
  #9  
The desire for a spare in W222 cars is quite strong on these boards, but that & $5.00 will get us a cup of coffee. So, make a point of COMPLAINING about this, EVERY time you interact with ANY MB employee you encounter. From sales staff, to service writers, to anyone you might talk to at MBUSA. TELL THEM how unhappy you are and that your next car may be a BMW, Audi or Genesis, JUST because of this issue. If MB were to hear this enough times, they would fix the problem. A compact spare should, at the very least, be optional on a car the size and caliber of an S Class.
Reply 1
Feb 11, 2019 | 11:46 AM
  #10  
Quote:
The lack of a spare tire is the only complaint I have with the W222, other than that I love it. Rides great and no service issues. If you drive on a run-flat w/o air it pretty much destroys the tire. I don’t trust a run flat to get me to a safe location if I get a flat while on a trip. The minimal savings in space/weight & cost do not justify the elimination of a spare.
Been driving on runflat tires since 1999. Have had two punctures - both repairable - after driving to a tire store.

If you must drive further than 50 miles to reach help, do so. The downside is the distance driven beyond 50 miles reduces the probability the tire can be repaired.

Currently running on Bridgestone Drive Guards. Very satisfied with them. But the best part is knowing I will never be disabled on the hard shoulder, lying on my back with semi-trucks passing by three feet away at 70 mph. Damm scary!
Reply 1
Feb 11, 2019 | 11:57 AM
  #11  
Even though I carry a spare, I don’t plan on changing it myself anytime soon. If I get a flat, I’ll call AAA or MB Roadsise Assistance. However, IF the tire cannot be repaired onsite, I will have a spare for the service to install. If the tire cannot be repaired and you do not have a spare, you are going for a ride in the cab of a tow truck. Depending on where you are (family trip to Yellowstone?), this could be REALLY inconvenient and might take more than a day to resolve. I know that such things rarely happen, but as a Boy Scout, I learned to always be prepared.
Reply 0
Feb 11, 2019 | 04:36 PM
  #12  
I take some nice trips once in a while in my s class and dont want to wait for anyone in case i get a flat. I have the same setup as steamliner. spare in trunk w full 221 jack kit.
Reply 0
Feb 11, 2019 | 06:13 PM
  #13  
Quote: I take some nice trips once in a while in my s class and dont want to wait for anyone in case i get a flat. I have the same setup as steamliner. spare in trunk w full 221 jack kit.
i will get a spare tire and keep in trunk with jack. Unfortunately, when going on a family trip I’ll need all the trunk space it has for luggage. I may either take a different vehicle or roll the dice.
Reply 0
Feb 11, 2019 | 06:21 PM
  #14  
i took mine from my 221 but if you dont have one try to get the compact one from an s63.
Reply 0
Feb 11, 2019 | 07:35 PM
  #15  
Quote:
With 22” wheels and the “rubber band” profile tires they require on a W222, you are just begging for trouble, but I’m sure you know that. I run non-run flat tires and carry a W221 compact spare, which sits on top of my trunk floor. It’s a nuisance, but provides great peace of mind, especially when traveling outside a metro area.



This, unfortunately, is my answer too. The #1 recommendation I have is to try for smaller rims when you are buying your car (19 incher). You're asking for trouble if you go for the larger rims which are more likely to land you with a flat. You can get a spare on eBay for 150-200 bucks. And a spare kit (jack, lug wrench) for another 100. But the amazing ride comfort on a Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ is worth it.

I also considered the Audi A8 with the standard tires and spare in the trunk. But the reported history of catastrophic engine failure/ turbo issues with the Audi 4.0L turbo engine (which apparently has been remedied after 2016) kept me from pulling the trigger.
Reply 1
Feb 27, 2019 | 08:20 PM
  #16  
I joined the spare tire-equipped W222 owners. Bought a full size Pirelli tire on 19x8.5 wheel, as well as electric jack with lug wrench. $700 & lost most of trunk. However, I am now confident to venture outside city limits!
Reply 0
Feb 27, 2019 | 08:35 PM
  #17  
I think we should all send photos of our trunks with our spares sitting in there to MBUSA.
Reply 2
Feb 27, 2019 | 09:00 PM
  #18  
Quote:
I joined the spare tire-equipped W212 owners. Bought a full size Pirelli tire on 19x8.5 wheel, as well as electric jack with lug wrench. $700 & lost most of trunk. However, I am now confident to venture outside city limits!
I will be getting a spare/jack as soon as I swap out the run flats. It a shame we all need to do this.
Reply 0
Feb 27, 2019 | 09:33 PM
  #19  
Quote:
I think we should all send photos of our trunks with our spares sitting in there to MBUSA.
It certainly should get some attention and change in the US models to include a spare in the future. From what I read on this forum many object to the elimination of the spare, I wonder if it’s the same in other countries? The worst part is it occupies so much of the trunk, but it was designed underneath the trunk like most vehicles it would be fixable.
Reply 0
Feb 28, 2019 | 08:17 AM
  #20  
Quote:
I think we should all send photos of our trunks with our spares sitting in there to MBUSA.
yes i think that would be a good idea. Im embarrassed to post a pic of my trunk...Its a mess! lol
Reply 0
Feb 28, 2019 | 08:27 AM
  #21  
Hello all,
I am in the process of buying a new 560 and have been doing the usual forum searches and such.
My .02, we have had 3 incidents of an unserviceable tire damage in our family over the last 50 years.
I have plugged a tire about 8 times, usually a slow leak from a nail or such.
I usually swap out run flats for non run flats when the RFs need replacement.
I do carry a small compressor and tire plug kit in the trunk.
If a spare tire is available from the manufacturer, I get one. Used that about 3 times in the last 50 years.
I don't think it is necessary to sacrifice trunk space to carry a spare............
Reply 0
Feb 28, 2019 | 11:15 AM
  #22  
I have been driving for over 50 years now and have never been stranded with a tire issue! I did get a nail in one tire but TPMS allowed me to get it plugged before it went flat. When my RF tires wear down I plan to replace with conventional. I do carry a pump and plug kit in my trunk.
Reply 0
Feb 28, 2019 | 02:21 PM
  #23  
so interesting, wife came back from work w a flat, no idea how she drove on it sidewalls gone now. Call up my tire place and ..... conti dws 315-35-20 on national backorder! yea *** me! tires have low miles on them as I put them on last year. Luckily found a new one on ebay after calling everywhere will be here in a few days but until then ill use the spare. Thankfully I sourced it when i bought the truck a few years ago, turns a prblm not into a prblm. So this was for my x5 but easily could have been any of my cars.


Reply 0
Feb 28, 2019 | 09:10 PM
  #24  
Aren't women great??! My wife did the same thing twice. We recently counted all the rims she curbed in the last 15 years......11 !! After my last explosion 4 years ago she never asks to take my car anywhere for any reason now. LOL Works for me. She hasn't curbed a rim in 4 years...I feel blessed!! Sucks when it's a low mile tire. Good luck
Reply 0
Feb 28, 2019 | 11:20 PM
  #25  
yea does suk... the " new tire" i bought on ebay was date coded 2011 so I cancelled that..... Id like to keep the conti dws all around so ill keep looking.. measured my current which is at 8/32...
Reply 0
story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE