SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Tirefit vs. Houston Pothole
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From: Houston, TX
2003 sl55 AMG
Tirefit vs. Houston Pothole
Well, 2 weeks now and my first disaster...Thanks, Lee Brown (mayor) for those potholes. I ran into one on the Southwest Freeway this afternoon at 40 mph. Totally at random, never saw it because of the car in front, then BOOM!
10-12 minutes later it's pulling left so I pull over...FLAT! I called SOS (worked fine, they knew where I was and sent a flatbed). In the meantime I tried the Tirefit system which actually did get some pressure into the tire, to 40 psi. However, the sidewall had a 1 cm. tear so it wouldn't hold.
Off to Greenway Mercedes and they'll get it changed tomorrow.
One comment: I drove for about 10 miles and really the tire was intact and the wheel was perfect. Probably because of the low- profile Pirellis according to the towtruck driver, but maybe these are RunFlat tires. Anyone know?
10-12 minutes later it's pulling left so I pull over...FLAT! I called SOS (worked fine, they knew where I was and sent a flatbed). In the meantime I tried the Tirefit system which actually did get some pressure into the tire, to 40 psi. However, the sidewall had a 1 cm. tear so it wouldn't hold.
Off to Greenway Mercedes and they'll get it changed tomorrow.
One comment: I drove for about 10 miles and really the tire was intact and the wheel was perfect. Probably because of the low- profile Pirellis according to the towtruck driver, but maybe these are RunFlat tires. Anyone know?
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From: New Jersey
2003 S500 4-matic, 2003 SL55
Thats what happens when u drive to close to the car in front of u, no time to react to potholes and what not. You are relying on the person in front. I have the same problem, because I am an aggressive driver I tend to get close to the cars in front of me on rural roads when people drive below the spped limit. The other day right around the corner from my house I was driving when 2 or 3 cars in front made quick movements around something in the road. Luckly I saw them and slowed down to see a large rock in the road. I stoped next to it and got out of the car with my flashers on and removed it from the road. Ends up it was a 10-12 pound boulder around 6-7 in diameter. As I am doing this the car behind cant wait and passes, what a *** hole, maybe it took me 20 seconds to do but he cant wait. Can you imagine the damage that that would have done if I hit it or ran over it. I went home to tell my wife and she had her friend over so I told them both. They said that it was there all day and no one removed it. I asked why they did not and they said we just drove around it. You live and learn!
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From: New Jersey
2003 S500 4-matic, 2003 SL55
I agree and if you are a aggressive driver having tires that are under inflated could be a serious problem. A must have in a car like this, or check your pressure every week.
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From: So. Cal
2024 S580 | 2024 Escalade ESV Sport Plat | 2022 X5M Competition
Originally posted by Sammy7783
What is this so-called Tirefit system?
What is this so-called Tirefit system?
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Out Of Control!!
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Originally posted by ///MB
It's probaby like the BMW M mobility kit, which consists of a pump that plugs into your cigarette lighter and a can of "gunk" that you put into the tire to seal the leak.
It's probaby like the BMW M mobility kit, which consists of a pump that plugs into your cigarette lighter and a can of "gunk" that you put into the tire to seal the leak.
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
Originally posted by ///MB
It's probaby like the BMW M mobility kit, which consists of a pump that plugs into your cigarette lighter and a can of "gunk" that you put into the tire to seal the leak.
It's probaby like the BMW M mobility kit, which consists of a pump that plugs into your cigarette lighter and a can of "gunk" that you put into the tire to seal the leak.
This frees up space in the trunk, reduces weight, but the Tirefit system is only good for minor leaks. The tyre pressure monitoring is good because if it's telling you in advance you have a problem, you can do something about it. Won't help if you get into pot-holes though.
UK roads are just as bad; the best roads in my experience are in France, well maintained. German roads are not in very good condition, especially in the industrial heartland and, for all their lack of speed limits, are often only 2 lanes wide.
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Originally posted by blueSL
That's exactly what it is. Because the SL55 has different sized wheels front and rear, and directional tyres, there's no point in having a spare wheel since it would only be right for 1 of the 4...
That's exactly what it is. Because the SL55 has different sized wheels front and rear, and directional tyres, there's no point in having a spare wheel since it would only be right for 1 of the 4...
btw, i haven't experianced n e potholes in houston.. maybe i should learn how to drive first! :P
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From: Houston, TX
2003 sl55 AMG
Update
So, the left front tire got changed @ $222 with $75 for the tow, and now they say the left rear has a "bubble" that needs a new tire. However, the closest one is in Mississippi so I have to go slow until they get it next week.
It wasn't even that huge a pothole, but apparently low profile tires are susceptible to sidewall injuries easily.
The "gunk" with the Tirefit system is really only good for small holes but the air compressor that is supplied is really quite well- made and pumps out adequate pressure to keep you going until the next stop unless it's a huge hole.
They should really make the tire pressure monitoring system standard. In fact, as one reviewer said, why have any options at all on a car of this magnitude? The total options list adds up to around $9,000 or so compared to a list of $113,000...just give us everything and just adjust color and interior fittings.
I will probably get an aftermarket tire pressure monitor installed at some point, the issue is too important.
It wasn't even that huge a pothole, but apparently low profile tires are susceptible to sidewall injuries easily.
The "gunk" with the Tirefit system is really only good for small holes but the air compressor that is supplied is really quite well- made and pumps out adequate pressure to keep you going until the next stop unless it's a huge hole.
They should really make the tire pressure monitoring system standard. In fact, as one reviewer said, why have any options at all on a car of this magnitude? The total options list adds up to around $9,000 or so compared to a list of $113,000...just give us everything and just adjust color and interior fittings.
I will probably get an aftermarket tire pressure monitor installed at some point, the issue is too important.
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
Certainly agree with you about the importance of correct pressures on low profile tires.
I also agree that the tyre pressure monitoring should be standard from a safety point of view. I can understand items like parktronic and distronic not being standard because some people do not like their visual appearance. I did not have distronic for that reason, parktronic I can put up with but it would of course be better to have it without the warts on the bumper covers.
I figure the SL600 will have most of the items as standard and what choices there are left will be down to personal preference.
I also agree that the tyre pressure monitoring should be standard from a safety point of view. I can understand items like parktronic and distronic not being standard because some people do not like their visual appearance. I did not have distronic for that reason, parktronic I can put up with but it would of course be better to have it without the warts on the bumper covers.
I figure the SL600 will have most of the items as standard and what choices there are left will be down to personal preference.
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From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
Originally posted by blueSL
That's exactly what it is. Because the SL55 has different sized wheels front and rear, and directional tyres, there's no point in having a spare wheel since it would only be right for 1 of the 4...
That's exactly what it is. Because the SL55 has different sized wheels front and rear, and directional tyres, there's no point in having a spare wheel since it would only be right for 1 of the 4...
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
The tyre tread pattern is designed and optimised assuming the tyre is rotating in one direction only. There's an arrow on the wall of the tyre to show the correct rotation direction when running forwards; that means it works only on one side of the car; if you put it on the other side of the car, it will run backwards and not perform as expected.
The CL of course has a much bigger - huge - trunk compared to the SL so there's no particular space benefit to be had by supplying a one-wheel-fits-all spare.
The CL of course has a much bigger - huge - trunk compared to the SL so there's no particular space benefit to be had by supplying a one-wheel-fits-all spare.
Last edited by blueSL; Jan 20, 2003 at 05:45 AM.
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From: The Great Nation of Canada
2001 Chrysler Indrepid
Sorry to hear about the "incident", but feel lucky that you accually have roads that you can drive your SL500's and 55's on, I can't even immagine low cars like that driving here, especially now that it's winter, and potholes!! Oh god you haven't got a clue. Damn Canadian winters!! It angers me! But enough about my pittyfull geographical situation! Those tires questions sound very interesting!!
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
Well, I was wrong. I checked the tyres on my SL55 and they are marked with an "outside" on the side-wall which indicates they must be mounted on the rim one way only, but there's no arrow showing direction. I'm confused, need to do some research...
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Originally posted by blueSL
Well, I was wrong. I checked the tyres on my SL55 and they are marked with an "outside" on the side-wall which indicates they must be mounted on the rim one way only, but there's no arrow showing direction. I'm confused, need to do some research...
Well, I was wrong. I checked the tyres on my SL55 and they are marked with an "outside" on the side-wall which indicates they must be mounted on the rim one way only, but there's no arrow showing direction. I'm confused, need to do some research...
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
Turns out my SL55 is fitted with Pirelli P-Zero Rosso which are asymmetric but not directional. That means each tyre must be fitted on the rim the correct way (with the word "outside" on the side wall on the... you've guessed it... outside) and then the wheel can be used on either side of the car because the direction of rotation does not matter. As we've already said, the SL55 has different wheel sizes front and rear, so you cannot swap front to back.
My Ferrari uses Bridgstone Expedias which are both directional and asymmetric with different wheel sizes front and back again so there are actually four different tyres on the car with the left hand side being mirror images of the ones on the right. Each tyre is for one position only and you cannot change anything. Those tyres have the word "outside" and an arrow showing the correct rotation on the side-wall.
My Ferrari uses Bridgstone Expedias which are both directional and asymmetric with different wheel sizes front and back again so there are actually four different tyres on the car with the left hand side being mirror images of the ones on the right. Each tyre is for one position only and you cannot change anything. Those tyres have the word "outside" and an arrow showing the correct rotation on the side-wall.
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ARCANE,
i feel your pain, mayor brown has done nothing but ruin the streets and close down businesses, especially in the downtown area.
i saw a couple of posts that if you take some pictures, prices and times of what happened, the city would pay you back. but then again, after seeing how they opened up whole streets and left them empty for almost a year before patching them up, i really would doubt they'd do anything about your claim.
i feel your pain, mayor brown has done nothing but ruin the streets and close down businesses, especially in the downtown area.
i saw a couple of posts that if you take some pictures, prices and times of what happened, the city would pay you back. but then again, after seeing how they opened up whole streets and left them empty for almost a year before patching them up, i really would doubt they'd do anything about your claim.
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Originally posted by ibrahim83
ARCANE,
i feel your pain, mayor brown has done nothing but ruin the streets and close down businesses, especially in the downtown area.
i saw a couple of posts that if you take some pictures, prices and times of what happened, the city would pay you back. but then again, after seeing how they opened up whole streets and left them empty for almost a year before patching them up, i really would doubt they'd do anything about your claim.
ARCANE,
i feel your pain, mayor brown has done nothing but ruin the streets and close down businesses, especially in the downtown area.
i saw a couple of posts that if you take some pictures, prices and times of what happened, the city would pay you back. but then again, after seeing how they opened up whole streets and left them empty for almost a year before patching them up, i really would doubt they'd do anything about your claim.
Gimme back Kathy Whitmire. 
