I know it has been mentioned before but get rid of those run flats. I recently had uneven wear on one of my run flats and decided to go all around with a pair of regular tires. I chose the relatively inexpensive Vogue Signature V tires - (245 45 R17) special ordered from Discount Tire. I cannot tell you how much the ride - and overall experience - has improved.
What I have noticed (so far):
- A much less bumpy ride. That initial (percussive) impact of normal roads is no longer a major annoyance. I never realized how much your tires absorb these small impacts. It feels like the other Mercedes that I have owned in the past now.
- No more steering wheel pull. I noticed that uneven roads and those gummy black road seals would pull the steering wheel - sometime aggressively.
- Smoother braking. I have always, even with brand new rotors and pads, noticed subtle vibration when braking - that, too, is gone.
- Quieter. I did not purchase super expensive tires but it's a lot more muted in the car.
- I can imagine I'll have fewer cracked and bent rims - a common issue with run flats (I have two extra old and mildly bent rims in the garage from this).
I also do not notice anything different with handling. To offset the lack of spare tire (the Adblue tank removes the space for the standard spare) I have some Fix-A-Flat in the trunk as well as starting paying a couple bucks a month for roadside assistance through my insurance carrier. That said I do have an extra (mildly bent) rim that I put the best run-flat on as a spare on longer trips - just in case.
Ditch the run flats: High recommended.
What I have noticed (so far):
- A much less bumpy ride. That initial (percussive) impact of normal roads is no longer a major annoyance. I never realized how much your tires absorb these small impacts. It feels like the other Mercedes that I have owned in the past now.
- No more steering wheel pull. I noticed that uneven roads and those gummy black road seals would pull the steering wheel - sometime aggressively.
- Smoother braking. I have always, even with brand new rotors and pads, noticed subtle vibration when braking - that, too, is gone.
- Quieter. I did not purchase super expensive tires but it's a lot more muted in the car.
- I can imagine I'll have fewer cracked and bent rims - a common issue with run flats (I have two extra old and mildly bent rims in the garage from this).
I also do not notice anything different with handling. To offset the lack of spare tire (the Adblue tank removes the space for the standard spare) I have some Fix-A-Flat in the trunk as well as starting paying a couple bucks a month for roadside assistance through my insurance carrier. That said I do have an extra (mildly bent) rim that I put the best run-flat on as a spare on longer trips - just in case.
Ditch the run flats: High recommended.
