There seems to be conflicting info on the internet (as if that is new ) as to whether the GLA45 comes with run flats or non fun flats (with a air pump and sealant system in the boot). So for those of you that have the GLA45 what say you. Inquiring minds want to know
I'm super curious about this as well. Given what I've read from here so far, I'm tempted to ask the dealer for conventional tires instead of run-flats when I pick mine up.
The 45 both c and gla come with normal tires, albeit high end and pricey . Mine had the excellent conti sportcontact 5 summers. With the 20 inch gla wheel there is no corresponding all season but i think there are some dedicated winters in that size. Yes run flats would make an already firm ride too harsh
It's funny because they tried to sell me the wheel and tire protection package because run flats cost $1000+ to replace one and I had to tell them my car doesn't even have run flats. lol
Picked up (4/10) the GLA45 (US spec) we ordered in November… it most assuredly has Summer Performance Tires that are NOT run flats.
ContiSportContact 5P
Z Rated
235/45 ZR19
Treadwear Rating: 240 (which basically means lower tread life and higher traction/bite and handling…tire performance over tread life is way more important to me)
Traction: AA
Temperature: A
The vehicle window sticker has the following: The wheels and tires on this vehicle are designed for high performance driving and as such will experience increased tread wear…. These tires are not designed for use on ice and snow
Since I live in Florida these are perfect tires for me…performance period.
This is the boot of the GLA45… is has the Harman Kardon amps and sub woofer (bottom area) and in the upper right area the air pump and tire sealer to cover getting a flat. Does not come with a jack, but I will get an OEM jack and put back there
Spoke to the dealer about the GLA 45 I'm supposed to be receiving next week. Same deal. Non-runflat 19" summer performance tires with a patch kit in the trunk. I'm in Montreal, Canada.
Really weird that some people are getting run-flats, and others aren't. I'm very happy that mine doesn't have run-flats.
Does anyone know if there is a MB part number or numbers for the patch kit and compressor? My GLA 250 came with Goodyear run flats and I would like to may be buy the patch kit to give me more future options.
Pirelli
CINTURATO P7 ALL SEASON RUN FLAT
Grand Touring All-Season
Size: 245/45R19
MOExtended Run Flat
LRR: EcoImpact
Sidewall Style: Blackwall
Load Range: XL
Serv. Desc: 102H
UTQG: 500 A A
$281.43/tire
The Continentals are $227.18 each.
The point is that if you puncture a run flat it is over. Pirelli says:
A tyre should always be changed and not repaired after a loss of pressure, as it is not always possible to establish the time and conditions under which the tyre has been used with insufficient inflation pressure.
I frankly don't see the value in a run flat other than you don't get out of the car until you get to a tire shop or the dealer to replace the expensive piece of blown rubber.
It is somewhat beneficial since the GLA has no spare tire, we just get a can of slime. The insurance works well with the run flats I guess because they are expensive, my friend had 328i and one of his wheels got punctured by a nail 2 weeks after he got the car and he had to spend $300 to replace them (including installation and replacement) and you kind of have no choice because it isn't advisable to mix and match your tires, you got to get the same one as the other three. I think 3-4 months later another tire got a problem and it is another $300.
I bought 20's for my car and paid maybe $12-$15 insurance for each tire and it has a 4-year warranty against anything that happens to it and they'll replace it brand new.
It is somewhat beneficial since the GLA has no spare tire, we just get a can of slime. The insurance works well with the run flats I guess because they are expensive, my friend had 328i and one of his wheels got punctured by a nail 2 weeks after he got the car and he had to spend $300 to replace them (including installation and replacement) and you kind of have no choice because it isn't advisable to mix and match your tires, you got to get the same one as the other three. I think 3-4 months later another tire got a problem and it is another $300.
It all speaks to weight, which is critical in a sports car. A tire is both heavy and bulky--then you have the jack and tire iron. How often do people have flats? I have had two in the last 15 years, my wife had one with her Acura two weeks after we bought it. She had a nail in the sidewall, goodbye tire. Take another spin of the roulette wheel.
Two schools of thought, both eliminate the spare and both get you to somewhere you can have the issue repaired. The run flat has the advantage that it will get you where you need to go. Disadvantage is the cost and the tire, because of it's run flat capability, is less than optimal. The slime is cheap, period. The tire can be whatever tire you want, but the fix-a-flat may or may not get you where you need to go.
getting my space saver this week...its gonna take up room in the back...so be it..........If i do have a blowout in the middle of nowhere at least i wont be stranded waiting for a tow truck for hours IF i can get one
Run flats have some specific disadvantages. They are heavier than standard tires and it is unsprung weight so that weight consumes more of the saved weight from losing the spare and jacking paraphernalia than some people realize. It ends up being a win for CAFE but an across the board loss for performance. Run flats are also less compliant meaning they ride worse than competitive non run flat tires. That lesser compliance also means they tend to run louder, particularly as they get miles on. Advantages are that at typical road speeds they turn getting a flat into no more drama than seeing a message or light saying a tire is deflated and that alone is enough for some people to buy in. As mentioned above they have the advantage of allowing you to keep on driving and deal with the flat in a place of your choosing. They also give designers more packaging options without the need to locate a spare and jacking tools and usually in cars like ours it translates into at least a little extra and always welcome storage space.
My own take is that I keep the ol lady on run flats and I roll standard summer performance with a fix a flat kit. I've had few flats in my life and I'm willing to accept the risk of being on the side of the road waiting for help if the fix a flat doesn't get me rolling.
Whether run flats or not most tires have their speed rating voided or reduced after being repaired. On a normal car that wont ever see higher speeds it doesn't really matter but you have to ask yourself where you stand when you have a performance car. The conventional wisdom is if you plan on going fast a flat tire means you replace, not repair.
Back to the tire insurance they offer, you also have to keep in mind that there seems to be a history of Continental tires going bad like getting bubbles and such on Mercedes vehicles, not sure if it is just the Continental tires supplied to MB or just the whole brand but I remember someone posted a couple of links that led to many complaints about the wheels and how it isn't covered by MB even if it happens the day after you drive your car home.
The key with that should be ensuring they are aware of this being a possibility and ensuring sufficient warranty come with the tire. With that i wouldn't be too concerned.
I didn't order run flats when configuring a car, so it came on 19'' Winter tyres, but I've bought dunlop run flats at the dealer (much cheaper than from the factory)
I encountered a screw in my factory goodyear run flats that came on my car. I took it out and plugged the hole with my slime kit, aired up and have been driving on it with no air loss since the 4th of July. Including one 2000 mile week of driving.
The slime kit I have has plugs you put in the hole. I have lots of them in my utv tires which is why I had the kit in the first place. It is a messy gooie bunch of stuff I would not want to keep in my car.
87 times out of a 100 a nail results in a slow leak. Just means you pump the tire up... no slime needed... drive to a service station and have it plugged. Maybe its gotten better in recent years, but I've never resorted to Slime. In the old days, at least when it first appeared on the market, it would stick to the rims and make it impossible to balance properly thereafter. Spare or no, I've done this dozens of times as its generally a heck of a lot safer than changing the tire on the roadside, particularly in the current age of distracted driving.
The seemingly idiotic thing about run flats AFAICT, never owned one that failed, is that you're encouraged to drive around on a deflated tire relying on the sidewall to hold you up and wind up destroying the tire in the process. I would assume that if you just pumped air into it, assuming a slow leak, it would be perfectly fine when plugged. Run flats really are only an advantage in helping you avoid a tow if you have a really bad leak, say hitting a pothole and bending a rim. No amount of slime or air will help you then.
I have almost 42,000 miles on my Goodyear 19" run flats that came with my car. The plug I put in has seen about half of those miles. To clarify I did not put slime in my tire I just used the "slime" brand of plugs and glue.(previous post) Getting ready to buy new tires. I am thinking of not buying run flats for better performance and more comfort. Has anybody else already made this transition? How happy are you. Did it affect your mpg?
If I get a flat I will be out of luck since my car came with no spare, no jack, no slime or any other type of assistance for a flat tire. This is the first car that I have had that has had tire pressure warning. It is how I found my first flat before
Currently 2015 250 4 matic with Goodyear Eagle LS 2 RUN ON FLAT 235/45 R19 95H M+S made in Germany.
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