No Spare Tire

112271 Views 28 Replies 18 Participants Last post by squaremcs, 6 mo ago

JimboGG

Discussion Starter · Dec 12, 2013

Well, by now you all must already know that there is no spare tire. The CLA also does not come with a fix-a-flat. I believe it comes with all-season run-flat tires.

What do you guys do? Purchase a mini-doughnut, fix-a-flat, or just wait for roadside assistance? Any other options?

1 - 20 of 29 Posts

sleepyhead

· #2 · Dec 12, 2013

JimboGG said:
Well, by now you all must already know that there is no spare tire. The CLA also does not come with a fix-a-flat. I believe it comes with all-season run-flat tires.

What do you guys do? Purchase a mini-doughnut, fix-a-flat, or just wait for roadside assistance? Any other options?

Well first off, realistically most Mercedes owners are NOT the type to fix a flat on the side of the road, so that probably factored into Mercedes' design. Also, since it's such a small car putting a spare would eat into the already small amount of space. And mess up their CAFE calculations, which is probably a major consideration for Mercedes to create and bring the CLA for the US market.

Personally I would wait for roadside assistance. I know how to change a flat, but I do not want to get back into my >50k car after getting all dirty changing a flat.

Reactions: 1

JimboGG

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 12, 2013

sleepyhead said:
Well first off, realistically most Mercedes owners are NOT the type to fix a flat on the side of the road, so that probably factored into Mercedes' design. Also, since it's such a small car putting a spare would eat into the already small amount of space. And mess up their CAFE calculations, which is probably a major consideration for Mercedes to create and bring the CLA for the US market.

Personally I would wait for roadside assistance. I know how to change a flat, but I do not want to get back into my >50k car after getting all dirty changing a flat.

Thanks! I didn't know what the "normal" thing to do would have been. I don't mind waiting for Roadside assistance.

brianch

· #4 · Dec 12, 2013

road side assistance

run flats

I think you'll be good.

Reactions: 1

BenzFan

· #5 · Dec 12, 2013

cfrp said:
road side assistance

run flats

I think you'll be good.

Or even just regular tires, tire patch kit, air compressor and road side assistance JUst in case.

JimboGG

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 13, 2013

BenzFan said:
Or even just regular tires, tire patch kit, air compressor and road side assistance JUst in case.

Who do you roadside assistance with?? MB's monthly plan? mbrace2?

Tonyride

· #7 · Dec 13, 2013

JimboGG said:
I believe it comes with all-season run-flat tires.

Only if you have the standard 17" wheels. The 18" wheels all have summer run flats.

Tonyride

· #8 · Dec 13, 2013

JimboGG said:
Who do you roadside assistance with?? MB's monthly plan? mbrace2?

I subscribe to mbrace2. I also have AAA for my other cars but I suppose I can use it for my CLA also if the MB tech will take too long..

sleepyhead

· #9 · Dec 13, 2013

It also depends on what you are going to do with your car. For example, if you live in a city with good roads and only drive around in the city and suburbs, I'd recommend just testing your luck since it will never take all that long for any tow truck to get to you, nor are you all that likely to get a flat. I've driven many miles and honestly I've never had a flat. I've been in Southern WV for a short while around Bluefield (don't know where you are Jimbo) but I can't imagine short of the random nail that any of those roads will blow a tire. If your odds of getting a flat are relatively low and you drive in an area populated enough that it is easy to find support it probably is not worth getting the coverage. And don't forget, if you are rural, it will take a while to get someone to help you regardless of who you have. Mercedes contracts the same local people you would call.

Jorgepun

· #10 · Dec 14, 2013

they told me you can supposedly run almost 60 extra more miles without any air in the tires and at speeds upto 80km per hour, supposedly no need for roadside assistance because one can probably drive the car to any shop to get the tire repaired or changed... and that is why no extra tire is needed, saving trunk space.

Tonyride

· #11 · Dec 14, 2013

Jorgepun said:
they told me you can supposedly run almost 60 extra more miles without any air in the tires and at speeds upto 80km per hour, supposedly no need for roadside assistance because one can probably drive the car to any shop to get the tire repaired or changed... and that is why no extra tire is needed, saving trunk space.

I was told the 50/50 rule... 50 miles at 50 mph (80 km at 80 kmph) on run-flats. Very much like a donut spare tire's capacity.

Reactions: 1

bairdwc

· #12 · Dec 19, 2013

Same here, 50 miles will get you to a tore store. My wife had a Fiat 500 before the CLA and it didn't have a spare. It came with a tire inflation kit.

Colmat

· #13 · Dec 20, 2013

Mine comes with fix-a-flat instead of run flat tires, which I prefer because the run flats tend to be pretty loud on the pavement!

Red Jupiter

· #14 · Dec 25, 2013

I bought a tire repair kit just for peace of mind or if I'm in the middle of nowhere late at night. This is my first experience with run flats. The kit cost me less than 40 dollars at Wal-Mart.

Tonyride

· #15 · Dec 25, 2013

Red Jupiter said:
I bought a tire repair kit just for peace of mind or if I'm in the middle of nowhere late at night. This is my first experience with run flats. The kit cost me less than 40 dollars at Wal-Mart.

What does a tire repair kit include? Maybe I can put together a kit myself if I know what's typically needed.

Red Jupiter

· #16 · Dec 26, 2013

Tonyride said:
What does a tire repair kit include? Maybe I can put together a kit myself if I know what's typically needed.

It contains an aerosol sealer and 12 volt inflation pump. Some also have tire repair plugs and tools.

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Tonyride

· #17 · Dec 26, 2013

Red Jupiter said:
aerosol sealer

Like Fix-a-flat or Slime?

Red Jupiter

· #18 · Dec 27, 2013

Yes. The Kit I bought was Slime.

coder

· #19 · Sep 29, 2015 (Edited)

Run flats not so good

Hi folks,

At 24K mi one of my Pirelli run-flats developed a side bulge.
I am finding out that run flats are sensitive to impact (potholes, brushing up agains a curb) so this is apparently fairly common.

They have some sort of pro-rated road hazard warranty on them, but I am not even going to bother.

Consider, if something like this happens, you will likely have to replace 2 tires (to avoid running on 2 differently worn tires) and of course the other undamaged tire would not be covered by warranty. BTW good luck trying to get a tire shop plugging run-flats should you pick up a nail.

I am opting to ditch these evil suckers. For the price of a pair of the pirelli run flats, I can put on a full set of Michelin non-run flats.

MB in their infinite, er.. wisdom did not provide enough storage space for even a donut spare.
I could forgive them not providing me a spare, but not providing the place to store one should I want one, is inexcusable. The user's manual suggestion to use tire goop on non-run flats is utterly lame. The goop ruins the TPM, and makes it impossible to plug the tire.

I think I will just carry a plug kit so I can plug any nail holes if one should happen, right then and there.

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Tonyride

· #20 · Sep 29, 2015 (Edited)

coder said:
BTW good luck trying to get a tire shop plugging run-flats should you pick up a nail......
....The user's manual suggestion to use tire goop on non-run flats is utterly lame. The goop ruins the TPM, and makes it impossible to plug the tire.

I think I will just carry a plug kit so I can plug any nail holes if one should happen, right then and there.

Actually run flats, or at least the Bridgestones on my CLA, can be plugged. I did get a nail in one of the tires on my way to work. The leak was slow enough so I'm able to safely drive it to a tire shop near my work and they were able to remove the nail and seal the hole. This was about a year or so ago and so far so good.

As for liquid tire sealant, there are TPMS safe ones out there. I believe Slime makes a version that's safe for TPMS. I know there's one other brand but I can't remember the name. You'll just have to look on the lable.

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