[sleepyhead]

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.

 

[sleepyhead]

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.

 

[sleepyhead]

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.

It's supposed to be a sporty luxury compact coupe . . . You can't have everything you know. They give you your donut, and 99 other people who never consider changing a flat will complain about the lack of cargo space. Personally, I'd rather go for the style and fuel efficiency than have the spare, especially since I still have yet to have a flat and don't really care to change a flat and get all that dirt and grime in my CLA after I'm done changing the tire.