New MB Eclass no longer viable for towing.

Posted on 17/11/2020 16:41 by cyberyacht

My Carthago MH only had a box of goo. First thing I did was buy a spare wheel. Don't know how the heavier weight of MH's would work with run-flats plus they tend to be quite low profile and a harder ride.

Posted on 17/11/2020 16:50 by Rufs

Cant imagine how long you would have to wait in Spain if for instance you were on one of the motorways where you are literally miles from anywhere with possibly no phone signal, so you have to walk to the nearest emergency phone and then wait for the emergency breakdown services to get you back on the road, just because you have a puncture, proper spare wheel for me, especially when towing overthere, even if it is quite a difficult task to perform.

Posted on 17/11/2020 16:58 by

I had a puncture on my Sorento in France. Fortunately quite close to a motorway aire.  Whats difficult about it?

Its not ideal being without a spare but when I had my puncture in Germany we were recovered to the nearest MB dealer, sorted and back on the road in 2 hours.

Posted on 17/11/2020 18:01 by Rufs

I had a puncture on my Sorento in France. Fortunately quite close to a motorway aire. Whats difficult about it?

nothing at all, although never had a puncture on my Sorento, when i first bought the car and before venturing overthere I did practice changing a wheel, did have a puncture on the caravan but changed the wheel no problems, Tyron bands fitted so not too much of a problem

Posted on 17/11/2020 18:26 by EmilysDad

and how is the Tyron going to help? AFAIK ... They're intended to keep the tyre in place on the rim until you come to a safe stop. 🤔

As per your other post re under slung spare wheels .... I stuck my head under the back of a Sorento to look at the spare. I didn't look that easy without a towbar fitted, I couldn't imagine what access would be like on a car with a bar fitted. Assuming it's similar to a Sedona it still involves rawling around on the floor .... plus my spare is nice & dry & rust free in the floor of my boot. 😉

Posted on 17/11/2020 13:54 by KeithL

You cannot repair run flats anyway.

Remember someone at a tyre depot I was visiting going over a nail in the road just outside the centre after having new run flats fitted on the front. He drove straight back in and was told he had to fit another new tyre because they are not permitted to fix them. Very expensive 20 yards that was for him. 

Posted on 17/11/2020 11:48 by Rufs

I know punctures are a rare occurance these days, but not good if you have to wait for the breakdown services to provide a flat bed capable of taking your car to the nearest garage to repair a puncture and towing your caravan if attached, I would also think that if you ran for 50 miles on a run flat tyre whilst towing caravan the tyre is likely to be of little use, which would mean buying a new tyre, expensive puncture. I guess you could unhitch and leave the caravan behind until you get the tyre repaired. Me thinks i will not be buying a Merc

Posted on 17/11/2020 18:58 by

Mine was a 2004 model and before they changed from a proper chassis to the present configuration and it wasn't a problem at all. The wheel was easily lowered ground by the winch operated from inside the car  Maybe its different now but it was easy enough then  .

Posted on 18/11/2020 07:49 by Rufs

and how is the Tyron going to help? AFAIK ... They're intended to keep the tyre in place on the rim until you come to a safe stop

and the band did exactly that, so when i came to change the wheel the tyre had not shredded or left the rim , and i travelled at least 2 miles to the nearest safe lay by