A quick update. It is interesting to see the views of others on this subject.
I contacted Skoda UK, who also appeared to have no knowledge of the Falken Sincera tyre brand and asked me to send them the marking information on the tyre wall. By the way, they were made in Thailand.
Also, a quick check of the main tyre suppliers suggests that the SN831A tyres are not readily available in the UK for replacement. If this indeed were to be the case, then one puncture may require two new tyres to be purchased. Skoda UK suggests to contact them should this happen. I have suggested to Skoda UK that they ought to taken into account what tyres are available in the countries to which they supply vehicles to ensure continuity of supply should punctures occur. Do they really not consider this?
I have seen a number of comments elsewhere concerning the poor longevity and wet weather performance of Falken tyres, but time will tell. Also, if they do prove to be poor performers in the wet, I shall change to a known premium brand with a better wet weather grading.
Interestingly, I noticed that VW has just approved Falken tyres for the new Passat, and that Skoda is now suppling new Fabia and Octavia models on Nexen tyres, whatever they may be.
The best answer would appear to be to buy either a new car that is at a dealership, or to buy used. That way, at least, the tyres can be inspected, rather than just taking pot luck with a factory order.
One last thing. Does anyone else think that buyers should be able to choose a specific tyre type suited to their environment and usage when ordering a new car? After all, buyers can choose all sorts of options, including many varieties of wheels. So, why not tyres, especially since this is a primary safety issue?
cheers
amw
