PhilEyre

1.6 engine is fine for my needs, as is the gearbox the only hiccup was the water pump which fell to pieces and is replaced with a better made non-Skoda replacement (it seems a very common problem). Very happy apart from being instructed to fit the utterly absurd Mini/Twingo tyre sizes purely for clean/low emissions purposes by a company ready to cheat on emissions checks by fitting fake-data software.

Hi All, well I got my answers and have a clear view (I think) of where Skoda and I are with this one now. The guy with Skoda who fitted the 215s in 2017 is still there and he sent me this confirmation. Whether the rims are 6" or 7" only 205s are officially authorised. There was no apology included in the message for fitting the 'wrong' size. The insurance people, both for vehicle and for separate legal protection contract said the same thing: that I 'may' be taking a risk of invalidating cover with 215s. When I asked how I can be more certain of that, the lady replied that they will be only be able to answer when I have an accident . I persisted but I suspect she thought I'd already had an accident and was trying to find where I stood, so she became very defensive. The only plausible explanation I can see is that this 2014 variant 'Green Tec' was their attempt to push a low CO² image and that was done in part by reducing tyre size to a minimum: after all the 2013 Yeti 1.6 tdi DID have the 215s listed as an option. The vehicle with 205s looks and drives like a Land Rover with hubs and tyres from a Mini. At the point I'd like to talk to a specialist of accident assessment/non-standard tyre fitting, as I suspect that unless the tyres were somehow directly at fault in any accident then the 215s would not be a reason for refusing to accept an accident claim. I may well put the 205 winter tyres back on and well after next winter season and buy a 2 litre for peace of mind unless I have expert advice along lines that the 215s would not invalidate my insurance (unless the tyres themselves were somehow a safety risk). tyre size pdf.pdf

First time I've seen that in writing. I hope to obtain something in writing from the Skoda people I purchased the vehicle from (sold with 7" hub + 215s as supplied, not requested). The full 'certificat d'immatriculation', the European certificate of conformity, something with official weight. For the insurance the homologation question is important, indeed vital

Perhaps, we'll see in due course and I'll let you know. However under the law including case law a professional trader has an obligation to supply a vehicle that is road-legal (whatever the customer preferences). So far all official responses have confirmed that with the bigger tyres my Yeti is not road legal and I have specific invoice for the 215s fitted by Skoda in 2017 same time as the vehicle was bought, but I'm still hoping that someone will let me know (in writing) that the 215s do not render my insurance cover null and void

Hi Blackbird, the car is a 2014 1.6tdi DSG (so auto) 'Green Tec, Elegance'. I bought it second-hand near new from the local dealer. It came with the wider hubs, 7" and the 215s fitted by same dealer. Today I found earlier references to the series 1 Greenline for this exact engine with 215s as an option, according to this table from a French forum. Yet all the official statements received in the last week have confirmed that they are not legal size for this model

Further info from a Skoda site https://www.auto-selection.com/fiche-technique/skoda/yeti/2013/1-6-tdi-105-elegance-dsg-green-tec-4x2-1203965.php. Refers to 205s only. Otherwise various sites want to sell an EU Cert of Conformity for over 100 euros, for free one 'please contact constructor'... FICHE TECHNIQUE SKODA YETI 1.6 TDI 105 ELEGANCE DSG GREEN TEC 4X2 DIESEL ANNÉE 2013, 2014 ET 2015 Marque :SKODA Modèle :Yeti Version :1.6 TDI 105 Elegance DSG Green Tec 4x2 Catégorie :Break 5 portes Energie :Diesel Commercialisation :du 08/2013 au 05/2015 Pneumatiques Matériau des jantes :Aluminium Taille des roues avant :205/55 R16 Taille des roues arrière :205/55 R16

Thanks this is useful advice, will chase up the 'Type Mines' data mentioned above. However...if Skoda France and others are right, I do not agree that there is no loss involved here. Skoda France sent me a mail last week after I asked them to confirm there no reason why I could not fit 215s to my 1.6tdi. Their reply was categorical - VW national office, Paris, Customer Relations: "Bonjour Monsieur Nous faisons suite à votre demande en nos services du 5 mai 2023. Vous souhaitez des informations concernant les montes compatibles avec votre Skoda Yeti (Châssis : TMB*************). Après vérification, la seule monte de pneumatique homologuée pour votre véhicule est 205/55 R16 91T. Si vous utilisé des montes de pneumatiques non homologuées, vous vous exposez à des risques sécuritaires, un refus au contrôle technique de votre véhicule* et une non-couverture par votre assurance en cas d’accident..." *already happened end 2022 - test centre refused those tyres So this means that for VW/Skoda, a distributor in their network supplied a (second-hand) Yeti with 215/60/R16s despite the non-conformity with the particular model. They state that in case of an insurance claim the insurer may point to that non-conformity and refuse to accept any claim. My insurer also confirmed this by phone last week. This means potentially that for several years I have been driving without any guarantee of insurance cover despite paying out about 500 euros per year for full cover etc per year with a leading insurer (Pacifica) and I am now faced with the obligation to replace a set of perfectly good summer 215s to comply with law. The fact that there is a serious doubt about insurance cover during the 6 years 2017 to 2023 means in case of any serious collision I could have been exposed to costs or losses in the tens of thousands, possibly greater. So from where I'm sitting at the moment the potential loss (no effective insurance cover due to wrong tyres fitted by Skoda) is a significant one. Having asked for reassurance from Skoda about fitting 215s they state (above) that they cannot provide that. So next week I'll be taking legal advice and I suspect Skoda could be on the spot for the prejudice - even if unintentionally their error has invalidated my insurance. As official distributors of the brand they have a duty of technical precision and fitting the right components.

Thanks a lot, this is becoming ludicrous. The 1.6 MPI can take up to 225 size whereas the 1.6 TDI CR cannot take any above 205 (!!!). Am going to contact the Skoda dealer who sold me the 1.6 diesel with 215 fitted by themselves and ask them to sort out the mess. If I do not get confirmation that I can fit 215s to this then I'll be asking them to swap for a 2 litre. It's a real pleasure to drive with 215/60/R16 Michelins fitted.

Well, the independent tyre fitter who lives not far from me had this to say last Thursday. I told him about the test centre refusing the 215s, and going back with 205s. He then looked at the white label on the inside of the fuel flap. He told me that in his experience, from folk he has worked with, the 4th item listed during an accident report inspection and to check for is the correct tyre dimension. He said if he could be identified as the last person to fit an incorrect tyre size before an accident he could be prosecuted, which is why he refused to give me a written bill.

I thought 'illegal' was exaggeration until this past week but: The test centre failed the Yeti last autumn with 215s, I then had to go through a revisit with the Swedish winter 205s fitted. The guy who refitted the summer 215s this week would only do it if I paid cash - no invoice as he was...acting illegally according to the fuel flap data. I contacted the local Skoda distributor who sold me the vehicle with 215s. He confirmed they are not legal. Contacted Skoda France, they say there is a strong possibility in case of accident that the insurer will walk away. And in writing. The insurer confirmed that there may well be a problem in their eyes in case of a serious accident. In conclusion I have legal protection/advice cover as well as fully comp insurance (with same insurer) and will contact them to discuss next week. The distributor, a Skoda only specialist, was obviously well out of line in 2017. I hope to parlay this into an acceptable swap for a 2 litre. The 1.6 Green Tec Elegance (2014) do seem to hold their value quite well.

TYRE ISSUE still alive and well. Interesting to read Blackbird's post about the 215/60s fitted to a 1.6tdi. I am reliably informed that the 215/60s summer tyres just refitted to my 2014 Yeti 1.6 Green Tec are totally illegal; only 205/55s will do. I bought the vehicle in 2017 from the local dealer and guess what, it came with new 215/60s fitted by the dealer as I needed some new winter tyres at the time. I have driven almost 100,000 km in 5 years with 215/60s, only finding out about a potential problem end of last year during French MOT via a vigilant test centre. Finally I contacted both Skoda France, and the original supplier I bought from in 2017, plus my insurer who all concurred: only 205s are legal. I am therefore going to contact my legal advisor next week, sell the 1.6 and buy a 2 litre so I can finally ride on 215s in peace! I hope to get a good deal by threatening to sue the distributor who sold me a Yeti with new but illegal tyres fitted nearly 6 years ago. And yes, the Swedish winter tyres 205/55 gave an awful ride, night and day compared to the 215s. I can't face continuing to drive it with 205s...

Thanks Kenny, yes I read somewhere here that only rear tyres can be fitted with chains if the 215 size, and since I have front wheel drive only that would be pretty useless... The local dealer insists now (even though they sold me the car with 215s fitted!) that even though I have 7" rims '215s can only be fitted legally to other engine sizes, not the 1.6'. How can I locate official Skoda statement that 215s are compatible with all Yetis, even 1.6 engine Yetis?

Hi, here in France I have a 2014 1.6 DSG 'green tec elegance', with 7" alloy rims I think of the Moon variety. Bought as a one-prior-owner second hand in 2017 from the local Skoda dealer it came fitted with 215/60R16 winter tyres. Now I'm told when refitting tyres that only the smaller 205/55 is legal. These smaller winter tyres (I've just now swapped for the Michelin 215 summer tyres) give a much rougher ride and just look undersized. They tell me that if I had a different engine size then the 215s would be fine. Should I discuss this with my insurer?

thanks for links etc...2 reasons to think of this oil change, firstly it's a late 2014 (not 2016). I bought it from an official dealer with at 14000 km and secondly there appears to some doubt about whether synthetic oil should be replaced by mineral? I have no idea what's in there at present.

..and I'm right in assuming there is no gearbox filter to change on this type? Which means I have to refill from below

Thanks a lot... every time I ask the question I discover a bit more. The references are very useful, looks like I need to get myself an oil pump and that drainhole adapter....

Advice needed. I have a 2014 1.6 diesel with DSG 7 speed gearbox. The water pump just failed at 50000 km so we changed the timing belt as well as the pump for 500 euros at a local service centre (national chain). Now I think it would be prudent in the coming year to change the 'for life' gearbox oil. Or no? If yes, there is no filter to change, right? And what type/quality of oil? Synthetic, mineral? Thanks...