Carlston

If it's the original stop-start battery it will probably be the inferior EFB type rather than the superior AGM type. Probably best just to fit a new battery and see if that sorts the problem out. Varta are one of the best car batteries, so good that even Bosch rebrand them as their own. Varta have a battery finder on their website, although it's best to take physical measurements of the battery that's currently fitted. It's probably 175mm width and 190mm height, but length can vary in approximately 1.5" (38mm) increments...depending what the size is. The capacity that's marked on your current battery will also give a good indication of what size it is. It's something like 60Ah for a size 2, 70Ah for a size 3, and 85Ah for a size 4. Although make sure you do your own research so that you don't end up guessing. A length of 242mm (about 9.5") is a size 2 battery, a length of 278mm (about 11") is a size 3 battery, and a length of 317mm (about 12.5") is a size 4 battery. Bear in mind that AGM batteries have very low self-discharge compared to SLA (Sealed Lead Acid) batteries. I can't comment on the self-discharge rate of EFB batteries because I've never had one of those. Varta car batteries https://www.varta-automotive.com/en-gb/battery-finder

According to the Yokohama website, Geolandars aren't just AT (All-Terrain) tyres but they also have the 3PMSF symbol, which means they have passed a test for good traction in the snow. Having the 3PMSF symbol means a tyre is winter rated. So whether it's off-road, mud, gravel, snow, etc. the Geolandars should be able to cope. I've always found it strange that the Geolandars are listed in the summer tyre section, even though they have the 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snow Flake) symbol and are therefore all-season tyres as well as AT (All-Terrain) tyres. I suspect it's because they are all-terrain tyres that they put them in the summer tyre section...perhaps that's the traditional place for AT tyres. Snow tyre 3PMSF https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_tire

All the factory fitted 16" alloy rims on the Yeti are 7J wide, ie. full specification 7Jx16 ET45 5/112 57.1

On the Yeti, Skoda fitted both 205/55R16 and 215/60R16 to 7J rim widths. On all of the Skoda cars over the years, Skoda fitted both 205/55R16 and 215/60R16 to 6J, 6.5J, and 7J rim widths. Hence, 7J is the widest rim that Skoda have fitted 205/55R16 and 215/60R16 to over the years. 6.5J is probably the most common rim width that Skoda have fitted 205/55R16 and 215/60R16 to over the years. The Scala fits its 205/55R16 to 6J rims, and the Karoq fits its 215/60R16 to 6J rims.

As you are keeping your 7Jx16 ET45 rims, changing from 205/55R16 to 215/60R16 would make sense.

The Octavia MK3 Scout uses 225/50R17 fitted to 7Jx17 ET45 5/112 57.1 alloy rims. The 17" rims on the Karoq also use 7Jx17 ET45 5/112 57.1 alloy rims, albeit with 215/55R17 tyres. However, these Karoq 17" rims are one option but with the 225/50R17 tyre size. Karoq 7Jx17 ET45 5/112 57.1 alloy rims https://eshop.skoda-auto.cz/cs_CZ/alu-kola/c/alloyWheels?q=%3ApriceAsc%3AcarType%3AKaroq%2B%282017%2B%29%3ArimDiameter%3A17&text=#

As a general guide, with the 205/55R16 tyre size on the Superb MK2 anything between 6J and 7J for the rim width and ET40 and ET45 will be ok. With the 205/55R16 tyre size, you could also consider ET46 to ET50 offsets, but the centre of the wheel will be pushed into the wheelarch resulting in a sunken look...especially as the offset approaches ET50. Bear in mind that 205/55R16 6Jx16 ET50 is a winter wheel specification for the Superb MK2 suitable for the use of snow chains...but unless you need to use snow chains there seems little point using an offset more than ET45. Skoda approved wheel specifications for the Superb MK2 205/55R16 7Jx16 ET45 225/45R17 7.5Jx17 ET49 225/40R18 7.5Jx18 ET46 As you can see in the ETRTO chart below, 205/55R16 can be fitted to a rim width between 5.5J and 7.5J...so using rim widths between 6J and 7J is not pushing the limits of what is possible. Skoda themselves have over the years fitted the 205/55 tyre size to 6J, 6.5J, and 7J rim widths on various Skoda models...but Skoda have never used 5.5J or 7.5J rim widths with the 205/55 tyre size...so you could say sticking to 6J to 7J rim widths for the 205/55 tyre size is a conservative approach. ETRTO approved rim widths for passenger car tyres 205/55R16 5.5-6.5-7.5

All-season tyres sometimes have better rolling resistance than summer tyres, as shown in the example below. Continental AllSeasonContact 2 215/55R17 94V (Euro label B B 70dB) https://www.camskill.co.uk/m140b0s8825p220589/Continental_Tyres_All_Season_Car_Continental_Conti_All_Season_Contact_2_215_55_R17_94V_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_B_Wet_Grip%3A_B_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_70dB Michelin Primacy 4+ 215/55R17 94V (Euro label C A 69dB) https://www.camskill.co.uk/m54b0s1714p210234/Michelin_Tyres_Car_Michelin_Primacy_4%2B_215_55_R17_94V_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_C_Wet_Grip%3A_A_NoiseClass%3A_B_Noise%3A_69dB

See the chart below. If you changed from 235/40R19 to 245/40R19, then you need to multiply your odometer by 1.012 to take into account that you are now travelling 1.2% further than your odometer indicates...assuming that the odometer is 100% accurate (unlikely) when on new 235/40R19 tyres. However, if you were basing your old fuel consumption figures on worn tyres, then the difference will be even more...perhaps you need to add about 3% to account for 6mm of tread wear on the old 235/40R19 when comparing to new 235/40R19. Outside diameter of tyres Old 235/40R19 with 6mm of tread wear 658.6mm New 235/40R19 670.6mm New 245/40R19 678.6mm (1.2% bigger outside diameter compared to new 235/40R19) New 245/40R19 678.6mm (3.0% bigger outside diameter compared to old 235/40R19 with 6mm of tread wear)

According to the gknautomotive.com online spring catalogue, the Superb MK3 1.6TDI 120HP estate has the following standard ride height springs. Superb MK3 1.6TDI 120HP Standard ride height front springs L06 5Q0411105GL Sachs 993820 front springs (matches 5Q0411105GL) https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/oem/5q0411105gl?supplier[]=32 Standard ride height rear springs 1JA+0YC 3Q0511115AK Sachs 994977 rear springs (matches 3Q0511115AK) https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/oem/3q0511115ak?supplier[]=32 The Superb MK3 with sports/lowered ride height suspension, eg. Greenline, uses 55mm front buffers and 112mm rear buffers...so if changing to standard ride height springs you might want to change the buffers to 70mm front buffers and 127mm rear buffers...as shown below. Standard ride height front buffers 70mm 1K0412303B Standard ride height rear buffers 127mm 5Q0511357H Front bellows (all ride heights, ie. lowered/standard/increased ride heights) 5Q0413175C Rear protective pipes (all ride heights, ie. lowered/standard/increased ride heights) 5Q0513425J Sachs 900347 (70mm front buffers 1K0412303B and front bellows 5Q0413175C) https://www.autodoc.co.uk/sachs/7890477 Sachs 900358 (127mm rear buffers 5Q0511357H and rear protective pipes 5Q0513425J) https://www.autodoc.co.uk/sachs/7912428 If you want to change to standard ride height aftermarket shock absorbers you can use the following OEM part numbers to search for them: Standard ride height front shock absorbers G01 3Q0413031BF 3Q0413031BG 3Q0413031CQ 3Q0413031CR Note: These four OEM part numbers are also used on the sports/lowered ride height front suspension, eg. Greenline...so there is no need to change the front shock absorbers when changing from sports/lowered ride height front springs to standard ride height front springs. Sachs 317330 front shock absorbers (sold to replace 3Q0413031BF, 3Q0413031BG, and many other OEM part numbers) https://www.autodoc.co.uk/sachs/13785655?search=SACHS+Shock+absorber+(317+330) Standard ride height rear shock absorbers 1JA 3Q0513049FN 3Q0513049FP Note: These two OEM part numbers are also used on the sports/lowered ride height rear suspension, eg. Greenline...so there is no need to change the rear shock absorbers when changing from sports/lowered ride height rear springs to standard ride height rear springs. Sachs 318202 rear shock absorbers (sold to replace 3Q0513049FN, 3Q0513049FP, and many other OEM part numbers) https://www.autodoc.co.uk/sachs/14922297?search=SACHS+Shock+absorber+(318+202)

There's a serious problem of an out of round tyre, caused by the tyre's beads not being fully seated on the rim. This fundamental problem needs to be addressed first. There might not be any problem with the tracking.

You can easily see (to a trained eye) that the tyre isn't fully seated at the top where it says DAVANTI. It's probably why the tyre has overheated at that point (ie. localized overheating) and destroyed the tyre. It's nothing to do with incorrect tracking, and also explains why the tyre didn't feel balanced and was losing air pressure. Because the tyre's beads aren't fully seated, the outside of the tyre is no longer round...which is why the tyre has suffered localized overheating...and the resultant delamination at that point. No amount of adding weights will correct the problem of an out of round tyre. Because balancing a wheel with weights, you need to make sure the outside of the tyre is round...by making sure the tyre's beads are fully seated on the rim.

It looks like that cheap Chinese Davanti tyre isn't fully seated on the rim. The tyre fitter was really incompetent not to have noticed that. When a tyre fitter fits a tyre to a rim, he should inflate the tyre until the tyre's beads are fully seated on the rim. If he is having difficulty fully seating the tyre's beads, he should remove the tyre from the rim and apply more tyre lubricant to the tyre's beads...and then try again to fully seat the tyre's beads to the rim. The problem may be that the cheap low quality Chinese tyre isn't fit for purpose...which may have contributed to the tyre fitters difficulty in fully seating the tyre's beads to the rim. If the tyre fitter couldn't seat the tyre's beads fully to the rim, he should have rejected that tyre and chosen another tyre to fit. Is the wear the same around the full circumference of the tyre?

Most summer tyres in size 225/45R18 are Y speed rated. For example, mytyres are currently listing 161 summer tyres in size 225/45R18. 152 of those tyres have a speed rating of W or higher, so only 9 of those 161 tyres have a speed rating of V or lower. It might be cheaper for Skoda to purchase Y rated tyres in this size compared to V rated tyres because it's the Y rated tyres in this size that the tyre manufacturers are geared up to manufacture in large quantities. It also means that Skoda can fit all of the 225/45R18 summer tyres that they order in to any Octavia MK4 including the ones with a top speed over 150mph. For the Octavia MK4, "skoda eshop cz" are showing that Skoda supply H speed rated winter tyres in size 205/60R16 and V speed rated winter tyres in sizes 205/55R17, 225/45R18, and 225/40R19. Winter wheels for Octavia MK4 https://eshop.skoda-auto.cz/cs_CZ/zimni-kompletni-kola/c/winterSetOfWheels?q=%3AscoreDesc%3AcarType%3AOctavia%2BIV%2B%282019%2B%29&text=#

If they are genuine VAG alloy rims the OEM part number will be cast into the back of the rim. They might be 1Z0601025AD 7ZS as shown in the chart below. There's a black version shown in the "skoda accessory catalogue" which might still be available to order new from any VAG parts department by quoting OEM part number 1Z0071498A. Notice that alloy rims in the "skoda accessory catalogue" use the format xxx071xxx whereas the factory alloy rims use the format xxx601xxx. Most secondhand Skoda alloy rims will have the factory format, ie. xxx601xxx. 3 1Z0601025AD Aluminium rim 7.5Jx18 ET51 5/112 57.1 4 NEPTUNE 1Z0601025AD 7ZS chrome coloured metallic https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/skoda/CZ/OCT/663/6/601/601080 "skoda accessory catalogue" 1Z0071498A https://eshop.skoda-auto.cz/cs_CZ/alu-kolo-neptune-18-octavia-ii-rs/p/1Z0071498A

215/40R17 is an expensive and hard riding tyre size. 15" wheels such as the standard 185/60R15 fitted to 6Jx15 ET38 rims would make a lot more sense. 15" tyre sizes in general are much cheaper than 17"...often less than half the price. Here is just one example, and I've listed 5.5Jx15 ET40 rims from the Fabia MK4 rather than the standard Fabia MK3/Rapid 6Jx15 ET38 because the slightly narrower 5.5J rims not only helps to improve the ride even more compared to the wider 6J rims but the tyres' sidewalls will bulge out slightly more resulting in even better protection from kerbing damage. Uniroyal RainExpert 5 185/60R15 84H (Euro label C A 70dB) (£58.60 each) https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rshop/tyre/Uniroyal/RainExpert-5/185-60-R15-84H-EVc/D-124245 Alcar 4055 5.5Jx15 ET40 5/100 57.1 steel rim (from Fabia MK4) (£50.80 each) https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rims/details?vehicleId=1360399348768339044&rimCode=ALCAR4055 Wheel trims for 5.5Jx15 ET40 steel rims (from Fabia MK4) 6VA071455 (1259CZK is about £42.48 for a set of four) https://eshop.skoda-auto.cz/cs_CZ/sada-poklic-calisto-15/p/6VA071455 So based on these prices, the total for a set of four new tyres and rims including wheel trims would be £480.08. You would then have your old wheels to resell and recoup some of the cost. The UK price for the wheel trims might be a little more than the Czech price when ordered through a UK VAG parts department. Although you can get 17" tyres that might be a small improvement over your current 17" tyres, these 15" tyres will put the car's ride in a completely different league. For completeness, I've also provided links to the standard 6Jx15 ET38 rims below. Alcar 7760 6Jx15 ET38 5/100 57.1 steel rim (from Fabia MK3, Rapid) https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rims/details?vehicleId=799637973241959524&rimCode=ALCAR7760 Wheel trims for 6Jx15 ET38 steel rims (from Fabia MK3, Rapid) https://eshop.skoda-auto.cz/cs_CZ/poklice-na-kola/c/fullWheelCovers?q=%3AscoreDesc%3ArimDiameter%3A15%3AcarType%3ARapid%2B%282012-2020%29&text=# 195/60R15 would provide even more protection from kerbing damage compared to the standard 185/60R15, and provide a wider looking tyre and slightly better ride comfort compared to the standard 185/60R15 tyre size...although even the standard 185/60R15 is in a different league compared to the really quite awful hard riding 215/40R17. Uniroyal RainExpert 5 195/60R15 88H (Euro label C A 71dB) https://www.mytyres.co.uk/rshop/tyre/Uniroyal/RainExpert-5/195-60-R15-88H-EVc/D-124243

Someone suggested that Skoda stopped sticking the white build code label in the spare wheel well area after around 2015/16. So you might not have one, although the exact date Skoda stopped sticking the white build code label in the spare wheel well area might vary from model to model. However, Skoda only included around 40 of the build codes, when the car might actually have around 180 build codes...so most aren't included. There's an ebay seller that can supply all of the build codes for about 3 Euros (about £2.50). Search "skoda vin decoder" on ebay to find the listing. "skoda vin decoder" https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224631127243

54mm piston Autofren Seinsa D42100C https://www.autodoc.co.uk/autofren-seinsa/8169617#repair-kit-brake-caliper ERT 402154 https://www.autodoc.co.uk/ert/8036558#repair-kit-brake-caliper

It would be interesting to hear if anyone else with an Octavia MK3 diesel VRS 2WD pre-facelift also had 312x25mm front brake discs. Perhaps Skoda started fitting the smaller front brake discs before the facelift...perhaps from 2016. However, it's always best to check the car's build codes to be sure what equipment was fitted in the factory.

Here's is a list of nine standard ride height rear springs for the Octavia MK4 5Q0511121AC Coil spring 1JA+0YD 5Q0511121AD Coil spring 1JA+0YE 5Q0511121AE Coil spring 1JA+0YF 5Q0511121AF Coil spring 1JA+0YG 5Q0511121AG Coil spring 1JA+0YH 5Q0511121AH Coil spring 1JA+0YJ 5Q0511121AJ Coil spring 1JA+0YK 5Q0511121EN Coil spring 1JA+0YL 5Q0511121FC Coil spring 1JA+0YM They are in order from the softest to the stiffest. For example, if you've got 5Q0511121AF at the moment and the rear end is too soft because you're towing a heavy caravan...simply go up one or two weight ranges to 5Q0511121AG or 5Q0511121AH. However, the first thing to do is find out what the OEM part number of your current factory fitted rear springs are. Skoda parts catalogue https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/skoda/CZ/OCT/585/5/511/511000 There's a seller on ebay who can supply all your car's build codes for about 3 Euros (about £2.50). Search "skoda vin decoder" on ebay to find the listing, although I've linked to it below. Each car might have around 180 build codes. In conjunction with the Skoda parts catalogue, these will enable you to work out various OEM part numbers...such as what springs the car has fitted, what shock absorbers, what brakes, etc. "skoda vin decoder" https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224631127243

Was the 2016 Octavia MK3 VRS a 4x4? Was it built for the UK market? Ferodo and Jurid on autodoc list just the 312x25mm front brake discs for the Octavia MK3 2.0TDI 184HP 4x4, so it looks like the 184HP 4x4 model never used the 340x30mm front brake discs. Some Octavia MK3 build codes for the front brakes 312x25mm front brake discs with red brake calipers 1ZB 340x30mm front brake discs with red brake calipers 1LG

If that were true, you wouldn't be able to use the car in the winter in some parts of Europe because Skoda don't approved any wheels bigger than 17" for the fitment of snow chains to the Octavia MK4. The following information about snow chains is in the Octavia MK4 owner's manual. You wouldn't be able to use the 16" wheel option with the 340x30mm front brake discs. Skoda approved tyre and rim combinations for mounting snow chains (Octavia MK4) 205/60R16 6.5Jx16 ET46 205/55R17 6.5Jx17 ET46 A Kodiaq owner once posted a photo of his 17" alloy rims clearing his 340x30mm front brake discs...and it showed that there is plenty of clearance. Like the Octavia MK4, Skoda don't approve any wheels bigger than 17" for the fitment of snow chains to both the Kodiaq MK1 and Kodiaq MK2...and all Kodiaqs with more than 150HP use those big 340x30mm front brake discs. The Superb MK3 owner's manual also shows that you can't fit wheels bigger than 17" with snow chains...and the 272HP/280HP models have those big 340x30mm front brake discs. The below Octavia MK3 VRS has 340x30mm front brake discs because it's a pre-facelift model...and all pre-facelift VRS models have those big 340x30mm front brake discs (even the diesel VRS). It was only after the facelift that the diesel VRS models were fitted with the smaller 312x25mm front brake discs...whereas the petrol VRS models kept those big 340x30mm front brake discs. You can tell it's a pre-facelift model because the headlights aren't split. Octavia MK3 VRS pre-facelift on 17" wheels with the big 340x30mm front brake discs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Škoda_Octavia#/media/File:20200509_Skoda_Octavia_vRS_Estate.jpg

The Octavia MK3 2.0TDI 110kW/150HP has 288x25mm front brake discs and 50mm front suspension struts. The Octavia MK3 2.0TDI 135kW/184HP has 312x25mm front brake discs and 55mm front suspension struts. So these two cars will use different steering knuckles to match the diameter of the front suspension struts. If you're looking for stiffer rear springs, I suggest you find out what your current factory rear springs are, and then go up two weight ranges. So although the Octavia MK3 2.0TDI 150HP Scout has the smaller front discs and front struts, at least it has independent rear suspension due to the 4x4. The Skoda parts catalogue only lists four rear springs for the Scout. You probably has the second in the list, ie. 5Q0511115AL. One weight range higher is 5Q0511115AM, and two weight ranges higher is 5Q0511115AN. Skoda parts catalogue https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/skoda/CZ/OCT/753/5/511/511010 There are Octavia MK2 Scout rear springs that match the Octavia MK3 Scout rear springs as shown in the chart below. This could be useful, because you can find more choice and lower prices for the Octavia MK2 Scout rear springs. Octavia MK2 Scout and Octavia MK3 rear spring equivalents 1K0511115CR (Octavia MK2 Scout) is the same as 5Q0511115AL (Octavia MK3 Scout) 1K0511115CS (Octavia MK2 Scout) is the same as 5Q0511115AM (Octavia MK3 Scout) 1K0511115CT (Octavia MK2 Scout) is the same as 5Q0511115AN (Octavia MK3 Scout) Some aftermarket rear springs that match 1K0511115CT (notice that the below springs aren't sold for any other OEM part number other than 1K0511115CT, so should be an exact match) Bilstein 36-199570 Eibach R10494 Kilen 63129 KYB RH6426 Lesjofors 4285730 https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/oem/1k0511115ct?supplier[]=16&supplier[]=246&supplier[]=85&supplier[]=253&supplier[]=112&supplier[]=37 To give you an idea of prices, all of these five rear springs are available on ebay for about £38 to £46 each (if you purchase two), including shipping to the UK. If you don't have a full list of all your car's build codes, you can get them from an ebay seller for about 3 Euro (about £2.50). Search "skoda vin decoder" on ebay, to find the listing. "skoda vin decoder" https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224631127243 You can decoder the build codes by using the "vw codes decoder". "vw codes decoder" https://igorweb.org/equidec.aspx

Those are interesting figures, and shows how the Haldex system evens out the tyre wear. As the 19" rims are a rather wide 8J, 245/40R19 rather than 225/45R19 does make sense. The 8J rim has an outside width of about 227mm, so when fitted with a 225/45R19 tyre the sidewalls bulge out by only about 2mm each side. This will provide very little rim protection from kerbing damage. But with a 245/40R19 fitted to an 8J rim there's a much better 7.5mm of tyre sidewall bulge each side resulting in much better protection from kerbing damage. Actual inflated width of tyres when fitted to 8J rim 225/45R19 231mm 245/40R19 242mm With the 225/45R19 it might be better to use a 7J rim, perhaps the 7Jx19 ET43 rim from the Kodiaq as shown in the example below. However, this is not a Skoda approved tyre and rim combination when fitted to the Karoq. 7Jx19 ET43 5/112 57.1 alloy rim (from Kodiaq) https://eshop.skoda-auto.cz/cs_CZ/alu-kolo-crater-19-kodiaq/p/565071499++ZG6 When a 225/45R19 tyre is fitted to a 7J rim the tyre's sidewalls will bulge out from the rim by about 8.5mm each side, so much better protection from kerbing damage compared to fitting this tyre size to a wider 8J rim. Actual inflated width of tyre when fitted to 7J rim 225/45R19 219mm

I use WD40 or even vegetable oil. You need something that will take the sticky away. Then finish off with fairy liquid and water to remove what's left.