tjs

2012 Elegance Estate 2.0TDi 140CR DSG, Grey metallic/black leather. Panoramic roof, heated windscreen, dimming mirror, MDI interface, detachable towbar

I wanted to buy one of these to use with my Garmin Nuvi 1690, but none of the UK companies listing them had stock or could confirm a delivery date; also quite expensive. I bought one from Amazon.com in the USA, who had them discounted to $69.99, so it cost me £46.99. They wouldn't ship direct to the UK, so I had it shipped to a friend in the US, who brought it back to the UK during a trip before Christmas. They appear to be available in the UK now, but still much more expensive. Easy to connect to the OBD port near the bonnet catch by the driver's door of my Octavia Scout. It connects to the GPS via Bluetooth and now automatically connects whenever the GPS is switched on in the car. The Ecouroute HD stores the engine data whenever the GPS isn't connected, uploading the data when the GPS is next switched on. It provides real time engine data to the GPS computer, and can display on customisable additional gauges: RPM, intake manifold pressure, air intake temperature, timing advance, engine load, coolant temperature, battery voltage, throttle position. Having the real time engine data allows the GPS to track more accurate trip costs and driving style using engine mpg figures, speed, and decelleration, which is tracked graphically by trip and overall. The data can be downloaded from the GPS to PC for more detailed analysis if required. It will also display engine error codes with an error description, plus the ability to reset the engine light if desired. Hope that helps. Tim

Update on the Quatrac2 tyres on my Octavia Scout. Have now done 21k miles with the tyres, which have 5mm tread remaining all round. They have been good on road in general commuting and motorway driving (good grip, a bit more roll because of having to go to a 16" wheel and therefore higher profile, not noisy at all). In the wet they're great, no problems with deep puddles or standing water. In snow - tested hard over the past few weeks - they are astonishing, with amazing grip. 5mm sounds like a lot of remaining tread, and is well above the legal 1.6mm minimum for replacement. However the guidance from Vredestein and other all-season tyre manufacturers is that this type of tyres should be replaced at 4mm to remain effective, so I will probably be changing these in the near future. Quote from Vredestein website FAQ: "It goes without saying that sufficient tread on the tyres remains a precondition to drive safely through the winter. Under wintry conditions Vredestein recommends a tread depth of at least four millimetres on winter tyres." I'm so impressed I'm going to get some similar all-season tyres for my girlfriend's Fabia estate. Tim

PK2 Sorry for the slow response. Have been really pleased with the tyres, and have done >12k miles now. Tread depth is still at 6.5mm, little difference in tread depth between front and rear tyres. Haven't had any problems with launching and recovering boats, whether on shingle or concrete slipways - even through the 6 inch deep seaweed that often builds up on the beach at Warsash near Southampton. Mostly towing a 6 metre rib on 2 wheel unbraked trailer, all-up weight approx 500kgs; occasionally tow and launch/recover a 9 metre catamaran on 4 wheel braked trailer, all up weight approx 1500kgs. The tyres have been great for motorway and cross country use. Now the weather is getting wetter I'm enjoying great grip on wet roads and deep puddles on the lanes near where I live. I only see the ESP light come on occasionally, sometimes coming out of roundabouts and across bumps or a big camber change. Will buy another set of the same tyres when they need replacing, but not sure what tyre depth to change at for M&S tyres. Tim

The Pioneer looks very effective. Can the illumination and buttons be set to a suitable green? Is there any kind of physical security (i.e. a small removable panel) or does it just rely on a pin number? Do you know whether bluetooth and ipod adaptors are included in the price, or are they extras like the equivalent Kenwood nav unit?

The Nokian tread pattern looks excellent, the tread wear numbers are a neat idea. I'll let you know how long the Quatracs last ...

Symbols: mountain/snowflake, sun, rain, snow.

A press release from Vredestein (Vredestein) confirms that a number of their tyres carry both the M+S and snowflake symbols: "The new law in Germany prescribes that in wintry conditions the vehicle's equipment must be adapted to the conditions. That is considered to mean - in addition to anti-freeze agent in the window washer system - suitable tyres as well. The media tend to explain that as an obligation to fit winter tyres. Under European legislation a winter tyre must at least carry the code M+S (Mud & Snow) on the sidewall. The Canadians devised a different symbol, composed of a mountain and a snowflake crystal. This mountain/crystal symbol can only be placed when a test procedure has demonstrated that the winter tyre is better than a preselected reference tyre. Tyre manufacturers all over the world accept these requirements and the connected use of the mountain/crystal symbol. The Vredestein Snowtrac, Snowtrac 2, Wintrac Xtreme, Wintrac 4 Xtreme, Quatrac 2 and Comtrac Winter carry both the M+S symbol and the mountain/crystal symbol. So the Vredestein winter tyres comply with the strictest requirements. It goes without saying that sufficient tread on the tyres remains a precondition to drive safely through the winter. Under wintry conditions Vredestein recommends a tread depth of at least four millimetres on winter tyres." There seems to be a common view that 'all season' tyres have less grip in summer than summer tyres, and less grip in winter than winter tyres. They are likely to wear out faster in summer, as they generally have a softer rubber. I'll find out how long my Quatrac 2s last. After the first 1100 miles my opinion is that they are fine on-road (not noisy, good grip), and much better than the OE road tyres on the slipway and beach.

Folks Vredestein Quatrac 2 tyres now fitted with Fox 636 16" wheels - great service by Supertyres in Welwyn Garden City. Tyres not quite as off-road biased as I wanted, but work MUCH better than OE Dunlops off road. They aren't noisy on the road, little bit more flex in the sidewall, but grip well. The 636 is a five spoke like the original, but looks a bit more angular. What do you think? Tim

I've had a look at the Quatrac 2 today, tread pattern looks good so I've ordered a full set - which will arrive next Tuesday. Now need to find a set of 6.5 x 16" alloys to fit them on .....

Luckily my local tyre company (Supertyres) in Welwyn Garden City stock and sell Vredesteins. They're getting me a Quatrac2 in to have a look at the tread pattern (pic enclosed). Price looks good too - under £80 / tyre. Tomo1971 - completley agree with your view that any M&S tyre would be ok; unfortunately the OE tyres on my Scout are Dunlop SP Sport 01s - which are a purely road tyre. Tim

Folks Thanks for your suggestions and link to the tyre calculator, which are vey helpful. I'm working my way through the search list of available 215 60 16 tyres to see if any have a 50/50 or 60/40 on/off road bias. Unfortunately many of the lower profile tyres are more road biased even though they claim to be 4x4 tyres - probably focused on X5s and XC90s etc for the school run. Most of the US tyres with off road capability - Grabbers etc - have a minumum 65 profile so would be too tall for a 16" wheel. The Vriedstein Quatrac2 or Goodyear Wrangler HP tread patterns might be suitable, and is available in 215 60 16. I'll try and find a local dealer so I can have a look. Cheers Tim

Folks I'm trying to find some tyres for my Scout that are better off road than the standard SP1s, which lose traction too easily when I use the car to pull my boat & trailer on slip ways or pebble beaches even though the 4x4 system is working well. Ideally I'd like a 20/50 on/off road tyre, with better off road grip without too much noise on the road. I can't find any suitable tyres in the standard 225/50x17 size, so have been looking at alternatives for 16" or 15" wheels. The closest I can find is a Conti Cross Contact AT in 215/65 x 16 (data sheet enclosed), and I can get four 16" Octavia alloys from an online breaker for a fair price which lets me switch back to road tyres whenever I want. Has anyone tried these (or other) off road biased tyres for their Scout or Octavia 4x4? There's a difference in overall circumference between the standard tyre and these 16" tyres, with revs of 747 (standard) versus 780 (new) making a 4.4% speedo inaccuracy. Is there any option to adjust a code for different tyre sizes, or would I just have to live with the difference? Many thanks for your suggestions. Tim ContiCrossContactAT_datasheet_en.pdf

Hello I'm a new BriSkoda member. Have just bought an Octavia Scout diesel in Storm Blue, trading in my previous Mondeo Ghia X diesel auto estate. Looking forward to the new car and this forum. Tim