Hi all,

I have an Octavia 1.9tdi estate on an 08 plate with 12000 miles done. Recently I have noticed a kind of rumbling coming from the back end. I want to figure out what it might be before trying to persuade the dealer that he can hear it. It oscilates slightly so I'm wondering about wheel bearings or faulty tyres. It's there particularly around 45mph and disappears at higher speeds, on the motorway for example.

Any ideas?

Michael L

Have you checked your rear tyres for the old "saw-toothing" effect on the tread blocks?

Have you checked your rear tyres for the old "saw-toothing" effect on the tread blocks?

Think that could be it :(

Thanks for this suggestion. Could you be a bit more specific? I'm not sure what you mean by saw toothing.

Michael

It's a wear pattern that causes particular issues with directional tyres.

If they are not directional then get them remounted so they are facing the other way around otherwise swap the fronts and the rears and hopefully it won't get any worse.

Just thought I'd say that the advice on saw toothed tyres was correct. The rear tyres were shot after only 13000miles. Replacing them solved the problem of the noise but I'm not that happy with replacing rear tyres at that sort of mileage. Apparently this is quite common and does not necessarily indicate a tracking fault. The dealer told me that the problem particularly affects Dunlop i.e. OE tyres and that a switch to Continental reduces the problem and road noise in general.

Thanks

Michael

Would be upset with anything under 40k on rears. Switch to Michelin Pilot Primacy's, not the Contis.

Yup, my Michelin Pilot Primacys are 5mm across on the rears after 30k. Fronts were done last Saturday because they were below 3mm (2.8 even wear).