They're not just any tyres, they're M&S tyres ?

They're not just any tyres, they're M&S tyres ?

Think this needs clarification. I understand that M & S tyres that have the snowflake moulded on the sidewalls are acceptable as "winter" tyres in those European countries that specify winter tyres for certain periods.

Not sure that all M & S tyres have this snowflake approval.

They're not just any tyres, they're M&S tyres ?

Brilliant!

Glad to hear someone appreciates my "humour" !!

Glad to hear someone appreciates my "humour" !!

I think you'll find that 'snow chains', 'CR170 Elegance' and 'West Sussex' are words not allowed to be used together near the word 'humour'....

They're not just any tyres, they're M&S tyres ?

Without a smiley this comment was regarded as a serious question related to the issue as to whether or not all M & S tyres without sidewall "snowflake" would comply with legal requirements in certain EU countries to fit winter grade tyres at certain times of the year.

Doesn't really help the forums get across serious consumer worries to those at Skoda management who will be reading this forum to highjack it with unfunny "jokes" and posts relating to those jokes.

Apologies.

Next time, I'll provide a link especially for you - http://instantrimshot.com - hint, click on the red button.

Apologies.

Next time, I'll provide a link especially for you - http://instantrimshot.com - hint, click on the red button.

Well you made me smile anyway. I am sure that the people from Skoda UK who may or may not read this would like to be reassured that we really are the 'happy drivers' referred to in the adverts.

Without a smiley this comment was regarded as a serious question related to the issue as to whether or not all M & S tyres without sidewall "snowflake" would comply with legal requirements in certain EU countries to fit winter grade tyres at certain times of the year.

Doesn't really help the forums get across serious consumer worries to those at Skoda management who will be reading this forum to highjack it with unfunny "jokes" and posts relating to those jokes.

Imo I think someone needs to lighten up a little. I thought it was amusing and anything that lightens my day is appreciated.

And as to Skoda Management being serious people - they're the ones who make Fabias out of cake !

I can imagine the letter "I do hope that Skoda UK and Mr Kipling work together to provide a satisfactory resolution to the intentionally misleading advertisment carried on national television".

Without a smiley this comment was regarded as a serious question related to the issue as to whether or not all M & S tyres without sidewall "snowflake" would comply with legal requirements in certain EU countries to fit winter grade tyres at certain times of the year.

Doesn't really help the forums get across serious consumer worries to those at Skoda management who will be reading this forum to highjack it with unfunny "jokes" and posts relating to those jokes.

Do you seriously believe that SUK takes any notice of these Forums? The Forum is populated with owners or potential owners of Skoda cars. It follows that the SUK work is done, they have sold their quota, their lords and masters will be smiling on them, they will get their "bonuses".

We, the owners, will have to sort out design faults, errors in production and any other niggles we may have.

After dealing with Nissan's Customer Service department for a number of years, I know that we can expect NO HELP whatsoever from the importers. We are on our own.

Well had another battle with a heavy un-forecast snowfall. Main road up onto the Wolds was blocked again :S

At least this time I was going up not down plus I had my now not so new weapon in the armoury; winter tyres. Took a slightly less steep side road this time, although still single track. This resulted in me having to pull onto the verge to let a train of cars & 4x4's pass by on the way down. Didn't realise that the front nearside had sunk to the axial beam; no going forward then and a nice spin from the offside front (off-road engaged). Managed to back her out no hassle.

Top of the hill again had to use the verge to get round stranded 2wd cars either abandoned or sat in the middle of the narrow road with spinning wheels Got back to the main road, eventually getting down to the lower ground and heavy rain. Only half an hour added to the trip, last time I tried this on summers took over two hours extra :(

TP

PS no chains needed (they were in the boot ) and besides the sinking feeling the Monster and her 'ruby slippers' didn't put a foot wrong.

<snip>

PS no chains needed (they were in the boot ) and besides the sinking feeling the Monster and her 'ruby slippers' didn't put a foot wrong.

Congratulations !!!!

How do you reckon us novices would have coped with your set-up.?

Would you have recommended we fitted snow chains if we had 16" wheels or should we have called for a helicopter if in an Elegance with the 17" wheels with Goodyear Excellence tyres as supplied?

Congratulations !!!!

How do you reckon us novices would have coped with your set-up.?

Would you have recommended we fitted snow chains if we had 16" wheels or should we have called for a helicopter if in an Elegance with the 17" wheels with Goodyear Excellence tyres as supplied?

Hi,

besides a couple of day's cross country training I did with SWB LR Defenders in the RAF I would class myself a a novice and this is the first time I have used winter tyres for any length of time.

Have found the winters make a huge difference to the capability of my Monster allowing me to progress were otherwise I may not. For example having to pull onto the verge to pass a Corsa sat in the middle of a narrow lane with it's front tyres spinning due to the depth of snow. Would have probable been able to do that with the standard tyres but the winters never slipped were the summers from experience could have. Given the narrow gap between the hedge and the Corsa I would more concerned that she might swing into one or the other with the summer tyres. Also when the front wheel got bogged in on the hill, despite initially spinning the front offside trying to go forward, when I backed out and pulled forward again no spin or slip what so ever.

From my experiences so far you can do more with a Monster than a standard car and with winters this is improved on when it comes to bad weather but you must assess each situation and not adopt a press on regardless I'm invincible approach. Just seen in today's Yorkshire Post that a 4x4 driver was tragically been killed yesterday; believed to have been trying to ford a stream on the North York Moors which had turned into a river, the vehicle was swept away down stream and lodged under a bridge. Very sad.

Regard needing to fit chains then you are I think in dire straights; I carry them for the very worst last resort situation as the weather can turn very quickly when your on the Wolds tops as yesterday. So far never needed them and that includes a trip to Austria last April in the Golf 4motion on summer tyres. While I'm on the subject of the Golf she would have even with winter tyres struggled yesterday, the Yeti's extra ground clearance made all the difference.

Regards,

TP

About a year ago, a passenger travelling in a 4x4 died not very far from me. I believe that they may have been messing about, the car turned over into a river in spate, landing upside down. All but one person, the daughter of the driver, managed to escape. She was trapped upside down drowned unfortunately and drowned. I know the area extremely well and just cannot understand if some one was driving properly how they managed to fall of the track. Perhaps Llanigraham might have some details, it is about halfway between us, at a guess.

I heard about the Yorkshire incident but I did not read up on it. I did not know until now that it was a 4x4 incident. Was it off-road?

Edited 27 February, 201016 yr by Anthony 1

Quite a mix of good and bad news.

The Yeti should improve safe handling characteristic for many users. It is unfortunate that through ignorance or unreasonable expections, take their vehicles way outside what they can be expected to cope with.

Anthony, re the case in question, the Disco was crossing a side stream in spate, which pushed it sideways towards the main river, where it tipped over, trapping the young lady.

The case in Yorkshire was on a single track country road, where again a stream at a ford was in spate and pushed the LR down river about 650 yards!

I think one of the problems is that people do not realise the shear force that water has, especially when it hits the slab side of any vehicle. I've taken my Freelander well over it's specified fording depth in STILL water with no problems, but have driven through 9" of fast flowing water and had to drive it "crabwise" to keep forward motion, not pleasant !!!

Edited 27 February, 201016 yr by Llanigraham

Quite a mix of good and bad news.

The Yeti should improve safe handling characteristic for many users. It is unfortunate that through ignorance or unreasonable expections, take their vehicles way outside what they can be expected to cope with.

Some think a 4x4 vehicle is a like an unsinkable boat but we all know what happened to the Titanic and HMS Hood which was also considered unsinkable until it met with the superior Bismark. The more capable a vehicle is, the further it will get one into trouble, if it is not treated with respect. Everything obeys the Laws of Physics, even 4x4 machines. Generally, compared to more normal cars, 4x4's have a higher centre of gravity and carry more weight, are not as manageable and when they do go, it can be quite spectacular. A car with 4x4 ability on the road will give greater traction in the direction that one drives it under acceleration or deceleration using the engine but they will slide off the track or road just as easily or sometimes even easier than normal 2 wheel drive cars. Depending on what sort of technology is engineered into the 4x4 they can be even harder to counter unexpected wayward tendencies, though some are very easy to correct. The Yeti should be better in many respects on the road than traditional 4x4 vehicles because it is more car like in its behaviour and handling set up and has excellent electronic chassis management. That could fool one into taking liberties as much of the warning that we might feel through the seat of the pants and the steering wheel are masked. They will bite the dust, sometimes unexpectedly as The Plumber fund out. One needs to know the behaviour of any vehicle that one drives. Snow chains area fantastic aid once one has gone to the inconvenience of fitting them. They are ideal on ice or compacted snow or even just snow. They afford the most amazing amount of traction, and will endow a car with limpet like qualities but they can be a little strange. Depending the type of chain in very adverse climbing like ice blocks for instance, they can slip in a staccato type manor alternatively gripping and biting then releasing and slipping as wheel rotates and they ascend up a flow. Even if they are not used very often, they could be a life saver. Not only can they be used on ice but they can also be used off -road in an emergency. They very make short work of wet greasy slimy grass or clay

Edited 27 February, 201016 yr by Anthony 1

Link to the Yorkshie one:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/7329847/Woman-killed-after-4x4-swept-down-river.html

It must have had some force looking at the damage to the roof!!

Link to the Yorkshie one:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/7329847/Woman-killed-after-4x4-swept-down-river.html

It must have had some force looking at the damage to the roof!!

Thank you for the link Graham. I can remember my 101 crabbing on Srata on one occasion, the water was forcing right up on the door on the up-stream side. Quite deep to do that on a LR 101FC Quite an odd sensation.

It is possible that this short article in "The Sunday Times - In Gear Magazine" is in response to my email to Jeremy Clarkson setting out of grievance concerning the supply of a Yeti Elegance where it is not possible to fit snow chains to the wheels and tyres provided from the factory as standard specification.

The Expert Driver - Driving to Ski Resorts

In Andorra, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Norway you must be equipped and ready to fit snow chains if conditions require it. Drivers may be fined if they impede traffic flow or cause an accident as the consequence of not adapting their vehicle to suit conditions

Wow - on Sunday morning had a very apologetic call from Skoda explaining that they had just received a batch of delayed internet correspondence and were looking into this.

Was glad to hear they had got original web mail at last! Was beginning think my system was at fault.

Our latest response is:-

Could we have Skoda's final clear advice on the most cost effective solutions to make the Elegance fit for purpose in meeting legal requirements for travel in EEC Member states in snow conditions?

Although they are considerably more expensive than standard snow chains can the Spider /Klack and Go with tungsten studded bars instead of chains be fitted over existing Excellence tyres and would Skoda recommend this - presumably just for the front wheels?

If to fit snow chains we must fit new tyres of a different width would this need a wheel change as well? Could more information be provided on the adverse affects on suspension as a result of replacing the 225mm width with tyres of 205 mm to provide higher stability.

It appears to us that an All Season Tyre with the snow and mountain insignia moulded into the sides would be a better tyre to fit to meet all round use for a 4WD off road vehicle fit for use in Europe. This would to reduce the risks of a 180 degree turn due to loss of grip on the back wheels where snow chains should not be fitted. If in an European country requiring snow chains to be fitted would there be a penalty if there was an accident arising from failure to fit snow chains to tyres with snow amd mountain rating?

Please could you confirm Skoda's final recommendations here and what they feel obliged to do to help us meet legal requirements for European travel.

Y4YETI apologises for log on difficuluties but here is SOME VERY IMPORTANT UPDATES directly from Skoda in Czech Republic.

We have received your correspondence concerning the use of snow chains on your vehicle Škoda Yeti Elegance 4x4.

We regret to hear that you are not fully satisfied with your Skoda vehicle. We would like to assist you by clarifying this

issue. There are two Owner's manuals available for Yeti model, the second one has been updated recently, in November 2009. We

are not able to define exactly which edition of the Owner's manual you have received with your vehicle but we suppose that it is

the previous edition which does not include an article about the use of snow chains on wider 17 inch wheels (7Jx17 rims with

225/50 R17 94W/H tyres). In addition, there are also specific changes related to the usage of the snow chains. These changes are

valid for all the Yeti models, regardless the year of production.

As a result of these changes, we would like to inform you that your vehicle Škoda Yeti Elegance 4x4 170 HP with tyres 225/50 R17

(7J x 17 rims) can be fitted with the snow chains, however, on the rear axle only. The use of the snow chains on the front axle

with this type of wheels and tyres is not permissible due to the technical reasons. The tyre/wheel combinations which are

approved for your vehicle are indicated in your vehicle documents. We do not recommend our customer any particular tyre brand or

producer, this decision is fully up to the customer. We would like to recommend you to ask your Škoda service partner or

specialized tyre shop for more information about technical specifications of winter season tyres. We attach a copy of the

updated owner's manual for your reference.

As a result of these changes, we would like to inform you that your vehicle Å koda Yeti Elegance 4x4 170 HP with tyres 225/50 R17

(7J x 17 rims) can be fitted with the snow chains, however, on the rear axle only. The use of the snow chains on the front axle

with this type of wheels and tyres is not permissible due to the technical reasons.

Thanks Worldlife.

Chains on the rear wheels only on 225/50-17 tyres? That sounds strange. I wonder if the technical reason for not putting them on the front wheels is to do with clearance?

John

I would suspect limited clearance between the tyre and suspension leg.