Hi,

I've placed an order for a new Octavia Scout and i'm trying to establish the smallest wheel size that can be used for winter tyres. I currently have a 2006 Octavia 4x4 equipped with the standard 15" alloys. Are there are any differences in the brake sizes between 4x4's and Scout, if not then are 15" wheels suitable. I believe the details on the reverse of the fuel filler cap indicate the tyre options available? Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Steven.

Hi Steven

Takes a look at the details I posted on this thread, I don't think 15" will fit over the discs. 16" or 17" is on the inside of the fuel filler cap.

Thanks for the link, very useful!

I've oredered extra 16" steel rims for winter tires so i can fit 205/55 16"

Hijacking the thread slightly... apologies...

I was thinking about getting a separate set of rims to put winter tyres onto... saves a lot of tyre-fitting hassle. However, my insurance company simply cannot get their collective heads around this "modification". They firstly refused to consider alloys since that would be a performance mod - except the car already has alloys, so that's a pointless argument. Then they got into a tizz about only considering "manufacturer fitted" wheels (yeah, like I'm going to take the car back to the factory...), and are really struggling to understand the implications of [a] an identical set of wheels from a scrapyard, just with different tyres, or an equivalent manufacturer wheel, perhaps just a different design from a different trim level vehicle.

Anyone have any silver bullets or words of wisdom here? Other than "not telling them", obviously...

I think they're fretting enough about the whole concept of changing the tyres, almost assuming that you keep the precise same tyres as originally fitted and never even varying manufacturer or tread pattern. So I'm really confused, since that's hardly likely to happen...

Thanks!

Your point about insurance is a good one, I take it they don't grasp the concept that your improving the safety of the car and reducing your chances of having an accident on poor conditions. I'll need to contact my own insurers to find out their policy on changing to other wheels fited with winter tyres. Would like to think it doesn't increase the premium don't like the idea of having to pay more to reduce their risk of paying out!

Very interesting thread. I'm not saying you are wrong to report this to your insurance company, but do members really think it's necessary to tell their insurance company about this sort of "modification"? I use inverted commas intentionally, because personally I would not have considered this a modification worthy of mention to my company. In the event of an accident, I would doubt this would be picked up and even if it was, it's not performance enhancing or detrimental to safety. I mean...where do you stop with what to report? Cosmetic boot spoiler? Go-faster stripes?

Everything you mention is a "modification". Maybe not a "Performance Modification", but a modification non the less.

FWIW I did ask my insurer about winter wheels/tyres and they basically said 25quid extra/yr (IIRC). But I need to notify them when they come off and go on, and possibly incur a policy change charge also.

My insurer even considered that my factory fit 'optional extra' of alcantara/leather and side airbags had a bearing on my premium. I will admit to blowing a fuse. I thought it best not to then ask about the rubber mats.

Edited 6 July, 201015 yr by foo

Extensive thread here regarding this exact topic.

Extensive thread here regarding this exact topic.

Thanks for that link... well worth a peruse, I think.

Re: notifying the insurance company, a couple of years ago I wouldn't have bothered either. But they all seem to be racing to the bottom of the market, and I know they're much more concerned with after market mods than they once were. As an example, a friend of mine bought my old Octy last year, and her insurance company wanted a complete list of factory-fitted accessories (xenons, side airbags, TPM...) before they'd cover. Now, quite how she'd have known half these things if I hadn't still got the original paperwork is beyond me, but they were pretty heavy about needing to know "or else" (best said in a whispering East London accent).

Ultimately, if it's something that *could* be discovered if an assessor crawled over your car after an accident then it's something they could use to invalidate the claim using some arcane maritime insurance get out (the obligation is on you to tell them of material facts, not on them to ask you about them or even tell you what "material" means, IIRC).