good afternoon.

I have a 3 month old L&K with just over 10,000 miles on it.

Over the last 3-4 weeks I have noticed excessive tyre noise when travelling from 50mph to about 20mph.

I took the car into the dealer today, and they took it for a road test, and then put it on the ramp, and their conclusion is that BOTH rear tyres are out of shape.

They say that this could be due to pot holes, but I do find it amazing that it is BOTH rear tyres, and no problem at the front.

The tyres are Bridgestone.

I accepted their diagnosis, but the only solution they have come up iwth is to chaneg the tyres, which at xxx per tyre, is not going to happen.

Anybody else experienced this with such a new car, and has anybody had any joy with Skoda?

Look forward to responses.

Yes it's a common problem on Octavia's and the dealer should be ashamed of themselves as they know all about this issue!!

Yes it's a common problem on Octavia's and the dealer should be ashamed of themselves as they know all about this issue!!

Is there anything that can be done - are they hoping I go away ?? - or do I live with it??

Hello wantaskoda,

Would you educate me by telling what a L&K is please??

I haven't a clue what it could stand for, obviously member Gizmo78 knows.

Please put me out of my misery. LOL

Hello wantaskoda,

Would you educate me by telling what a L&K is please??

I haven't a clue what it could stand for, obviously member Gizmo78 knows.

Please put me out of my misery. LOL

Yikes-933 posts on here & you don't know what a Laurin & Klement is??? :p

Skoda introduced a revised geometry setting for the MKII Octavia (and MK5 Golf which it is based on) a few years ago to try to cure the problem, IIRC I seem to remember someone saying this revised setting has recently now been dropped - assuming because it didn't work?

Would you educate me by telling what a L&K is please??

Basically a Laurin & Klement is higher trim level than an Elegance that is eventually introduced on all the models.

I had this problem on mine, and had the geometry corrected and new tyres. The car drives noticeably better since.

I had this problem on mine, and had the geometry corrected and new tyres. The car drives noticeably better since.

That's what they have suggested, but not forking out all that money.

If it is a known fault, there must be something that can be done.

Go back to the dealer.

Tell them after some research you have discovered it is a common problem.

Mention that you are not happy with their initial diagnosis.

Point out you are disappointed that they have tried to fob you off.

Ask them what they are going to do about it as your car is still under warranty.

Be polite but firm.

Go back to the dealer.

Tell them after some research you have discovered it is a common problem.

Mention that you are not happy with their initial diagnosis.

Point out you are disappointed that they have tried to fob you off.

Ask them what they are going to do about it as your car is still under warranty.

Be polite but firm.

Thank you.

Would it be worth going to skoda customer service first, or just going straight back to the dealer.

Is anyone aware of any threads on here that I could pick up on??

Hello wantaskoda,

Would you educate me by telling what a L&K is please??

I haven't a clue what it could stand for, obviously member Gizmo78 knows.

Please put me out of my misery. LOL

I to had to read this more than once.!!!!!!!!!!!

I had this problem on mine, and had the geometry corrected and new tyres. The car drives noticeably better since.

Hi Pixor

Where did you get the geometry done?

I had the rear geometry done by the dealer recently (still not convinced its ok) but I was going to get 4 wheel geometry done at CLCM in Edinburgh - they are highly recommended.

Cheers

Dave

Just spoke to the dealer. They have said that they have never had this problem before, and they know that it is not covered under warranty.

Been referred to customer service.

Great !!

That's what they have suggested, but not forking out all that money.

If it is a known fault, there must be something that can be done.

I got the dealer to put new tyres on (was buying used) and paid for the geometry to be done at a specialist, only £49.

The problem is that although it is a known problem, your geometry can be knocked out by all sorts of things that are your responsibility, so I think you'd be arguing until you were blue in the face if you tried to get Skoda to take responsibility.

Not ideal, but a pragmatic solution.

Hi Pixor

Where did you get the geometry done?

I had the rear geometry done by the dealer recently (still not convinced its ok) but I was going to get 4 wheel geometry done at CLCM in Edinburgh - they are highly recommended.

Cheers

Dave

I got mine done at CLCM. It's one bloke who really knows his stuff, and comes across as a decent, honest type. He told me if there were any issues to bring it back and he'd sort it. It's nice to feel that someone wants your business and knows what he's doing!

my VRS is the same, Skoda wanted £75.00 just to check it so i took it to my local ATS for a geometry check. they said it was perfect but i couldnt but wonder why the tyre wear continues. Just this afternoon had it checked at a very good place in the south wales valleys and guess what, the rears were WAY out. Also the fronts were slightly out. Cost me £60 to put right and the journey home was bliss! no more noise! The company who done my wheels are:

http://www.mototec.co.uk/index.htm

Just spoke to the dealer. They have said that they have never had this problem before, and they know that it is not covered under warranty.

Been referred to customer service.

Great !!

I suspect they are lying.

How would they know for definite its not covered under warranty if they haven't already enquired with Skoda UK before?

The problem with Skoda UK is they rely heavily on their dealer's diagnosis, you need your dealer to back you up. Try another.

Skoda Customer Services will also claim they have never heard of this problem before. I know for a fact others have contacted Skoda UK before on this very issue.

I wouldn't hesitate in referring them to Briskoda for evidence that this is more of a problem than they are prepared to admit.

Good luck, a free or discounted repair is going to be tough but not impossible with some persistence.

I suspect they are lying.

How would they know for definite its not covered under warranty if they haven't already enquired with Skoda UK before?

The problem with Skoda UK is they rely heavily on their dealer's diagnosis, you need your dealer to back you up. Try another.

Skoda Customer Services will also claim they have never heard of this problem before. I know for a fact others have contacted Skoda UK before on this very issue.

I wouldn't hesitate in referring them to Briskoda for evidence that this is more of a problem than they are prepared to admit.

Good luck, a free or discounted repair is going to be tough but not impossible with some persistence.

The warranty over covers geometry and tyre up to 6000 miles or 6 months. As the OP has 10K on the clock they won't touch it under warranty

The warranty over covers geometry and tyre up to 6000 miles or 6 months. As the OP has 10K on the clock they won't touch it under warranty

Not neccessarily, the mileage may be over but the car is only 3 months old.

The problem is well known and well documented and has clearly been present from new so I wouldn't let it lye quite so easily.

Not neccessarily, the mileage may be over but the car is only 3 months old.

The problem is well known and well documented and has clearly been present from new so I wouldn't let it lye quite so easily.

It's 6000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first... and I've gone through this with my dealer too, they say it's a characteristic of the car and there's sweet FA they can do. Kind of puts me off getting another one when it comes to replacement time...

The point I was trying to make is whilst the mileage has been exceeded the cars age is significantly less, which may stand the OP in good favour.

The vast majority of complaints that I have read about saw toothing tyres have been on older cars with higher mileage. We are talking about a 12 week old car here.

Whilst some dealers will use the 4,000 miles to wriggle out of a possible warranty claim others are a little more sympathetic and may be willing to help out.

Claiming its a "characterisitc of the car" is a well known excuse used by all manufacturers for design faults and shouldn't put the OP off trying to get it fixed.

Its unfair to tarnish all dealers with the same brush. In my experience if you have the support of the dealer Skoda UK are much more likely to listen and help, even if it is only a contribution as a gesture of good will.

Sometimes persistance and a little bit of luck go a long way.

If you get no where, I'd accept it as poor customer service and would make it clear to both my dealer and Skoda that I too would unlikely be back. At least I'd know I'd given it my best shot.

report it to watchdog

I have

was well peed off with skoda

their answer was to replace the factory dunlops that 'are known to go like this' with Goodyears

idiots

we know it a problem but will do nothing about it.

Basically a Laurin & Klement is higher trim level than an Elegance that is eventually introduced on all the models.

Thanks for that info, so that's all it is, sounds better than Laurel and Hardy, as they were a laugh as well. LOL

a quick update from me.

having first emailed on the 10th December, followed up a couple of weeks later and heard nothing, I have jsut spoken to customer service.

I have now been told that the issue 'is a characteristic of the Bridgestone tyres' this was said by one of the customer service people who was talking to a technicain. I asked why I was sold a 20k car that has this characteristic to which there was no answer. I then went on to say that according to the dealer, this is not hte issue, and as the geomatry is out, it must be that.

At first, the response was either buy new tyres, or swap them round, to whcih I have told them that this is NOT an option.

After saying that I was going to write to Bridgestone and advise them that Skoda are saying that there is an issue with the tyre, they have agreed at their cost to have the geometry sorted.

I have emailed them to put into writing that I want a copy of the recording where they have made the comment about Bridgestone to ensure that if they come back and say it is the tyre, that they will pay for them to be changed.

I hope to get the tracking done in the next few days, and then see what happens.