Dealer has advised that I need to replace tyres on my vrs estate FL petrol due to wonky wheel syndrome. Miffed to say the least and as per my other thread still waiting to see whether Skoda will contribute or whether things will get messy.

Question here is about my tyre options as no way I would replace with OE Dunlops. Looking around quickly looks like Michelin Pilot Sport 3 could be a good choice at the top end or Khumo Ecsta Ku31 a good budget conscious option. Would like a nice quiet tyre with decent ride and wear characteristics.

Obviously the tyre choice is of little consequence if the geometry is going to knacker them again in 7000 miles. Hopefully the new geometry settings will work and wondering whether tyre pattern should also be a consideration (ie is one pattern more susceptible to stepped wear on the rear wheels).

Any thoughts, suggestions or pointers towards decent deals much appreciated.

Regards.

I'll keep discussions to the exact nature of the fault to the other thread, but hopefully things will improve for you!

General consensus is that a directional tyre is more likely to suffer due to the tread pattern. Something like a Goodyear Eagle F1, if you're familiar with them? Tyre noise from the rear with such a tyre also seems to be a bit worse.

PS3s are great, if pricey! Some say they outlast other choices so make more sense in value per mile terms, but I'm still to be convinced. I've always quite liked the KU31 and have run them a few times, although never on an Octy. Wear and performance always seemed good, especially for the price.

A browse on www.tyrereviews.co.uk is always worthwhile too

Cheers,

Steve

I have got the KU31s on the front of the 'tavia at the moment and have mixed feelings about them.

When I brought the car it had Dunlop SportMaxx on the car and they were lethal in anything above drizzle; I moved to Vredestein Ultrac Setassanas which are just amazing in all weathers.

I know have Fr KU31/ Rr Hankook V12 Evos and on a couple of occassions under hard braking I have felt the front end skip and the ABS kick in. This didn't happen with the Vreds. The Hankooks feel incredibly good and even when I had snow socks on the fr and driving on 6 ins of snow the rear felt solid.

I think there was £20 a corner in it and I think I would probably go with the Hankooks over the Kumhos next time. Plus I found they are OoS more regularly and becoming difficult to get hold off. Rumor is that they are soon to be replaced.

Uniroyal Rainsport 2's

Best all round tyre in a recent survey for the price....Camskill price: http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m61b0s134p60798

Read this too: http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?details=Ordern&cart_id=20788019.110.17443&typ=R-153534&ranzahl=4&Breite=225&Herst=Uniroyal&Quer=40&Felge=18&weiter=0&kategorie=6&Ang_pro_Seite=15&Transport=P&dsco=110&sowigan=So

Then click on 'Tyretest.com(English)'

Edited 13 January, 201115 yr by ChrisRs

+1 For Hankook V12 Evo's - a very very good tyre

Uniroyal Rainsport 2's

Best all round tyre in a recent survey for the price....Camskill price: http://www.camskill....m61b0s134p60798

Read this too: http://ssl.delti.com...=110&sowigan=So

Then click on 'Tyretest.com(English)'

You will stuggle to find a better tyre in the wet, they are Awesome

Fantastic in the Dry

Dealer has advised that I need to replace tyres on my vrs estate FL petrol due to wonky wheel syndrome. Miffed to say the least and as per my other thread still waiting to see whether Skoda will contribute or whether things will get messy. Question here is about my tyre options as no way I would replace with OE Dunlops. Looking around quickly looks like Michelin Pilot Sport 3 could be a good choice at the top end or Khumo Ecsta Ku31 a good budget conscious option. Would like a nice quiet tyre with decent ride and wear characteristics. Obviously the tyre choice is of little consequence if the geometry is going to knacker them again in 7000 miles. Hopefully the new geometry settings will work and wondering whether tyre pattern should also be a consideration (ie is one pattern more susceptible to stepped wear on the rear wheels).Any thoughts, suggestions or pointers towards decent deals much appreciated. Regards.

I am in a similar position to you in that I have got this noisy sawtooth tyre problem.Changed fronts to back and vice-versa which seemed to bring the problem up, I might have been better leaving them but then the fronts would have worn out well before the rears. I like to change all 4 at the same time so keeping them all the same make.

My thinking now is to get a cheap tyre knowing I will probably replace before they are worn out. My car had a full geometry check when it was 2 weeks old which seems to have made no difference in keeping the sawtooth noise at bay.

Camskill are doing Falken FK452's at about £60 each which is what I am looking at.

General consensus is that a directional tyre is more likely to suffer due to the tread pattern. Something like a Goodyear Eagle F1, if you're familiar with them? Tyre noise from the rear with such a tyre also seems to be a bit worse.

Just to clarify, the Goodyear Eagle F1 has been discontinued some time ago. If you do find some make sure they have not been made in China, the quality is very poor.

However this tyre has been replaced by the Goodyear F1 Assymetric which is not directional. I had 2 sets on my Focus St and swear by them for all conditions especially in the wet. They lasted well getting about 20000 miles from each set although the ST never suffered from this sawtooth problem.

Price of them has gone up a bit though, now about £120

Edited 13 January, 201115 yr by PowerMalc

I was using the F1 as an example of the type of tread pattern and design to avoid. I realise they're no longer available. The Assyms are supposed to very good though, as you say. Not too bad a price either, although the original F1 was £97 in 225/40/18 before it was discontinued, so a bit of an increase over those.

I'd also recommend the V12 Evos and the Sessantas. Both very good for the money. I'll be going for the Hankooks myself when tyres are due I reckon.

The issue I'd have with the Rainsport2 on the Octy is that while it's been reviewed very well, I couldn't be confident that you wouldn't suffer a similar problem than the one you're trying to solve now. In any other situation, and taking the sawtooth issue aside, they'd be in my top 3 for consideration.

Steve

Just checked the Camskill price for the Sessantas and they've rocketed up! Can't believe the increase

They were £80-odd in 225/40/18 last time I checked. With that in mind I'd probably spend the extra £3.35 a corner and go for the Goodyears.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m61b0s134p12423

Steve

Just checked the Camskill price for the Sessantas and they've rocketed up! Can't believe the increase

They were £80-odd in 225/40/18 last time I checked. With that in mind I'd probably spend the extra £3.35 a corner and go for the Goodyears.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m61b0s134p12423

Steve

This is why I moved away from them. I paid £83 a corner for them in 225/45/17 back in October 2009 and they were £106.00 a corner when I checked again in Dec 2010! Too much of an increase imo. The SporTrac3s have gone the same; I paid £58 a corner in 205/45/16 for the wifes vRS and they are now £71!

This is why I went to the Kumhos then Hankooks on the 'tavia and have Falken Ze912 on the vRS.

Pardon me for being dumb but what is this sawtooth problem?

Pardon me for being dumb but what is this sawtooth problem?

It is an inherent problem that afflicts the Golf Mk 5 platform, so Golf, Octavia, Leon, Audi A3

As the rear tyres wear they develop an uneven wear on each individual chunk of tread on the inside of the tyre,

So one edge of a tread block has a raised edge in comparison to the edge of the block next to it making it look similar to saw blade. If you rub your hand around the tyre it feels smooth one way but rough the other way.

End result is a heavy droning sound which starts at about 20mph.

Skoda have given out different geometry settings over the years which in the opinion of most does not seem to make any difference.

I have only driven an Octavia VRS with 225/40 x 18 tyres and mine started to get noisy at 10,000 miles

Edited 13 January, 201115 yr by PowerMalc

Just checked the Camskill price for the Sessantas and they've rocketed up! Can't believe the increase

They were £80-odd in 225/40/18 last time I checked. With that in mind I'd probably spend the extra £3.35 a corner and go for the Goodyears.

http://www.camskill....m61b0s134p12423

Steve

Does this ound a buit cheaper for you?? My link

It is an inherent problem that afflicts the Golf Mk 5 platform, so Golf, Octavia, Leon, Audi A3

As the rear tyres wear they develop an uneven wear on each individual chunk of tread on the inside of the tyre,

So one edge of a tread block has a raised edge in comparison to the edge of the block next to it making it look similar to saw blade. If you rub your hand around the tyre it feels smooth one way but rough the other way.

End result is a heavy droning sound which starts at about 20mph.

Skoda have given out different geometry settings over the years which in the opinion of most does not seem to make any difference.

I have only driven an Octavia VRS with 225/40 x 18 tyres and mine started to get noisy at 10,000 miles

Mine started at 8k miles, I've swapped them over (front on rear, rears on front) I will take it to the dealer when it goes in for its service and have a word about it.......................so far the octavia has not been as problem free as my fabia

It is an inherent problem that afflicts the Golf Mk 5 platform, so Golf, Octavia, Leon, Audi A3

As the rear tyres wear they develop an uneven wear on each individual chunk of tread on the inside of the tyre,

So one edge of a tread block has a raised edge in comparison to the edge of the block next to it making it look similar to saw blade. If you rub your hand around the tyre it feels smooth one way but rough the other way.

End result is a heavy droning sound which starts at about 20mph.

Skoda have given out different geometry settings over the years which in the opinion of most does not seem to make any difference.

I have only driven an Octavia VRS with 225/40 x 18 tyres and mine started to get noisy at 10,000 miles

Interesting, thanks.

Does this ound a buit cheaper for you?? My link

Those are 225/45/17, which are going to be cheaper anyway.

Uniroyal Rainsport 2's

Best all round tyre in a recent survey for the price....Camskill price: http://www.camskill....m61b0s134p60798

Read this too: http://ssl.delti.com...=110&sowigan=So

Then click on 'Tyretest.com(English)'

I have uniroyal rainsport 2 on my vrs they are very good in the dry but in the wet they are very very good

rob

Thanks. This is really useful as there are some good suggestions here. Would be concerned about buying directional tyres if more prone to sawtooth problem. Stupid question but how do I tell if the tyre is directional or not?

Those are 225/45/17, which are going to be cheaper anyway.

OOPs,

Sorry. My mistake..i was basing them on my size

Should have read the post properly

I have just got 4 goodyear efficientgrip 225/40 18 fitted. They seem good so far but not given them much stick yet.

I have just got 4 goodyear efficientgrip 225/40 18 fitted. They seem good so far but not given them much stick yet.

They sound like eco-warrior low rolling resistance jobbies! How are you finding braking in them?

much quieter than my old dunlop sport maxx ones and the feedback through the wheel feelers nicer. Just need to take the car out for a proper drive before I make my mind up.

I was on a midrange budget after having several suspension issues and uneven wear regardless of the tracking, I ended up fitting Accelera Enduro 916+ at £52+VAT a side. And i cant see any performance difference to the more expensive (£90+VAT) BF Goodrich I had on before.

This is for 225/40/R18, the car handles well in the wet and dry and not too bad at all considering the temperature it has been. I cant comment on road noise, as i think my wheel bearings are on there way at (157k)

I was expecting to be struggling for grip, but i must say there quite a decent tyre in my opinion. I will see how that changes when they're nearly worn out though.