Took my car into Exeter Audi on Friday to book it in for a 4 wheel alignment had a very honest chat with a

service guy there who said it would be a waste of money having them do a 4 wheel alignment on my car as the problem is a design fault with the octavia, A3, Golf and Leon in conjunction with the wrong type of tyre namely Dunlop. His advice was to put conties on the back and I wouldn't have a problem as they have the same problem on the A3 if fitted with Dunlop tyres, and the amount of camber adjustment on the rear was so small it would have no real affect if you have the wrong type of tyre on the back. So I am at a bit of a loss and am stunned at a garage not wanting to take my money, he is either very honest or too busy to be bothered with me.

Edited 7 May, 201115 yr by Vrs2

Had a long but pointless discussion with John Good yesterday who maintained that Skoda will not pay for tyres as they see they as a wear and tear item. Just could not see my point that it was incorrect to call it fair wear and tear and more like incorrect wear and tear.

Anyway I have got the Skoda CEO's name and am writing a letter directly to him. If anyone wants me to include there details to add more weight to the letter then PM me. Suggest you include, Name, Reg, Mileage and tyre make.

Why not just point him to this thread as if he isn't already well aware of it, VAG know what the problem is but in true manufacture fashion they will wish to ignore it until it's highlighted by someone like VOSA or watchdog.

Edited 7 May, 201115 yr by Vrs2

Will be including it in my letter, but there is no information on here as regards who is who that he can use!

Full and formal information will be required.

Edited 7 May, 201115 yr by banksie

Sorry Banksie I am new to this forum talk and don't know what PM means but you can count me in. Unless we all stick together we will continue to be screwed over with this problem, as it is what us Brits are famous for ( not complaining and carrying it through)

Edited 7 May, 201115 yr by Vrs2

Welcome Vrs2, my sentiments exactly!

PM= personal message - means you e-mail me personally so that your details aren't available to anyone who hasn't joined the site, thats if your happy for me to have/include your details etc!!

Have to add my name to the list. My VRS LE came with dunlop sportmaxx and started to sound like a B52 bomber over the last couple of weeks. Went in for it's first service at 17.5k miles. Dealer told be the rears were feathered, but the camber settings were correct. Tyres had 6mm tread left. Went to Pro tyre and had a calibration check and they advised the settings were so close to spec that it wouldn't be worth trying to adjust them (less than 0.1 degree out). After reading this thread, and having an identical car on my drive for comparison (except for the tyres), I got the rears changed out for Conti SP3's. Car sounds like a jag now. Will look at changing the fronts and I reckon it will be as quiet as the other Octi LE. Didn't think to hang on to the old dunlops. Happy to sign up to any petition, as they cost me £260 fitted, and not at all happy if SUK are aware of this issue and have done nothing.

Martin

As an update, the factory Dunlop sport Maxx gt's sawtoothed badly on the rear and sounded awful when Swapped to the front.

My new falken fk452's have now started to go the same way after around 8k miles. Great. I had the geometry adjusted around the time of the tyre change and adjustment was needed.

I wanted this car for aong time and now I'm ****ed if with it before it's even got 23k on the clock!! I think so far their stance seems to be that it's a characteristic of the car. Happy driver my arse.

Edited 18 May, 201115 yr by zimmerman

As an update, the factory Dunlop sport Maxx gt's sawtoothed badly on the rear and sounded awful when Swapped to the front.

My new falken fk452's have now started to go the same way after around 8k miles. Great. I had the geometry adjusted around the time of the tyre change and adjustment was needed.

I wanted this car for aong time and now I'm ****ed if with it before it's even got 23k on the clock!! I think so far their stance seems to be that it's a characteristic of the car. Happy driver my arse.

I have a similar story. Just changed my rear Sport Maxx GT's for Falken FK452 at 18000 miles, they had been on the front to about 11000 miles. Will replace the front Dunlops in about 3000 miles with new Falkens.

Its disappointing that you have started to experience exactly the same sawtoothing problems even with geometry checked.

It makes me wonder whether it would be better to get cheap tyres and replace them as soon as the sawtoothing noise starts even if they are only half worn

You can add me to the list. Bought my 2nd-hand 2010 plate vRS CR with 9500 miles on and have been keeping an eye on the rears as read this thread. Now on 19500 and wear has increased dramatically on the rear inners, to the extent where I've just had to put the spare on as belt showing on one tyre (factory fitted Bridgestone Potenzas). I've never seen inner tyre wear like this on any other car I've previously owned.

Have we any indication of the service bulletin details referred to in the thread above. I will certainly be taking this up with Skoda under warranty.

You can add me to the list too. Brought up in conversation with Skoda UK while they were washing their hands of my other suspension troubles. Not happy that the dealer who had the car on Friday didn't think it worth mentioning to me at the time but important enough to mention to Skoda UK. The car's done 10500 miles on the factory fit Bridgestone Potenzas.

John Good of Skoda UK customer service advised me it is a problem suffered with Bridgestone, Dunlop and Goodyear tyres so for now I should get the tyres rotated and in the long run change tyre brands.

Begs the question WTF they are doing still fitting these tyre brands when they know there will be a problem further down the line for the user.

So John Good thinks that the tyre company that supplies F1 can't make tyres. One of the largest American tyre companies can't make tyres and one of the oldest tyre makers in the world can't make tyres!!

John Good knows nothing about tyres!

I sent him the info from Dunlop!

Skoda UK CEO currently has a 2 page letter from me detailing all that has gone on with this issue and yesterday I received a message on my answer phone to say that "my concerns were being dealt with" and "we will be getting in touch soon".

Will update when I know more!

09 1.9TD Estate. Bought brand new.

Droning noise for ages. Dealer just said normal tyre noise. Got worse over the months and anyone who got in the car commented on it. Complained and complained and they [David Ian, Morecambe - Very Poor after service] eventually [~20k] said 'oh yes, Skoda know about this. You have jagged wear on rears. We'll do an alignment check, but as your tyres have worn you'll need to put 2 new on the rear at your cost before the check'.

Alignment checked - don't know if any adjustments were made but came back and droning has gone. After reading on the web I'm now just waiting for it to reappear as the new tyres wear.

Annoying as if they had taken me seriously when noise first reported the wear may not have been as bad and adjustment could have been made without forking out for new tyres.

This issue, along with a long list of other problems, has made buying the Skoda Octavia the worse car ownership experience I've ever had. Couple these with the worst dealership after sales care and workmanship possible and I can only laugh when I see the adverts and customer promise posters.

Just got a letter from CEO, PP'd of course, saying that matter has been passed to SUK CUS.

Phone has just rang , new person - Shelley Lynch, asking for photo's of my winter tyres, which she now has.

More hoops - but I'll keep jumping!!

More updates to follow

Just got a letter from CEO, PP'd of course, saying that matter has been passed to SUK CUS.

Phone has just rang , new person - Shelley Lynch, asking for photo's of my winter tyres, which she now has.

More hoops - but I'll keep jumping!!

More updates to follow

Thanks for updates. I put a letter in the post to SUK yesterday. My issue is more the fact that they agreed for me to get the geometry checked at the 'local' Audi dealer and then after a few weeks said the results couldn't be used because the Audi equipment wasn't Skoda approved. Cost me a day off work, 125 mile round trip and £100 for the check. So wasn't best pleased :( .

Sarge.

OK, so my 2010 VRs has gone in today for the seat boulster to be rebuilt and a 4 wheel alignment check/adjustement.

My dealer has told me that Skoda UK C/S have agreed a goodwill gesture to cover the cost of the alignment check as the age of my car would have the correct factory settings.

I told my dealer OK agree with the comment but explain how other Octavia owners with newer cars are seeing the same issues? I also added that this is my second VRs and that I have never seen rear tyre wear like this before on any car (she failed to comment).

Lets wait and see what the results from the check uncovers. The dealer is using a third party VAG specialist as they do not have the kit on site.

I will let you all know how I get on. :yes:

.

Edited 26 May, 201115 yr by shrek100

Mine is also suffering now. VRS Estate, 11 plate.

10200 miles, 4 months old - the front Dunlops are shot, the rears are wearing on the inside edge and have the "sawtooth" effect!

Skoda Uk, are crap promise to call back and then do not bother.

Service Manager at Beadles Skoda in Maidstone has looked at the tyres and he agrees all is not well and has promised to chase Skoda.

Has any body had any responses from Skoda UK? Skoda said I would have to pay to get the problem sorted and then send the results to them and they would advise if they would "compensate". Only is it was found to be out side of specs?

Edited 26 May, 201115 yr by shrek100

Mine is also suffering now. VRS Estate, 11 plate.

10200 miles, 4 months old - the front Dunlops are shot, the rears are wearing on the inside edge and have the "sawtooth" effect!

Skoda Uk, are crap promise to call back and then do not bother.

Service Manager at Beadles Skoda in Maidstone has looked at the tyres and he agrees all is not well and has promised to chase Skoda.

Has any body had any responses from Skoda UK? Skoda said I would have to pay to get the problem sorted and then send the results to them and they would advise if they would "compensate". Only is it was found to be out side of specs?

Have you read any of this thread at all?

OK, so my 2010 VRs has gone in today for the seat boulster to be rebuilt and a 4 wheel alignment check/adjustement.

My dealer has told me that Skoda UK C/S have agreed a goodwill gesture to cover the cost of the alignment check as the age of my car would have the correct factory settings.

I told my dealer OK agree with the comment but explain how other Octavia owners with newer cars are seeing the same issues? I also added that this is my second VRs and that I have never seen rear tyre wear like this before on any car (she failed to comment).

Lets wait and see what the results from the check uncovers. The dealer is using a third party VAG specialist as they do not have the kit on site.

I will let you all know how I get on. :yes:

OK so the boulster foam was fixed but they ripped the leather seat cover on the boulster on the other side (well $%^& off) so now I need a new seat cover so another visit to the dealer.

So the dealer was not so smug when I collected the car as the before adjustment page was very red and after adjustment it was very green.

Here are the settings I copied off the sheets so hope they make sense and help others out:-

BEFORE AFTER

L/F L/F

Camber minus 0degrees 25seconds Camber minus 0degrees 27seconds

Toe minus 0degrees 2seconds Toe plus 0degrees 6seconds

L/R L/R

Camber minus 1degrees 42seconds Camber minus 1degrees 43seconds

Toe minus 0degrees 6seconds Toe plus 0degrees 5seconds

R/F R/F

Camber minus 0degrees 46seconds Camber minus 0degrees 45seconds

Toe plus 0degrees 1seconds Toe plus 0degrees 5seconds

R/R R/R

Camber minus 1degrees 27seconds Camber minus 1degrees 26seconds

Toe minus 0degrees 1seconds Toe plus 0degrees 6seconds

Total Toe Total Toe

Minus 0degrees 1second Plus 0degrees 11second

Steer ahead Steer ahead

Minus 0degrees 2seconds Plus 0degrees 1second

Total Toe Total Toe

Minus 0degrees 7 seconds Plus 0degrees 11second

Thrust angle Thrust angle

Minus 0degrees 3seconds 0degrees 0seconds

OK so the boulster foam was fixed but they ripped the leather seat cover on the boulster on the other side (well $%^& off) so now I need a new seat cover so another visit to the dealer.

So the dealer was not so smug when I collected the car as the before adjustment page was very red and after adjustment it was very green.

Here are the settings I copied off the sheets so hope they make sense and help others out:-

BEFORE AFTER

L/F L/F

Camber minus 0degrees 25seconds Camber minus 0degrees 27seconds

Toe minus 0degrees 2seconds Toe plus 0degrees 6seconds

L/R L/R

Camber minus 1degrees 42seconds Camber minus 1degrees 43seconds

Toe minus 0degrees 6seconds Toe plus 0degrees 5seconds

R/F R/F

Camber minus 0degrees 46seconds Camber minus 0degrees 45seconds

Toe plus 0degrees 1seconds Toe plus 0degrees 5seconds

R/R R/R

Camber minus 1degrees 27seconds Camber minus 1degrees 26seconds

Toe minus 0degrees 1seconds Toe plus 0degrees 6seconds

Total Toe Total Toe

Minus 0degrees 1second Plus 0degrees 11second

Steer ahead Steer ahead

Minus 0degrees 2seconds Plus 0degrees 1second

Total Toe Total Toe

Minus 0degrees 7 seconds Plus 0degrees 11second

Thrust angle Thrust angle

Minus 0degrees 3seconds 0degrees 0seconds

Will dig out my print out to see how they compare.

Update

Had Shelly Lynch,(she is the CEO's Executive office manager), on the phone today offering me a contribution to a pair of tyres! Which I've refused!

The background to this was that I put my winter tyres on just after this problem started and when I took them off again in April they had exhibited the same wear as the Dunlops. All this went in the letter to the CEO. with me asking for a contribution to a new pair of "summer" tyres and "winter" tyres.

She said that the "technical dept" had looked at the photo's of the winter tyres and didn't think that the wear was to bad. I asked her about the fact that there were no "sipes" left on the inner part of the tyre and therefore they would not be able to grip the snow. Completely non plussed her! I said that if your admitting there is a problem then it can't be restricted to just one pair of tyres.

Lots of discussion ensued but the bottom line that I said to her was that I'm almost not that fussed about the tyre compensation now, its more that fact that Skoda refuse to believe/accept that there is a problem with either the design or set up.

When I asked her about the other owners with this problem she said she could not comment on other cases. This is very handy as it means they can deny there is a problem as we can't all ring her together! We could however all turn up at Milton Keynes, or the Motor Show, or Watchdog!!

Anyway, it was left that the "technical dept" would be ringing me to discuss winter tyre wear, that won't be til June 6th due my work commitments. Will update then!

Edited 1 June, 201115 yr by banksie

I too have asked my dealer for feedback from SUK CS. Me thinks radio silence.

Supposedly picking up a new Octavia Vrs later today.

Asked the dealer if Dunlop's or Conti's were fitted, they said Dunlops and denied any knowledge of a problem, I find this shocking now having read this whole thread.

We have a 10 plate 2.0cr vrs dsg estate and noticed problem with rear tyres at 15000 miles. Currently have new one on order so hopefully it wont have the same problem.