Should i be able to get the geometry revised under warranty on my car which has a 1 year skoda used warranty? the car is just over 3 years old.

Hoping to sign off from this thread now! Skoda have now had the alignment done on my car and it was found to have a significant variation from the recommended settings for the rear toe-in. I'm going to try fitting Avons because they have a reputaton as being a quiet tyre. In about 12000 miles I'll let you all know if the sawtoothing is finally cured!

ML

Hi. Another newbie here and found the site whilst searching for this particular subject.

Yup. Another VRs owner (10) and precisely the same issues. Dunlops. Rapid and uneven tyre wear. Rears wearing on inner edge and sawtoothing.

I'm going to pursue my dealer first (Progress at Bedford) for info and see where we go.

Fronts are lasting 7k.... which is not great either but at least the wear on the Contis is even unlike the factory fitted Dunlops. FrWD, large torque, heavy car: I guess that'll all make a difference but I'd expect 10k as a min. For rears, no passengers so they are a joke.

I've got a new 10 plate Skoda Octavia VRS petrol which I took ownership of in April 2010

The car went in for its first variable service at 12500 miles at 15 months old to my local Skoda dealer at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, last weekend (£180 for info).

I asked them to check the wheel bearings as I had an increasing road noise (drowning sound) coming from the rear wheels, they quickly identified that the common fault on the VRS and not other models is that the inner 1" band of rubber is wearing at twice the rate as the rest of the tyre now 3mm whilst the rest of the tyre is 6mm.

They stated that I would need to replace the rear tyres and Skoda would look at or sort the rear suspension geometry under warranty work but not replace the tyres due to it covering 12500 miles and the tyres wont be illegal for at least another 2-3k.

I took the car away and wasn't happy that my 1 year old £21k VRS sounded like a 20 year old battered Vauxhall waiting for the tyres to become illegal by the end of the year,I did some investigating work and spoke to customer services who said that they would not replace tyres under these circs as it could be a tyre fault.

So I informed them that I would have the car independently inspected and take action against Skoda under the sales of good acts (2002).

Ie due to a manufacturing defect other parts are being damaged or failing.

Their comment of "it could be a fault with the tyres" even though this is a possibilty was highly unlikely is still their responsibilty to take this up with the tyre company as Skoda supplied the vehicle with this type of tyre.

They booked the car in for Tuesday, will supply me with a courtesy car for the day whilst they check and adjust the suspension geometry, however at the moment only verbally Skoda rainworth have offered a 50% discount on replacing the rear tyres.

Customer services stated that the tyres did not need replacing the geometry check.

I'll keep you posted.

I got 12k out of the front tyres with even ware.

I hope Skoda resolve this issue as it is quite simply a cracking all round car and would consider another when it's due to be replaced in 18 months.

However if I'm spending an extra £250 every 18 months towards rear tyres, my custom and money will be going elsewhere

Check out the Sales of Goods Act, its a cracking bit of legislation.

I recently had a 3 year old Sony PS3 replaced for a new one for free due to a manufacturing defect, you take action against the person who supplied the item and in my case that was Argos.

Edited 23 July, 201114 yr by GS2415

Thanks for these details. I appear to have sent my original letter to the wrong address. Anyway, re-sent it to John Good at above address on Tuesday and today received phone call from SUK to follow it up. Will update in due course.

Sarge.

By way of an update. Finally got some money back from SUK. They agreed to pay me the cost of having the geometry check carried out at Audi. It's a bit of a personal success, but it doesn't address the wider issue and I'm still not convinced that the car is right. Certainly, the rear tyre wear is very uneven and exhibits saw toothing and the fronts aren't wearing evenly either. Will soon be putting some PS3s on the back so I'll see how they do. This tyre issue is a real disappointement in an other wise great car. Anyway, at least the geometry checks haven't cost me too much money... yet!

Sarge.

By way of an update. Finally got some money back from SUK. They agreed to pay me the cost of having the geometry check carried out at Audi. It's a bit of a personal success, but it doesn't address the wider issue and I'm still not convinced that the car is right. Certainly, the rear tyre wear is very uneven and exhibits saw toothing and the fronts aren't wearing evenly either. Will soon be putting some PS3s on the back so I'll see how they do. This tyre issue is a real disappointement in an other wise great car. Anyway, at least the geometry checks haven't cost me too much money... yet!

Sarge.

I have also had success with having been 'compensated' 50% of the cost of 2 new tyres plus free alignment check/adjust. I have fitted Hankook Evo's and at present very pleased, but only time will tell how they wear etc. My own feelings are that the basic geometry set up at the factory is not 'suitable' for this car. My previous car was an Audi A3 sportback which had no issues whatsoever !

My 'claim' was dealt with by the supplying dealer 'Rainworth Skoda' so all credit to them.

Has anyone with a MY11 car had this problem. Mine's due for delivery shortly and the supplying dealer will not do a geometry check as part of the PDI despite it being an issue on VRS's! They claim it's done in the factory and only an issue with older cars. Clearly from the posts above, it's not. I've advised them I don't won't unever tyre wear to be noticed 6 months down the line and I don't see why I should pay to have it checked for piece of mind. Any advice?

Thanks,

Ian

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.

I have had similar problems with my 2008 Octavia Hatch.

The OE Bridgestones on the rear wore badly to the point where I thought I had a wheel bearing going.

Got it checked at the first service and was told about the uneven wear and that it was an issue with the tyres.

Replaced the extortionate Bridgestones with much more reasonable Kumhos.

(Very good BTW, half the price of the Potenzas, no appreciable difference in performance and very similar longevity - highly recomended.)

These have worn in exactly the same way as the Bridgestones and I had to replace the rear 2 on Saturday as they were illegal - no tread on the inner 1.2 to 2 inches, 3-4mm across the rest of the tyre!

Please add me to the petition to Skoda, but, in the meantime, my dealer has not acknowledged that there is an issue, is there a dealer in my vicinity (Lincolnshire) that has had success in resolving the problem?

Admins - can we pin this thread? Seems like loads of people are suffering and it took me a while to find this thread.

Thanks to all in advance.

I have had similar problems with my 2008 Octavia Hatch.

The OE Bridgestones on the rear wore badly to the point where I thought I had a wheel bearing going.

Got it checked at the first service and was told about the uneven wear and that it was an issue with the tyres.

Replaced the extortionate Bridgestones with much more reasonable Kumhos.

(Very good BTW, half the price of the Potenzas, no appreciable difference in performance and very similar longevity - highly recomended.)

These have worn in exactly the same way as the Bridgestones and I had to replace the rear 2 on Saturday as they were illegal - no tread on the inner 1.2 to 2 inches, 3-4mm across the rest of the tyre!

Please add me to the petition to Skoda, but, in the meantime, my dealer has not acknowledged that there is an issue, is there a dealer in my vicinity (Lincolnshire) that has had success in resolving the problem?

Admins - can we pin this thread? Seems like loads of people are suffering and it took me a while to find this thread.

Thanks to all in advance.

The key to this is when your 08 car was registered. If it's still in 3 year warranty you need to get on to John Good asap. Contact as above. If out of warranty there's not much you can do, except find a simpathetic dealer.

I have had similar problems with my 2008 Octavia Hatch.

The OE Bridgestones on the rear wore badly to the point where I thought I had a wheel bearing going.

Got it checked at the first service and was told about the uneven wear and that it was an issue with the tyres.

Replaced the extortionate Bridgestones with much more reasonable Kumhos.

(Very good BTW, half the price of the Potenzas, no appreciable difference in performance and very similar longevity - highly recomended.)

These have worn in exactly the same way as the Bridgestones and I had to replace the rear 2 on Saturday as they were illegal - no tread on the inner 1.2 to 2 inches, 3-4mm across the rest of the tyre!

Please add me to the petition to Skoda, but, in the meantime, my dealer has not acknowledged that there is an issue, is there a dealer in my vicinity (Lincolnshire) that has had success in resolving the problem?

Admins - can we pin this thread? Seems like loads of people are suffering and it took me a while to find this thread.

Thanks to all in advance.

Did you get your alignment / geometry checked when you replaced the tyres ? .

Edited 19 September, 201114 yr by allan1888

Looks like the geometry on my Octavia VRS was out as well (10 plate. Toe needed adjustment on both front wheels.

I took mine to the Wheel Alignment and Balljoint Ctr, 17 Forth St, Liverpool. They use the Hunter system and will check your wheel alignment for free, quoting for any work that needs doing. Mine cost a total of £35+VAT to be corrected which I am well pleased with. One to consider for anyone living in the Merseyside area.

I am a Superb owner so am intruding here but wanted to add my issues with Dunlop Sports Maxx tyres. These were on my car when delivered new and have progressively become so loud that have to turn the radio up!! My local Skoda dealer eventually diagnosed sawtoothing and rotated the rears to the front which has worsened the noise. The noise disappears above 80km but below that speed is really bad. I have NEVER experienced this type of problem before in a lifetime of driving.

My dealer flicked me to the local Dunlop agent to discuss compensation etc. Ha ha! That didn't take much of my time. He didn't punch me but I was hunted from the store and told to fix the car's geometry. The Dunlop man boasted that the SportsMaxx is now fitted to Lexus and Mercedes on delivery. I don't know if that's true but I noticed in the Skoda Showroom today, new Superbs and Octavias with the dreaded Dunlops fitted.

I lack the patience to undertake fruitless debates with either Skoda or Dunlop and have committed to new Contis being fitted tomorrow. That will separate me from $1200 hard earned and will probably steer me away from Skoda next time I change cars. The rest of the my car is brilliant but the widespread discussion on the saw tooth issue indicates lots of smoke AND fire!!

Been noticing a rumbling/grumbling noise for months now, mentioned it to the dealer when it went in for another problem back in May 2011, asked them to check the wheel bearings.

They reported back saying the rear tyres were castellated.

The car was on O/E BRidgestone Pozenta's all round, but the fronts were replaced a few months back. The noise is still there, so I assume it's the backs with the problem - which fits with the dealer saying it was the rear tyres.

I'm kind of just putting up with the din, and waiting till the rears need replacing, but problem is, the cars done 30k+ miles, and the rear tyres still have tonnes of tread left.

Skoda made no attempt at saying they were aware of an issue with wheel alignment, nor did they advise that the problem affected safety.

I did think about rotating the tyres so that the Bridgestones wore down faster, but I never got round to it.

Pretty bad that Skoda are implying it's the tyres when the problem seems to affect Bridgestones, Dunlops, Etc.

Been noticing a rumbling/grumbling noise for months now, mentioned it to the dealer when it went in for another problem back in May 2011, asked them to check the wheel bearings.

They reported back saying the rear tyres were castellated.

The car was on O/E BRidgestone Pozenta's all round, but the fronts were replaced a few months back. The noise is still there, so I assume it's the backs with the problem - which fits with the dealer saying it was the rear tyres.

I'm kind of just putting up with the din, and waiting till the rears need replacing, but problem is, the cars done 30k+ miles, and the rear tyres still have tonnes of tread left.

Skoda made no attempt at saying they were aware of an issue with wheel alignment, nor did they advise that the problem affected safety.

I did think about rotating the tyres so that the Bridgestones wore down faster, but I never got round to it.

Pretty bad that Skoda are implying it's the tyres when the problem seems to affect Bridgestones, Dunlops, Etc.

Paul,

Your car is still under warranty so there should be no problem in getting this fixed at Skoda's expense. You need to speak or write to John Good, contacts further back up the thread.

Michael

Paul,

Your car is still under warranty so there should be no problem in getting this fixed at Skoda's expense. You need to speak or write to John Good, contacts further back up the thread.

Michael

Yes the car is under warranty, but as far as I remember the warranty does not cover wheel alignment. Im on my second vrs first one was a Tfsi arrived with Dunlops from the factory. I owned the car for 4 1/2 years and never suffered any sawtoothing at any point in ownership. I only changed the Dunlops because they are the worst tire I have ever had on a car. My current Vrs a Tsi petrol came with Continenals from the factory, and again they are wearing correctly with no sawtoothing or uneven wear. Perhaps I'm just lucky not to have suffered this issue.

Paul,

The warranty definitely covers this. Several on this forum have had it done, including myself. In my case it is a bit too soon to say that the problem is fixed but so far the new tyres - Avons - seem ok. You need to speak to John Good as I said earlier.

Michael

I am a Superb owner so am intruding here but wanted to add my issues with Dunlop Sports Maxx tyres. These were on my car when delivered new and have progressively become so loud that have to turn the radio up!! My local Skoda dealer eventually diagnosed sawtoothing and rotated the rears to the front which has worsened the noise. The noise disappears above 80km but below that speed is really bad. I have NEVER experienced this type of problem before in a lifetime of driving.

My dealer flicked me to the local Dunlop agent to discuss compensation etc. Ha ha! That didn't take much of my time. He didn't punch me but I was hunted from the store and told to fix the car's geometry. The Dunlop man boasted that the SportsMaxx is now fitted to Lexus and Mercedes on delivery. I don't know if that's true but I noticed in the Skoda Showroom today, new Superbs and Octavias with the dreaded Dunlops fitted.

I lack the patience to undertake fruitless debates with either Skoda or Dunlop and have committed to new Contis being fitted tomorrow. That will separate me from $1200 hard earned and will probably steer me away from Skoda next time I change cars. The rest of the my car is brilliant but the widespread discussion on the saw tooth issue indicates lots of smoke AND fire!!

Quick additional note: My Skoda dealer telephoned me this afternoon to offer a "free wheel alignment and geometry check on all four wheels AND free nitrogen fill. Seems to me I would not be offered freebies unless the dealer feels that he has some liability here.

I am a Superb owner so am intruding here but wanted to add my issues with Dunlop Sports Maxx tyres. These were on my car when delivered new and have progressively become so loud that have to turn the radio up!! My local Skoda dealer eventually diagnosed sawtoothing and rotated the rears to the front which has worsened the noise. The noise disappears above 80km but below that speed is really bad. I have NEVER experienced this type of problem before in a lifetime of driving.

My dealer flicked me to the local Dunlop agent to discuss compensation etc. Ha ha! That didn't take much of my time. He didn't punch me but I was hunted from the store and told to fix the car's geometry. The Dunlop man boasted that the SportsMaxx is now fitted to Lexus and Mercedes on delivery. I don't know if that's true but I noticed in the Skoda Showroom today, new Superbs and Octavias with the dreaded Dunlops fitted.

I lack the patience to undertake fruitless debates with either Skoda or Dunlop and have committed to new Contis being fitted tomorrow. That will separate me from $1200 hard earned and will probably steer me away from Skoda next time I change cars. The rest of the my car is brilliant but the widespread discussion on the saw tooth issue indicates lots of smoke AND fire!!

New 225/17 45 Contis fitted this morning. Wheel alignment on all four wheels resulted in little changes. Setting were well within Skoda tolerances. Leaves me with the conclusion that Dunlop SportsMaxx tyres are first rate crap!

Folks. You might be interested in an update on this.

In the words of Spandau, to cut a (VERY) long story short, Skoda Mother Ship liaised and got me to take the car back to the dealership for geometry to be checked. Pain in the neck because distance means losing a day's work. (New) local Skoda weren't interested in helping: no brotherly love in the order. Upon arrival, it transpired that Audi was doing the checks + any changes. YT not happy :¬x. I warned Skoda that I thought (this) Audi lot were muppets.

When I got the car back I insisted they provided the telemetry print out. Oh, and they did make changes altho' they were not admitting the factory settings were incorrect. On reading it I was more unhappy and rang Mother Ship asking if I could email/fax to them to get their techies to check.

"No need sir. We are sure it'll be right".

"Um No. I still think they are muppets".

So, off went the print out. Some weeks later I get a call. "Hello. This is Mother. You know that data you sent? Well.... errr.... how should we put this..... it's wrong. Can you take the car back?"

Right. An old pal of mine owns Pro-Align. http://www.pro-align.co.uk/ They supply the pucker kit and train the users. He may not thank me for this but some of you might want to get a local recommendation for professionals rather than muppets and insist Skoda pays the bill which is my next tactic.

Last thing: some manufacturers (eg Honda I think) provide a print out of all test results and settings for all new cars. They do this to cover their backsides in case someone comes back after driving over council approved potholes and then claims manufacturing defect. IF Skoda did this, we could have checked whether the settings were wrong on delivery.

Quick additional note: My Skoda dealer telephoned me this afternoon to offer a "free wheel alignment and geometry check on all four wheels AND free nitrogen fill. Seems to me I would not be offered freebies unless the dealer feels that he has some liability here.

Hi Sprightlybob and to everyone with tyre troubles. I too live in Coffs Harbour Australia and have had trouble with my Jan 2010 vRS on Sport Maxx gt's, but I never got any free wheel alignment or nitrogen fill, even after printing and showing them every page of this forum. Skoda Aus said to get a verdict on the wear from a dealer, but it took 6 months or more to even get a print out of a page from Vag telling me why tyres saw tooth. Our car started showing "unusual wear" at 8,500klm and by the time 20,000klm came round the tyres could not be rotated. We put up with the horrible noise until 38,000klm and then put on the Conti's with nitro fill. Also had the geometry checked for the 4th time and the tyre company has adjusted the rear to try and get the tyre to sit flatter. My brother is an acoustic engineer and tested the car at anywhere between 80-90db, which actually gives you a headache. We do about 35,000klm a year and don't want the noise back. I am going to rotate the Conti's every 5,000klm (which is now due only after 4 weeks)and hope for the best. Love the car and averaging 5.3L per 100klm but will have to think about trading if noise comes back.

Hi Sprightlybob and to everyone with tyre troubles. I too live in Coffs Harbour Australia and have had trouble with my Jan 2010 vRS on Sport Maxx gt's, but I never got any free wheel alignment or nitrogen fill, even after printing and showing them every page of this forum. Skoda Aus said to get a verdict on the wear from a dealer, but it took 6 months or more to even get a print out of a page from Vag telling me why tyres saw tooth. Our car started showing "unusual wear" at 8,500klm and by the time 20,000klm came round the tyres could not be rotated. We put up with the horrible noise until 38,000klm and then put on the Conti's with nitro fill. Also had the geometry checked for the 4th time and the tyre company has adjusted the rear to try and get the tyre to sit flatter. My brother is an acoustic engineer and tested the car at anywhere between 80-90db, which actually gives you a headache. We do about 35,000klm a year and don't want the noise back. I am going to rotate the Conti's every 5,000klm (which is now due only after 4 weeks)and hope for the best. Love the car and averaging 5.3L per 100klm but will have to think about trading if noise comes back.

I think I've seen your Skoda around town. Do you have a Hayman Reese (or similar) towbar fitted? If so, do you mind telling me where you got it? The dealer wants over a $1200 just for the parts.

Im well suprised Skoda havent done anything about it yet. I remember Mercedes had similar issues with Vito due to differences in spec with load or without. After big number of warranty issues on tyres they refine they alignment at factory to find "happy spec" for people using it as working van as well "car". Since then there is no warranty claims on tyres. It took months/year for this but its done.

The same thing Skoda should do. Specialy where most new Skoda`s have full toe adjustment where previously it was beam axle in a back. Proper adjustment and Skoda drivers could be "Happy drivers". Way to many complains about this.