Hi All,

I have been browsing the forum in preparation for a new Skoda Superb II Wagon. My 2007 VW Jetta was rear-ended last week and even if the insurance does not write it off I will probably replace it as once it's been in an accident, the magic is gone.

The Skoda for me ticks the boxes over the Passat as I can get a TDI with haldex, something that VW does not offer. I haven't been to the dealers yet as I am waiting for my insurance to assess my car and decide what it will do.

My question relates to the haldex system. Here in Australia there is a large space between cities so things like spacesaver spare tyres, run flats or 'can of goo' are not suitable. I expect that the 4x4 system would take some space in the rear of the car and wonder if it reduces the amount of room for a spare tyre.

The brochure mentions that the Superb Wagon includes a full size steel spare to go with the factory alloys. I hope this also applies to the wagon (VW has traditionally had errors and contradictions in it's brochures and I assume that Skoda is the same).

Can anyone confirm that the superb II wagon with 4x4 can fit a full size spare wheel?

Can anyone confirm that the superb II wagon with 4x4 can fit a full size alloy if I buy one that matches the factory 17" triffid wheels?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Lach

Welcome Lach,

Is a wagon the same as an estate / combi?

Not sure about the 17" rims but I know a 225/40/18 wheel and tyre does not fit in the spare wheel well the easy way* as it is too wide and it catches the trim by the tailgate (I also have the variable boot floor but I don't think that makes a difference?), the 17's are IIRC 225/45/17 so just as wide so doubtful they will fit in either.

* by the easy way I mean putting the tyre into the front of the spare wheel well 1st and then lowering the rear into place - it may be possible if you put the rear in 1st? but it is a damn site harder to do this way!

Is a wagon the same as an estate / combi?

Hi Gizmo68, thank you for reading. Yes in Australia we call an estate car a station wagon. I assume that combi is the same thing. I downloaded the owners manual (for EU) and it seems that the manual uses all three terms to refer to the car with the big boot.

Not sure about the 17" rims but I know a 225/40/18 wheel and tyre does not fit in the spare wheel well the easy way* as it is too wide and it catches the trim by the tailgate (I also have the variable boot floor but I don't think that makes a difference?), the 17's are IIRC 225/45/17 so just as wide so doubtful they will fit in either.

Yes the 17s would be 225/45/17. I would be satisfied with the 16" steel wheel (most likely a 205/50/R16) assuming that there is still a spare wheel well in the 4x4 estate. That is my main concern.

The reason I ask is that I have seen other cars (e.g. the old VW R32, the previous model Mitsubishi Lancer MR) where the 4WD system's rear differential takes up the space where the spare wheel well would normally go. Manufacturers instead supply space-saver wheels or add a can of goo which are both unsuitable for speeds over 80km/hr or more than 100km of distance. That limitation is not acceptable as I usually travel long trips of a 200-1000km.

I've got a twin door 4x4 and that has a full sized 16" steel spare wheel under the floor so I'd be surprised if the combo has a different spare wheel space available.

Chris

The Spare on my 4x4 Estate is a 16" (205 55 16) where as the Elegance trim wheels are 18" (225 40 18)

As it's not a "full size" wheel for the same model, it is classed as a space saver (altho it does come with a real Continental tyre attached)

so, we're talking a speedo error of around 0.85% between the 16 and 18" wheels. - or a Circumference of 2001.8mm for 18" and 1985.2mm for 16"

Al.

Thankyou to all who responded. That makes me happier as the 16" will not be subject to the low distance limits, although of course handling will be affected.

On the Octavia is the same, you can have original 18" and 16" as spare. Mind being that spare is only for a short time, not you going to have another flat

Mind being that spare is only for a short time, not you going to have another flat

Yeah but both on my motorbike and in the car I also carry tyre plugs as a last resort. If I'm unlucky enough to puncture two tyres I can then plug and inflate (compressor on car, cans of CO2 on bike) to get me to my next puncture

Touch wood, it hasn't happened yet.

Everything looks fantastic but if you consider ordering a diesel+DSG+4x4 then be prepared to wait up to one year. Don't know what is the allocation situation in Down Under, but a fact in Europe...

This is the spare for my 170CR 4x4

Phil

This is the spare for my 170CR 4x4

Phil

thanks Phil, identical to my Jetta.

Everything looks fantastic but if you consider ordering a diesel+DSG+4x4 then be prepared to wait up to one year. Don't know what is the allocation situation in Down Under, but a fact in Europe...

You make me :(

I'll try to drop into a dealer today and see what they say. Thanks all for your help again.

I have a V6 4WD wagon here in South Australia. The vehicle is delivered with 4 alloy 225/40 X R18 wheel/tyre combo plus an 18" steel space saver rated to 80 km/hr max. It is unlikely that the wheel bay would hold an 18" full size wheel/tyre plus jack etc but I would guess that it would cope with a 16" or 17" full size wheel/tyre. I do have the false floor option which may intrude also on tyre space.

Just checked, the steel space saver in the V6 4WD is 125/70 X 18 - so the rim is almost half the width, the rim is obviously not the same diameter as the alloy (as evidenced by the higher profile tyre - 70 versus 40) but the final diameter size is the same. It looks pretty terrible and embarrassing when you have to use one though, as I recently discovered !!!

I just saw the dealer in Epping, Vic. He didn't have any superb wagons (he reckons they are not at all popular) but can arrange a test drive. He said 6 months is a good guide for delivery for a TDI 4x4 wagon with panoramic roof.

He also claims that the brochure is wrong on the Skoda.com.au website and in Au we cannot option steering wheel with paddles (which I want) and mudflaps (which I can do later myself).

Also none of the following (which I wasn't really expecting to be able to include as they are EU options):

- PET heater

- Seat ventilators

- Roll up luggage barrier (cargo barrier, not the cover)

- Tailgate sill protector strip

Tow kit was $1500 but he didn't directly confirm that it's the factory one that I want or a dealer fit job. The dealer fits in AU have been accompanied with roughly cut holes in the rear valence which I am trying to avoid. If he cannot confirm a factory then I will DIY later on.

3 year/60,000km extended warranty is 2 grand. I made use of the extended warranty on the Jetta (two door locks failed, $1000 in parts) so I think I'll go for it again.

Gwundu, the false floor is a $400 option. I'm going to skip it based on that (c'mon, it's two bits of chipboard and a hinge covered in carpet). Do you think it's really useful or just a nice to have?

Thanks for confirming that it's one of those crappy spacesaver doughnut things. I'll wait until I see a wagon in the flesh and check it out.

Just checked, the steel space saver in the V6 4WD is 125/70 X 18 - so the rim is almost half the width, the rim is obviously not the same diameter as the alloy (as evidenced by the higher profile tyre - 70 versus 40) but the final diameter size is the same. It looks pretty terrible and embarrassing when you have to use one though, as I recently discovered !!!

The profile of the tyre is a percentage of the width, so a 125/70/10 tyre has a 87.5mm sidewall height, a 225/40/18 has a 90mm sidewall - 2.5mm taller than the space saver.

the false floor is a $400 option. I'm going to skip it based on that (c'mon, it's two bits of chipboard and a hinge covered in carpet). Do you think it's really useful or just a nice to have?

Depends on what you need the combi for, IMO a combi with anything other than a flat load level is pointless - the variable boot floor makes the load level flat, without it you have the (approx) 100mm drop into the boot from the bumper and when the rear seats are folded flat you would also have a 100mm lip onto the rear seat backs

I have ordered 4x4 DSG 140PS, Estate with 225/45/17 Trifid wheels, and I got 205/55/16 regular steel spare. Everything is the same as with non 4x4 version. I just don't know is there tunnel under middle seat in 2nd seat row. 4x4 does have that

profile of the tyre is a percentage of the width, so a 125/70/10 tyre has a 875mm sidewall height, a 225/40/18 has a 900mm sidewall

Wow, 900mm. That's quite a Tyre :-)

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Wow, 900mm. That's quite a Tyre :-)

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Finally someone spotted the deliberate mistake!

(I have put the decimal point in now )

Finally someone spotted the deliberate mistake!

(I have put the decimal point in now )

Yes, I know you were just testing us

Gwundu, did your Superb come with heated windscreen? If so you should have a button immediately to the left of the AC button with a window-shaped label.

We never usually get features in AU like the PET heater or heated windscreens with VWs so I'm wondering if Skoda includes it. It's not on the dealers options list.