Radio sorted itself out and has never messed about since. I have Gala set to 4, so as speed increases the volume does also, when reverse is selected the volume reduces so the bleeps can be heard on the parking sensors.

My guess -and it can only be a guess- is that driving style is the determining factor in tyre life. Speed must be near the top of the criteria,but I suspect the most important thing is smoothness. The harsher the input the greater the wear.

So, someone who gets lots of miles from a set is not necessarily slow (think of how little a journey time in the real world varies if you try and hurry you may chop a 2 hour run by 10 minutes) but will be someone who accelerates, brakes and turns smoothly.

I would suspect that there would be a good correlation between fuel consumption and tyre wear although to correct for other factors such as environment would be tricky.

I would agree with that, there is a motor racing saying that says you can be smooth without being fast but you cannot be fast without being smooth. This must be transferrable to everyday driving too. The smoother you are with the controls the lower the stress on the car and the longer lasting the components. I have done nearly 23,000 miles in my Octavia, just had a service and tyre wear was such that I still have between 5 and 6 mm left on all of them.

Ian

Had four tyres fitted this morning, they are Bridgestone Potenza's, let's see if they do 36k like the Dunlop's did, first impression is less noise in the car from the road.

What was wrong with the radio, did the dealer sort it for you?

I've noticed a couple of times when I have turned the ignition off the radio volume has increased a fair bit. The next time the car is started the volume has to be turned down. The Bolero is set to increase the volume in relation to roadspeed I am wondering if the two could be linked.

I'm not sure they are. I think there might be a 'switch on volume'. (Well, there is on my Columbus)

Gala is the function which increases volume compared to road speed.

What was wrong with the radio, did the dealer sort it for you?

I've noticed a couple of times when I have turned the ignition off the radio volume has increased a fair bit. The next time the car is started the volume has to be turned down. The Bolero is set to increase the volume in relation to roadspeed I am wondering if the two could be linked.

Press the tone button (top left on my Bolero) and then select Volume from the drop down menu. There is a option on this for "maximum the switch on volume". I have mine is set at almost zero on the scale and the volume is fine for me.

The GALA setting as others have said is to increase the volume with road speed.

Del

Had four tyres fitted this morning, they are Bridgestone Potenza's, let's see if they do 36k like the Dunlop's did, first impression is less noise in the car from the road.

Any reason for trying the Bridgestone Potenza, just out of curiosity.

Oh and which model as I believe there's a few :wonder:

TP

I went for Potenza's as they are what I had on the Audi A4 and they were a good mix for grip and wear, also cabin noise was the main reason as the Dunlop's are noisy.

Another reason was the tyre house had 2 Pirelli and 2 Continental but 4 Bridgestone, so all the same looks better.

The model is RE 050 A, here is a LINK to them on National tyres website.

Many thanks for your reply James

Only experience I've had of Bridgestones has been winter Blizzaks on the wife's Fabia. Appear to suffer more wear than I've experienced with other brands of winter tyre and they can loose grip all to easily in compacted winter snow, although that might be down to the Fabia 1.2TSI's feather weight :wonder:

TP

They were ok on the Audi, I managed about 25K from the fronts and 50K + from the rears, I must admit the Dunlop's that the Yeti arrived on were very good for grip down to 2mm when I changed them, they wore evenly on all four wheels and I was surprised how they lasted.

One thing I do not like about the Yeti is the way it feels like the back end moves sideways when driving over pot hole or bumps in the road. I don't know if anybody else gets this, it is like a slight sideways movement from the back end, is it to do with "toe" on the rear wheels because they are driven? The Fabia doesn't do it.

I have had wheel alignment checked and it is fine, no obscure tyre wear either.

They were ok on the Audi, I managed about 25K from the fronts and 50K + from the rears, I must admit the Dunlop's that the Yeti arrived on were very good for grip down to 2mm when I changed them, they wore evenly on all four wheels and I was surprised how they lasted.

One thing I do not like about the Yeti is the way it feels like the back end moves sideways when driving over pot hole or bumps in the road. I don't know if anybody else gets this, it is like a slight sideways movement from the back end, is it to do with "toe" on the rear wheels because they are driven? The Fabia doesn't do it.

I have had wheel alignment checked and it is fine, no obscure tyre wear either.

One of the things from experience with the first Yeti that convinced me to try get the 16" tyres and rim set-up, which appear not to suffer with this sensation.

TP

so this is a common thing? I will maybe consider this for my replacement Yeti in 2013, so far I am happy with the Yeti and see no reason why not to have another.

I have worn out two of the Bridgestones now, the 1 rear is on 4mm so will change soon, car has 57,000 miles on now and has had 11 tyres!

4 Dunlop from new, then 4 Bridgestone, then a puncture so 1 new Bridgestone and now 2 more Bridgestone today all in 14 months.

I must say the Dunlop's lasted longer doing 36,000 miles, the Potenza's have only managed 21,000 miles but lease plan make the decision to fit them, false economy to me.

RE050 is the only one I'd consider from Bridgestone, personally. Having tried other models from them.

But as you've found, wear will be greater than others as the compound is quite performance orientated.

Do you not have a choice under the lease plan? Based on what the garage has in stock, upto a certain price? That's how I'm used to tyres working under those sorts of agreements.

no choice, leaseplan are on a rebate deal with tyre manufacturers, bridgestone are offering the biggest rebate.

I am now 18 months into living with the Yeti, we have covered 70k miles and in that time I have had no issues at all! I do notice a few more rattles now but I have to say the car is nicer to drive now than when new, gear shift is slick and smooth, engine revs more freely and pulls well, I am still getting around the 43 mpg (car does get well used ) we are now on our third set of tyres, Dunlops did 30 odd thousand miles then we got bridgestone and they did less, then it was bridgestones again and I have about 4-5 mm on them on all four corners.

I am very happy with the Yeti, I am usually looking to see what my next car can be by this time into a lease but I am not with the Yeti, we use the car for family holidays, roof rack (genuine Yeti) with a roof box, we have been off road, we have forded and played in the mud and snow. Everything I have asked this car to do it does extremely well, if it gets muddied up by the dog, a big wet sponge in the boot and it wipes clean.

I only have one very small niggle, that is the way the back end sort of jumps to the left or right when you hit a bump and that is it, nothing more to add at the minute, if you are considering a Yeti then buy it.

Forgot one thing, when the rear seats are slid forward to make the boot a bit bigger, the middle one doesn't slide making the whole idea a bit pointless, maybe this will be addressed on the MK II.