Anyone know why I see so many cars with steel wheels and plastic trims with the plastic trims secured to the wheel by a cable tie?

Surely if the wheels and trims come from Skoda then the trims must be designed to fit securely without cable ties!

Imagine trying to remove a cable tie on a dark & stormy night changing a wheel after a puncture.

Perhaps its to stop them getting nicked!

Stop knicking or simply to make them more secure. I have seen lots of people use the kerb as a secondary steering device and this has resulted in the trim becoming insecure and at the first opportunity it flies off.

I have had the misfortune to have been the victim of a flying wheeltrim on the M1. Not nice especially as the car (not my beloved Yeti) was only about 2 weeks old. I was comparetevely lucky as it hit the car low down and merely resulted in paint scuff.

Personally I think cable ties are naff but I'm more than happy to see others securing them for my safety

Cable ties are a bugger to get off (ie; for a change of wheel/puncture). You really need a Stanley knife/blade to cut the tie, or at least a pair of pliers to wrench the tie off. I wonder how many people have these to hand in their car?

Me!

But then I've got a big (unused) tool kit in the boot.

Oh, and I find a set of wire cutters better for cutting them off.

And a Leatherman in the door pocket, as well!!

Wire cutters good!

Wire cutters good!

Think I will do without the ties!

Wire cutters good!

You'd imagine someone determined to nick some wheeltrims would also be armed with a set, so for security a cable tie is pretty pointless apart from against the opportunist thief.

I do have them on my winter tyre equipped steels ....mainly because I've bought aftermarket plastic wheel trims (albeit with SKODA emblems in the centre) and I suspect there could be a tendency for the trim to slide round under heavy breaking and they might unseat the valve...I don't know they would but it's not worth the risk. It doesn't look so good, but I can live with that. And I also keep a multi-tool in the glove box which would easily cut them off. Can't see scrotes queuing up to nick them either way. Additionally. it's reasonably likely I'd get the RAC to swap the wheel by the roadside - and they have probably got a pair of pliers on board.

Don't know how secure the standard Skoda 'RIF' plastic wheel trims are - presumably they're OK....... they need to be at £130 a set.

I used to see the cable ties fitted to Police cars with steel wheels - presumably for the same reason outlined above....then I seem to recall they took the wheel trims off altogether and left plain black paint showing.

I do have them on my winter tyre equipped steels ....mainly because I've bought aftermarket plastic wheel trims (albeit with SKODA emblems in the centre) and I suspect there could be a tendency for the trim to slide round under heavy breaking and they might unseat the valve...I don't know they would but it's not worth the risk. It doesn't look so good, but I can live with that. And I also keep a multi-tool in the glove box which would easily cut them off. Can't see scrotes queuing up to nick them either way. Additionally. it's reasonably likely I'd get the RAC to swap the wheel by the roadside - and they have probably got a pair of pliers on board.

Don't know how secure the standard Skoda 'RIF' plastic wheel trims are - presumably they're OK....... they need to be at £130 a set.

I used to see the cable ties fitted to Police cars with steel wheels - presumably for the same reason outlined above....then I seem to recall they took the wheel trims off altogether and left plain black paint showing.

You don't need to pay £130 per set. I got mine from a Skoda main Dealer for £50 the set. Negotiate!!

I thought that the RIF wheel trims where about £38 plus VAT for a set of 4

That's what I was quoted by the dealer and I did ask him to confirm that that was for 4 trims and not just one

Expat has advised... "You don't need to pay £130 per set. I got mine from a Skoda main Dealer for £50 the set. Negotiate!!"

But again I ask where to get them for £50. I just rang my dealer. No haggling to be done there and a final price inc. VAT of £139.64p for the set. (£34.91p each inc. VAT)

(I think that's why I fitted the ones I did and stuck the Ebay SKODA badges on them as they look as almost as good as the RIF's and cost me about £12. My reckoning was if I did happen to damage one it wouldn't be quite so hurtful).

Edited 25 October, 201213 yr by oldstan

My Monster is now sat with her winter boots on ready for our weekend away; in case the weather men are right about the cold snap.

TP

All this discussion about winter wheels is making me think. But. I've been driving for 40 years without them and now I'm back on 4 wheel drive. Mind you that doesn't cover steering or brakes

Superskoda have the Original Skoda RIF wheel trims for 69.99 Euros.

Superskoda have the Original Skoda RIF wheel trims for 69.99 Euros.

That's about £56 sterling. The ones I saw were called TEMPEL rather than RIF - presumably they're the same? ..........or did I go to the wrong page? Couldn't see where the delivery charge is shown. (Where are they, BTW?)

Edited 25 October, 201213 yr by oldstan

They're in the Yeti section,subsection : Wheels/suspension.

They are described as Tempel,and Original Rif in the write up.

Expat has advised... "You don't need to pay £130 per set. I got mine from a Skoda main Dealer for £50 the set. Negotiate!!"

But again I ask where to get them for £50. I just rang my dealer. No haggling to be done there and a final price inc. VAT of £139.64p for the set. (£34.91p each inc. VAT)

(I think that's why I fitted the ones I did and stuck the Ebay SKODA badges on them as they look as almost as good as the RIF's and cost me about £12. My reckoning was if I did happen to damage one it wouldn't be quite so hurtful).

I found the price on Superskoda, converted to UK pounds and asked my local dealer if they would match it. Finally agreed £206 for 4 steel wheels and the set of 4 Rif Skoda trims. As the original quote for 4 wheels was £156 then the trims were £50. Ring around a few more dealers till you find someone prepared to negotiate - surely your dealer negotiates on service costs etc?

My Monster is now sat with her winter boots on ready for our weekend away; in case the weather men are right about the cold snap.

TP

Fitted my winter boots today as well. Took me longer than I thought because I found it difficult to hold the wheel in the right orientation to get the studs in! Very little land for the hubs to hold onto so really needed 3 hands - 2 to hold the wheel and one to start the stud! Eventually found that adjusting the jack so that the wheel hub and axle hub were at same level made the job a lot easier.

Incidentally the Rif trims are a very tight fit - I don't think they are likely to come off without some serious assistance.

Tyres are Nokian WR D3's on Skoda steel wheels.

I found the price on Superskoda, converted to UK pounds and asked my local dealer if they would match it. Finally agreed £206 for 4 steel wheels and the set of 4 Rif Skoda trims. As the original quote for 4 wheels was £156 then the trims were £50. Ring around a few more dealers till you find someone prepared to negotiate - surely your dealer negotiates on service costs etc?

All noted with interest. Re. the cost of a service - I received a bill for £61.48 on the 25th April 2012 for the 1st service - but did supply my own oil. I have no bargaining power with my local dealer re. the trims as noted earlier - it was 'take it or leave it'.....but the service costs were good - so swings and roundabouts?

Took me longer than I thought because I found it difficult to hold the wheel in the right orientation to get the studs in! Very little land for the hubs to hold onto so really needed 3 hands - 2 to hold the wheel and one to start the stud! Eventually found that adjusting the jack so that the wheel hub and axle hub were at same level made the job a lot easier.

You're needing at least one of these wheel nut alignment tools, which make life a bit easier: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALLOY-WHEEL-NUT-BOLT-FITTING-ALIGNMENT-TOOL-FOR-SKODA-FABIA-OCTAVIA-SUPERB-E3-/320758828697?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:GB:1123

You're needing at least one of these wheel nut alignment tools, which make life a bit easier: http://www.ebay.co.u...ME:L:OC:GB:1123

Agreed. Bought two on Ebay on the advice of someone on here. Recommended.

Agreed. Bought two on Ebay on the advice of someone on here. Recommended.

Looks good but Advert does not mention it is suitable for the Yeti; is it?

Yes, as all those models listed use the same thread as the Yeti.

Agreed. Bought two on Ebay on the advice of someone on here. Recommended.

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