My July 2011 Octavia Scout requires new tyres after 25,000 miles on the original Dunlops. I have read a number of different posts regarding replacement with 4 seasons tyres and determined that the Goodyear Vectors are the ones to go for given the high approval rating by members here. Only problem is that these are not available in the manufacturers 'W' speed rating, only a 'V' so I contacted my insurer to seek authorisation - and was refused (Allianz via Skoda Insurance..)

So have those that have fitted either not bothered to inform their insurer (potentially invalidating the policy) or can recommend an insurer who will approve? Alternatively the only 225/50/17/W All Season tyres I can find are the budget Maxxis Vectra MAZ 4S, or the more premium Goodyear Eagle RSA. Anybody any experiance of those?

Something wrong here?

W speed rating is 168 mph - way over what a Scout can do???

V is 149 mph.

confused.com

If the car came from the factory on "w'" rated tyres then that's OEM

"V" rated are not OEM

Idiots. I'm thinking they have no idea what a speed rating means.

Many thanks for responses; the 'Underwriting & Fraud Analyst' form Skoda Insurance said:

"With tyre speed ratings, you shouldn't ever go down a speed rating from the rating that is defined within the vehicle's handbook, however going up a speed rating wouldn't pose as much of a problem, as it would be capable of going beyond the vehicles requirements.

I take the point of the tyre fitters comment with regards to not legally reaching these top end speeds, however if you are using tyres which are under the vehicles defined tyre speed rating there is an increased chane of tyre damage so unfortunately we will not be able to accommodate in this instance"

So with reference to my question, has anyone obtained formal authorisation from their insurer to fit 'V' speed rated tyres in place of the OEM 'W' and if so which one - as I would like to join those Scout owners with Vector 4Season 'V' rated tyres fitted - but without invalidating my insurance policy!

This might be a good place to start: http://www.abi.org.u...ommittment.aspx

Curious now... from the AA- "If you fit winter or all-season tyres in place of your standard 'summer' tyres there should be no need to tell your insurer – even though the speed index might be lower."

"The lower speed index is still likely to exceed all national speed limits by a considerable margin – with the exception of some German autobahns – and is not checked as part of the passenger car MOT test."

From the manual: "You can fit winter tyres of a lower speed category to your vehicle provided that you

also do not drive faster than the permissible maximum speed for such tyres, even if

the possible maximum speed of your vehicle is higher. The corresponding tyre category can damage the tyres when exceeding the permissible maximum speed.

Please pay attention to the notes if you decide to fit winter tyres ? page 199.

You can also fit so-called “all-year tyres” instead of winter tyres"

Final Edit - Just talked to Privilage and they are happy for all seasons all year round with no charge.

Edited 25 April, 201313 yr by zacherynuk

Its not a realistic requirement and I think its more the drone on the phone doesn't have a clue what it means.

The vehicle maximum speeds are listed in the handbook, along with the above statement about winter tyres. You can easily get a set of winter tyres that conform to the manufacturer specifications as per the handbook without them being W rated.

Somewhere in the distant past I can remember a thread where the Scout had higher rated tyres as extra strength required for offroad use

I am currently running Toyo T1 Sport on our Scout as recomended by Toyo when I said I wanted a suitable tyre for fast road use.

My old 110 TDI Octavia came with W rated tyres, swmbos 1.6 petrol Leon has V rated tyres even though performance wise there is almost nothing between the cars in terms of power, acceleration and top speed.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

"... the Scout had higher rated tyres as extra strength required for offroad use"

So far as I am aware, the speed rating of a tyre has little or nothing to do with its 'strength' or with its suitability for off-road use.

As well as a speed rating, tyres carry a load rating - that might be more relevant.

"... the Scout had higher rated tyres as extra strength required for offroad use"

So far as I am aware, the speed rating of a tyre has little or nothing to do with its 'strength' or with its suitability for off-road use.

As well as a speed rating, tyres carry a load rating - that might be more relevant.

I did say in the distant past & the memory isnt what it was Your point is probably spot on

I did say in the distant past & the memory isnt what it was Your point is probably spot on

The Octavia needs 91 and the scount 94XL.

Edited 25 April, 201313 yr by cheezemonkhai

The Octavia needs 91 and the scount 94XL.

The scout doesn't need 94xl. It has max weight similar to the 2wd. It just happens to come with those.

I have had the Vector 4Seasons on my Scout for the last 48,000 miles (same set) with the 94V rating for speed and load. My insurers, Co-op didn't have a problem with it and the car has just been through it's first MOT (at a Skoda main dealer) and nothing was said about the tyres at all. I'm sure if they were a problem, the MOT would have picked it up.

Sounds like the insurers are full of crap. Lets face it, the speed rating is still more than twice the speed limit in the UK and the quoted top speed for the 1.8TSI Scout is 131mph, still 18MPH less than the V speed rating, so should not be an issue.

Dont understand speed ratings the vrs is a Y 186mph!!! come on it will never do that...... i have W rated 168mph i have done nothing anywhere near that.

Just noticed my new Octavia, which is more powerful and faster than the old on has V rather than W rated tyres...

I have had the Vector 4Seasons on my Scout for the last 48,000 miles (same set).

Am I reading that right?

You've got 48,000 miles out of one set of tyres?

Dear All

Thank you for your input to my query - particularly zacherynuk. Having perused both the AA and ABI links provided in conjunction with my Owners Manual, I will take the advise. The clincher in regard to the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons is that they are marked with the 'snow flake' symbol - ie although '4 Seasons' they are classified as winter tyres and so are permisable to fit with a 'V' as opposed to (OEM) 'W' speed rating without impacting on insurance.

So the man from Skoda insurance was incorrect with his statement to me! A set ordered (difficult to obtain, coming into Protyre, Gloucester, from Germany apparently) at £620 'all in'. Not sure how long they'll last, but I'd settle for 1/2 of the 48K Eenymac has experianced!

Great car the Scout BTW, does everything I require and with those tyres fitted should be even better at coping with these Cotswold Hills - not just in the snow, it's the autumn leaves and mud stewn lanes where the x4 drive comes into its own.

Only just spotted this, but for the sake of answering one of the questions and giving my experience:

Yes - My Scout wheels are fitted with the Maxxis Victra MAZ 4S although they are not on the car just now. Based on my experience of running an A4 quattro on them I used the Scout wheels with them on my wife's car. It's not a car you would normally choose to go out in snow in, especially when the Scout is available, but the tyres have been fine in cold wet Slippy conditions. The pattern doesn't suggest they're particularly snow oriented despite the Maxxis website implying otherwise.

My insurers have no issue with use of alternative tyres and wheels including conversions to different sizes. My current tyres are in fact 101H rated, but I have written confirmation from them that they are happy for me to fit 175 R 16 Michelin taxi tyres since I asked the question!

If I sell my Scout, I'll reinstate the Maxxis on Proteus combo.

Am I reading that right?

You've got 48,000 miles out of one set of tyres?

The Vector 4 Seasons on the front of mine have done 25k now and still have 5+ mm left on them, so I'm not too surprised.

Mind you an old Xsara I used to own still had the original Michelins on the back at about 70k. I only changed them as the sidewalls were cracking!

Mind you an old Xsara I used to own still had the original Michelins on the back at about 70k. I only changed them as the sidewalls were cracking!

Quite likely if you only replaced the fronts - the rear tyres don't do a lot!

Best on any car car like that, unless you change all four tyres at once, to put the new tyres on the back and move the old ones to the front (but, normally, keep them on the same side).

Contrary to what many people might expect, nowadays, even on a front-wheel-drive car, the recommendaton (from tyre companies, tyre fitters, car manufacturers and other reputable authorities) is always to have the better / least worn tyres on the back, not the front.

That also has the advantage that all tyres get moved and the rear ones don't just stay there for ever, to perish or die of old age - tyres have a calendar life (as you found out!) as well as a mileage life.

Quite likely if you only replaced the fronts - the rear tyres don't do a lot!

Best on any car car like that, unless you change all four tyres at once, to put the new tyres on the back and move the old ones to the front (but, normally, keep them on the same side).

Yes I agree. I bought that car with 60k on the clock and it was a company car previously so its very unlikely the tyres were ever rotated. I only knew how old they were from the year markings on the sidewalls. Citroens were always very front weight biased, I had a few and they always wore the front tyres down very quickly but hardly touched the rears. The Octavia seems to wear the front & rear tyres much more equally so its less of an issue.

Our 4x4 came with the Dunlop SP Sport 01 205/60 R15 91V. I had my dealer replace these with Dunlop SP Sport Fast Response XL 205/60 R15 95H, having checked with Skoda UK that such tyres were OK given the published top speed of the car is 115mph and the Fast Response are rated H=max 130mph.

Having got the all clear from Skoda UK it never occurred to me to tell Skoda Insurance that the replacement tyres, fitted by my Skoda Dealer and approved, (verbally), by Skoda UK, differ from those fitted in the factory. Is it the case that Skoda Insurance could declare my policy void on the basis of the speed rating changing from V to H, despite the circumstances as outlined here?

The Nokian WR G2 XL 205/60 R15 95H M+S which we shod the car with in winter have the OK from Skoda Insurance - I'm confused as to why the same rating on summer tyres might therefore be an issue?

... tyres were OK given the published top speed of the car is 115mph and the Fast Response are rated H=max 130mph.

Agree. See my comments here:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/274646-manufacturers-tyre-specification-for-scout-2008/

My take ....

As a manufacturer it'll make sense to buy in bulk to drive costs down, and it you go for a higher speed rating it'll mean the tyres will fit any car you produce, especially if you get them for the same price (imagine buying 000s of tyres and the discounts will be significant).

So, some will get W rated, some will get V rated, just depends on stock at the time, and as long as you get tyres that are fit for purpose (speed and load etc) it'll be OK. I'd not even mention speed ratings if they aren't the same as the car came fitted with, after all I don't for the winter tyres I put on every year which differ from the summer rubber it came fitted with (although I did tell LV I was fitting winters and they were OK about it, just made a note on my file).