Dear All

I have been reading the previous thread on Octavia Scout Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Tyres Insurance Issue (which I came across whilst searching for a reply on the query below) and wonder if anyone can assist.

I have recently purchased a Scout 2008 2.0 TDI and have replaced the tyres (it had winter tyres fitted) with Goodyear Efficient Grip 225/50/R17 98XL W for the summer. But I was wondering what the Manufacturer's specification for this model was - and having seen the comments about insurers in the previous thread, am wondering even more!

I have been through all the documentation I have, including the Owners Manual and on the net, but cannot find anything more than "The tyre/wheel combinations which are approved for your vehicle are indicated in your vehicle documents".

Can I ask if anyone knows what should be set out in my vehicle's documents?

Kind regards,

TravellingLight

The TUV document for Skoda wheels and tyres states 225/50 R17 94W, so with a 98XL load rating your new tyres exceed the TUV spec

My Scout was delivered from new with...

Dunlop SP Sport 01 225/50 R17 94 W MFS Tyres

How is the polished surface on the Proteus alloy wheels by the way?

I'd imagine on a 2008 Scout they'll be nicely delaminating by now!

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/123460-halting-alloy-wheel-lacquer-delamination/

How is the polished surface on the Proteus alloy wheels by the way?

I'd imagine on a 2008 Scout they'll be nicely delaminating by now!

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/123460-halting-alloy-wheel-lacquer-delamination/

That picture looks strangely familiar ;-)

Dear aLL

Many thansk for your replies - exactly the information I was after.

As for my wheels - they look fine to me (70,000 miles), but I'll have a closer check over the weekend to see if they are starting to go.

Kind regards

TravellingLight

My own view on tyre specifications, for what it's worth, is that:

- if the tyres are good-quality tyres of a reputable make, and

- if the tyres are correctly fitted, undamaged and within the approved wear limits, and

- if the tyres are correctly inflated to the pressures specified or within the range of pressures specified by the manufacturer for the particular load and use of the vehicle, and

- if the size (diameter, width and profile) is that specified, or within the range specified by the manufacturer, and

- the load rating is that specified by the manufacturer (important!) or greater, and

- the speed rating of the tyre is is comfortably in excess of the maximum possible speed of the vehicle (regardless of what the speed rating was of the tyres originally fitted by the manufacturer)

then it would be very difficult for an insurance company to try to claim that the tyres were in any way at all "unsuitable" or to try to refuse a claim on that basis.

Note that I said "maximum possible speed of the vehicle". The legal speed limit is irrelevant siince the car manufactur has no control over what speed a reckless driver miay choose to drive at.

And I suspect that call centre drones have been told to err on the side of caution and to insist, if asked, that the tyres must have the same speed rating as the original tyres, regardless of the maximum speed of the vehicle because the insurance companies have nothing to lose by saying that (even if it is untrue) and are covering their behinds. It also avoids confusion or disputes if owners fit tyres with a speed rating which only just, more-or-less, matches the car's maximimum possible speed. Which is why I said "comfortably exceeds" above.

As an aside: in an interview about one of the go-faster special versions of the XKR Jaguar, the Jaguar spokesman explained why even that car was limited to a mere 180 mph or so when, if not fitted with a limiter, it would actually be capable of more than 200mph. "Availability of suitable tyres" was the answer; "We would not be able to prevent the possibility of misguided owners from driving at such speeds for sustained periods, and virtually no road tyres are capable of coping with that." No mention of legal speed limits you will note ...

Edited 3 May, 201313 yr by Stuarted