Went to local Skoda dealer today for the 1st service. It's been over a year and 6,100 miles, so I asked if they could do a front-rear tyre swap.

They said yes it's included.

But when I returned, it seems they didn't swap the tyres at all. During a 10 minutes' phone call lately, they insist all 4 tyres' tread readings "are all identical at 6mm and all with even wear, making the swap pointless".

I'd be very happy if that's true, meaning they've been maintained very well. However, I've taken another look of them, and the front and rear seem very different.

Here we go, the photos:

Front tyre:

Rear tyre:

I don't want to argue with the professional measurement they've made. And I'm quite happy about the service overall. It's likely they are correct that it's pointless to swap the tyres at this stage.

But out of curiosity, am I misreading the appearance of the tyre treads?

Thanks!

It wouldn't have hurt to swap them over would it?

The thing is that now the dealer insists me to pay for the swap, which I find annoying...

However I'm not sure if I have the ground to make a complain about it...

It wouldn't have hurt to swap them over would it?

My first set were swapped front-rear at 10k, then had to have a full set of new tyres at 22k. Subsequenty, with no swapping, managed further 30k out of the fronts and 60k from the rears. Always had Conti Sport Contacts fitted, so i'm not swapping anymore as an interim front tyre change every 25-30k gives you longer to save up for the full set every 50-60k :think: !

Hi Redbuta,

There was a verbal contract.

U asked for the swop,

They accepted and said it was included.

They have breached the contract by asking u to pay for it.

Remind them what was agree, and if they don't.

Then its not really worth chasing it up,

But they have lost a customer...

Apart from a bit of graining on one tyre there isn't an enormous amount of difference

If the tread depth is the same there is no point in swapping them over.

Cheers

Steve

Apart from the measurement of the tread depth at ONE spot on the tyre, there is the issue of slight uneven wearing over the WHOLE tread. I have Conti Sports fitted after the dreadful Dunlops that came with the car and with the Conti purchase, I receive free wheel balance and rotation every 10k for the first 50k of ownership. Alignment is extra of course. Certainly cannot do any harm to regularly rotate as the front tyres traditionally wear fast on front wheel drive. Probably different story on the AWD.

It wouldn't have hurt to swap them over would it?

It cost time and money at the end of the day. No Skoda service time includes removal of wheels so someone had to pay for it.

I've got AWD but I'm assuming wear will be similar to a front wheel drive as the Haldex system is part time. I wonder about the stuff which is written about AWD vehicles must have tyres of the same diameter all round otherwise problems can occur (particularly Freelanders).

There doesn't appear to be anything definitive as far as I can see. Mine is on 7000 miles at present, I thought I'd make a decision at 10 but I'm open to suggestions.

Huw

Yep! that's right

It cost time and money at the end of the day. No Skoda service time includes removal of wheels so someone had to pay for it.

I bought a new Fabia VRS in 2005 and found as follows on all first 3 services.

They peer through spokes of wheels to check disc's and pads so having to avoid removing road wheels, also they don't remove the battery to check the power steering level either.

So when you see on your little service book 'FULL SERVICE' it's one of the little things it's not worth the paper it's written on.

Hence from then on I did all my own 'FULL SERVICE' yearly and keep the receipts.

I save on average £150.00 in labour charges, with a further £20 on servicing parts.

Old saying, if you don't do-it-yourself, it-don't-get-done. LOL

Apart from a bit of graining on one tyre there isn't an enormous amount of difference

Yup, can't see much difference either. Just the graining/scrubbing on the fronts which is normal as fwd

Yep! that's right

I bought a new Fabia VRS in 2005 and found as follows on all first 3 services.

They peer through spokes of wheels to check disc's and pads so having to avoid removing road wheels, also they don't remove the battery to check the power steering level either.

So when you see on your little service book 'FULL SERVICE' it's one of the little things it's not worth the paper it's written on.

Hence from then on I did all my own 'FULL SERVICE' yearly and keep the receipts.

I save on average £150.00 in labour charges, with a further £20 on servicing parts.

Old saying, if you don't do-it-yourself, it-don't-get-done. LOL

What can you tell by removing the wheels that you can't by looking through the spokes? And the PAS fluid level, if the system has no leaks why should the level have dropped?

Dear all,

Thanks for the reply. I'll get over with it. No big deal really.

When I collected the car, the receptionist told me the tyres were done, but later it was discovered otherwise. I don't think it was her fault, either. Just some mis-communication.

I was trying to build a good relationship with my local Skoda dealer, by ordering the car directly from them (£945 more than DTD etc. after negotiation, on the basis of them providing free 1st interim service). Then the management company changed, and they refused to deliver my free 1st service :-( Tried to contact the previous company which still exists at other locations doing other brands on various occasions with no success.

Thankfully after some nice conversation, Skoda UK offered to pay for it out of good will. But you can see where the little frustration has come from.

Still very happy with my Superb and Skoda UK, but will not limit myself to the local dealer when the next service comes.

Yep! that's right

I bought a new Fabia VRS in 2005 and found as follows on all first 3 services.

They peer through spokes of wheels to check disc's and pads so having to avoid removing road wheels, also they don't remove the battery to check the power steering level either.

So when you see on your little service book 'FULL SERVICE' it's one of the little things it's not worth the paper it's written on.

Hence from then on I did all my own 'FULL SERVICE' yearly and keep the receipts.

I save on average £150.00 in labour charges, with a further £20 on servicing parts.

Old saying, if you don't do-it-yourself, it-don't-get-done. LOL

But if under warranty you void it doing it yourself.

Also, would you buy a vehicle with no dealer/garage stamps? I wouldn't touch a vehicle with a barge pole that didn't have dealer services (5 yrs and under) or a traceable garage on anything older. The likes of RAC advise similar in their car buying guides.

I think you are right. The graining/scrubbing has mislead my quick judgement.

I'll try to keep the wear even and avoid tyre swap in the future, and change the front two more often than the back two.

BTW, I'm currently having 4 Dunlop fastresponse tyres. Can I change the front two to a different brand when they finish?

Yup, can't see much difference either. Just the graining/scrubbing on the fronts which is normal as fwd

A DIY service does not mean you invalidate your warranty, you just have to use O.E parts and stick to the schedule recommended by Skoda. Although im not going DIY route, im going to use specialist for my variable service and the car is still in warranty.

A DIY service does not mean you invalidate your warranty, you just have to use O.E parts and stick to the schedule recommended by Skoda. Although im not going DIY route, im going to use specialist for my variable service and the car is still in warranty.

Yes it does, you also need a VAT receipt to prove the work was done.

ok Tech1e, i bow down to your knowledge but i find it bizarre that if YOU serviced your own 'new' car it would invalidate your warranty even though your are competent at such work?

It's true.

I have had new cars, I have had to pay for a service even though I've done it myself.

It's true.

I have had new cars, I have had to pay for a service even though I've done it myself.

+1

It does make some sense. Who knows where you might be in two years time when a new owner needs to make a warranty claim. It is the dealer or garage who stands behind the service - not an individual.

ok Tech1e, i bow down to your knowledge but i find it bizarre that if YOU serviced your own 'new' car it would invalidate your warranty even though your are competent at such work?

Come PX a garage wont know this and will be worried a buyer wont touch it, so will price it as a lemon rather than what a good example with full service history is worth.

You could be talking thousands wiped off it's value so you save a couple of hundred over your ownership. On anything less than 5 yrs it's a false economy.

I've started looking at Tourans under 5 years old, and first thing I'm looking for is full VW history for EVERY service, as I can trace or should be able to trace every bit of work done. Whilst an indy may have done just as good a job, I have zero traceability and a stack of receipts proves jack to me. Cheap tyres is another thing I'll be looking for as tyres and servicing tell a lot as to whether it was looked after well or corners were cut.

I'd also have more comeback with 100% dealership history for any failures, especially well known ones and seeking some sort of discount if outside warranty.

If you were buying used, are you saying you'd be happy with a bunch of Halfords receipts and the seller assurances they knew what they were doing?