Hi all

Got the VRS 3yrs ago and had probs with the sawtoothing issue. Got the dealer to align back wheels twice but wasnt right. Got specialist to do 4 wheel alignment and all seemed fine. Tyres ready for a change now and although theres about 2 - 2.5mm left over the tyres, the inner edge is worn right in again so it seems we still have the issue although much improved compared to dealer setup.

Has this been sorted yet?? Are there new proven alignment values that are ok??

The car is ace and we want to keep it fot many years yet but this sawtoothing issue is not acceptable.

Cheers

Dave

Edited 25 August, 201312 yr by FatblokeVRS

Mines not a Vrs, but I suffer from sawtoothing on the rears badly.

It's been aligned to several different settings and I still get it.

Next tyre change due soon, but have no ideas what to have them align them to (I'm currently on 1.1° on the rears).

It also must affect mpg. When the dealers aligned it the miles per tank dropped to 400 and when the specialist in Edinburgh did it we got 480 - 500 miles per tank.

I had Falken 452's on it and never got the droning noise like with the dunlops before them. Putting Uniroyal Rainsport 2 on now. Will take it back to specialist to see if he can adjust. Obviously official settings are useless.

Does anyone else have optional settings that are better??

Dave

It could be why my mpg is steadily dropping as mine are quite bad now - on both sides.

I was told that Skoda were using 1.7° from the factory but 1.4° was giving better results.

My estate on lowered Eibachs has been set to 1.1° as it might be that the rear springs aren't quite stiff enough to support my car with gear in the boot.

Only time after a tyre change will tell...

I would guess from the persistance of this issue, that the remedy is beyond the realms of adjustment available. 

Although inconvient, the "problem" can be made "acceptable". 

I now have a bit of a hum again and a just noticable sawtoothing.  That's about 30,000 miles after the last adjustment and covers more or less the life of the tyres.   Apart from the inner edge on the rear, not mentioned in the recent MOT, the wear pattern is pretty uniform across the full tread, 225x45x17's.

As I have found on previous cars, a full alignment more than pays for itself in extended tyre life, the big plus is the dramatic improvement in the feel, control and precision.  You could see this the other way round of course.

Mine were adjusted to the factory revised spec. 

I think if you have tinkered with the suspension ride height you have to accept that you are on your own.  It can be quite a change in geometry and the modal working position moves away from the one designed.

I have a Whiteline RARB and Superpro ALK bushes, maybe these have helped - they did in my conceptual model before I started.

I have even tyre wear across the face of the tyre, so will easily pass an MOT. It's just the rumbling noise that comes back after 12 months / 14k miles that I can't stand for the next 8-14k miles!

For me it seems to be an issue with the type of tyre.

 

I had the original conties then a set of Avon on the rear. Although they wore on the inner edge it wasn't excessive and it was even so it didn't drone.

 

Finally I got a set of Maxxis MAV1s. I'd been using them on the front for a while and I found them good value for money. Within a few months they were droning like crazy. A few months more and I was close to going nuts. I switched them back to front to check it wasn't a bearing (I'd just had one replaced to confuse things). the drone moved to the front but ow the car would buck when accelerating and the wheel vibrate at speed.

 

I got the 4x4 alignment on a hunter rig. All 4 wheels were out a little but on one rear was in the red. Then I bought two new fronts to replace the sawtoothed tyres.

 

So far (few thousand miles) I've not had a repeat of the sawtoothing. The Maxxis are noisy anyway and after switching to Goodyear Eco sport tyres on the front I've seen a notable increase in mpg (2-4) and a drop in noise. I'm going to put the same on the rears when they're due.

 

I've read that tyres with large tread blocks are prone to sawtoothing because it's easier for those blocks to move and produce the uneven wear. I've no real evidence for that but I'm going to avoid the chunky/sporty look on rear tyres anyway.

I've read that tyres with large tread blocks are prone to sawtoothing because it's easier for those blocks to move and produce the uneven wear. I've no real evidence for that but I'm going to avoid the chunky/sporty look on rear tyres anyway.

That's interesting. Might be worth looking at.

I've been told that Michelins seem to suffer much less than any other brand.

Funny enough im using Goodyear sports but once the years are wasted will go to Goodyear Eco....heard they were really good for mpg....Sawtoothings seems to be a common problem with the octavia.....I noticed mine when i bought the things so will have the 4 wheel alignment down. Does anyone know a good one in Gloucestershire...and trusted...

A bit out of Gloucestershire I know, but I'd recommend Hereford Tyres.

http://www.alignmycar.co.uk/

 

^ points out garages with the Hunter set up.

 

Passats are plagued with sawtoothing too apparently.

Funny enough im using Goodyear sports but once the years are wasted will go to Goodyear Eco....heard they were really good for mpg....Sawtoothings seems to be a common problem with the octavia.....I noticed mine when i bought the things so will have the 4 wheel alignment down. Does anyone know a good one in Gloucestershire...and trusted...

 

I use ETB and find them OK.

 

Had sawtooth problems only with the Original Equipment Dunlops (may after offer simiilarly naff tyres).  Switched to Michelin Play Station 3s and had no problem since.  Very much a type of tyre issue rather than geometry as far as my experience went. 

Has Skoda come out with any new alignment information??? Not to chuffed they are just leaving their customers in the lurch.

Anyone using any other settings??

I've been told that Michelins seem to suffer much less than any other brand.

Replaced my 2nd Octavia (sports suspension, 17" wheels) oem howling Bridgstones with Michelin Primacy 3's.  Like riding on carpet for the first couple thousand miles but after 5k or so when I traded it in they were starting to sing again.

The Bridgestones were saw toothed on inner and outer edge despite 4 wheel alignment. 

I have now found the perfect way to stop the tyre noise - I drive a Roomster!  Loved both of my Octavias but you really don't realise how much tyre noise there is until you drive something else.

Anyone got a picture of this sawtoothing?

afaik - If you run your hand over the blocks they feel like a saw   -_-_-_ when they should feel smooth -------

 

Both my Octavias suffer and I must get them hunter aligned sometime.

 

Basically the inner edge of the tyre wears flat spots. Looks really weird and it's hard to imagine how it actually happens. Allegedly it's the tread blocks getting pulled in and out.

 

Mine don't look anything like as bad as that ^ but still make a helluva noise. It's easiest to see when you've driven over some dust and you can see the flat spots are dust free.

had my octavia from savilles 2 fronts tyres were 3.5 so they put 2 new dunlops on as same as the back i did not test drive my car so when i picked it up

i heard this nosie told them.i taken it in and they just said its the tyres so i just got to live with it. so see my local garage ask them to check the beanig brakes

all ok so put the backs on the front they were just as bad so i have two dunlops put on the front and had a 4 alignment and its ok 

been weston super marie no nosie so i will see how long does it last. spoke to a chap who has a lot stuff in the boot and he has no

problem i think its because the back end is light on the estates. does this happen on the new octavivas was going to have one next year

i hope not pete

Anyone got a picture of this sawtoothing?

Run your hand around the tyre tread edge blocks. One way it will feel smooth, the other way you will feel the steps.

I checked mine today (along with tyre pressures) to see how much worse they have got and discovered I have it on the front as well.

Inner & outer edges on all four corners!

Having it on the fronts isn't normal! Is it?

Mine went on front as well as rear.

Sarge.

Prior to lowering I only seemed to have it inner edge OSR.

Now all over.

Think I might go back to standard springs...

A bit out of Gloucestershire I know, but I'd recommend Hereford Tyres.

 

Ah yes i think there in the Centre. I sough of remember them when i used to work in Hereford. I will have a think about a visit down to the Ford....

I'm on my 2nd Vrs and never had sawtoothing with either my brothers Vrs is the same no issues with sawtoothing. Some dealers don't have Alignment Equipment and send out to a third party. I kept my last Vrs for 5 years with no issues like that, current vrs is 2 years old again with no sawtoothing issues

I'm on my 2nd Vrs and never had sawtoothing with either my brothers Vrs is the same no issues with sawtoothing. Some dealers don't have Alignment Equipment and send out to a third party. I kept my last Vrs for 5 years with no issues like that, current vrs is 2 years old again with no sawtoothing issues

 

I am sure it is a tyre make issue much more than geometry, use good tyres (Michelins) and do not get the problem.