I've been browsing the existing threads on Octavia II tyre noise, I appreciate that the VRS on 225/40/R18's especially suffers from this, but I just want to rule out anything more serious.

 

Car: '12 Octavia VRS estate, petrol, DSG, 14.5k miles on the clock.

 

Tyres: 225/40/R18 92Y, brand new Eagle F1 Assym. 2's on all corners, all balanced and wheels correctly aligned. Pressures at manufacturer recommended (iirc - 2.1 bar on front, 2.2 bar on back, or whatever it said on the sticker on petrol filler cap cover is what I set them to!)

 

Symptoms: Between 65mph and 75mph I get what I can only describe as a rumbling whine which is over and above the normal noise of tyres on tarmac/concrete/whatever. The pitch of the noise increases with speed and fades out completely as I approach 80mph+ in addition I can feel a faint vibration through the steering wheel. Far as I can tell its not the transmission (if I get her up to 75mph and put the DSG into neutral, the gearbox disengages, the revs drop, the car is coasting and the noise is still there).

 

I'd say from the noise it sounds like a wheel bearing problem, but I'd hesitate to say it definitely was the bearing as there are no other symptoms. Car handles beautifully in all conditions, no odd noises/groans when cornering - i.e. going from lock to opposite lock - it brakes in straight line, steering doesn't wander around, there's no play in the steering wheel. All seems normal and correct. Only thing I can think of is possibly an ABS issue, and I've got no warning lights on. Not checked for any stored fault codes yet.

 

Before I take it to the dealer for a closer look, can anyone confirm/deny this is just normal tyre noise and I'm worrying about nothing?

My car sounds like this too... i keep thinking its wheel bearings then it goes completley

My car sounds like this too... i keep thinking its wheel bearings then it goes completley

According to my main dealer it's a common problem around the 40/50 mph but as your speed increases above this it goes off, I've had this problem & it appears to be most common with the tyres that Skoda factory fit.

 

The best replacement tyres for solving it I'm told is Michelin.

What is amazing is the enormous difference as you cross from one road surface to another.

If they would plate every road with the quiet stuff we could run on tyres made out of hobnail boots...........

Ok, thanks for putting my mind at rest. I'm glad its not just me.

 

I guess the fix for this is to drive at 80mph then?

I have a 1.6 elegance with 16" alloys and I get exactly the same noise.

Have any of you read any of the threads (which are legion) on sawtoothing?

From the description it certainly sounds like it may be a strong possibility. The particular suspension design and geometry cause a particular wear pattern on the inside edge of the rear tyres. It is well a known phenomena and can be reduced or at least its onset delayed by having the revised suspension settings applied.

It is unlikely a settings change alone will do much, as the condition is already there.

When this happened to me, I swapped wheels and tyres front to back to quickly scrub off a few mm of rubber and there was a noticeable improvement - an alignment is vital.

New tyres, again after the alignment should keep the noise at bay until the tyres are more or less due for replacement anyway.

I am now on my second set of Hankook Ventus V12, which have proved reasonably quiet under normal circumstances and pretty resistant to the onset of the sawtoothing

I've got Michelin on mine and it is very quiet at all speeds definitely recommend Mitchelin

I have only just bought my first Octavia (first ever Skoda too) and after reading 100's of user reviews, this subject came up time after time. And yes, my Octavia suffers exactly the same problem, but it's noticably quieter on certain road surfaces so I know it's not a mechanical problem. However, this is the first time I have heard about "sawtoothing". I may try the swapping tyres round trick to see if that cures the noise for a while.

Have any of you read any of the threads (which are legion) on sawtoothing?

From the description it certainly sounds like it may be a strong possibility. The particular suspension design and geometry cause a particular wear pattern on the inside edge of the rear tyres. It is well a known phenomena and can be reduced or at least its onset delayed by having the revised suspension settings applied.

It is unlikely a settings change alone will do much, as the condition is already there.

When this happened to me, I swapped wheels and tyres front to back to quickly scrub off a few mm of rubber and there was a noticeable improvement - an alignment is vital.

New tyres, again after the alignment should keep the noise at bay until the tyres are more or less due for replacement anyway.

I am now on my second set of Hankook Ventus V12, which have proved reasonably quiet under normal circumstances and pretty resistant to the onset of the sawtoothing

 

Diagnosed exactly this yesterday on my Fabia1 vRS. I've been gettign the same horrendous road noise. The previous owner had fitted dense, budget tyres and a technician demonstrated exactly what 'sawtoothing' is (also called it 'stepping' and 'feathering') by getting me to run my hand around the back of the wheel. Tread across the inner quarter was awful, each of the blocks that make up the outer tread was slightly more worn in one direction, creating a constant stepped effect from one block to the next. No wonder they're so loud really. Apparently a symptom linked to block-tread tread patterns and directional tyres, which I've been advised to avoid when I get them replaced.

When I bought my car, it came with Barums. They were perfectly good tyres except for the symptoms that you describe. Road noise was quite intrusive and recently I too was also starting to hear a whining noise which I took to be a wheel bearing. The noise was more noticeable on stretches of motorway where the surface was concrete rather than Tarmac.

About a month ago, I changed all four tyres for Bridgestone's and the change in the car has been quite significant. Road noise has dropped dramatically and I no longer have the bearing type noise I was experiencing.

All in all, the car is so much better to drive. Quieter and feels more 'planted' compared to what I was used to.

Hope this helps.

as above, sounds like sawtoothing.

 

get the geometry checked / corrected and either swap tyres around or better still replace them.

If you've got sawtoothing get your alignment done then change the tyres. Swapping them for a test is fine but if you leave them on the car will just wreck the new rears as well.

Bad timing from me, had I seen this thread earlier I may have made a different tyre choice for the new rubber fitted yesterday. 

 

Had 2 Gyr Eagle F1 assym 2s fitted yesterday on the rear to replace two tyres which had worn badly on the insides, but without an obvious sawtooth feel.  Already put two of these on the front last year. 

 

I had hoped getting rid of the two worn tyres, together with a 4 wheel alignment would have rid me of the droning road noise on certain surfaces.  Its certainly reduced, but not as much as I thought it would, but oh well you live and learn.  

 

On a positive note the car does now feel much more planted with proper rubbers on the rear, really cant fault the grip or feel of these tyres.  

 

Does anyone know whether other VAG group cars suffer from the same droning noise on 225 40 18?  

Just had the winter tires taken off, and I don't think it is any quieter, as some people suggested it should be. But I am not that happy with the Conti 2s, so the last thing I want to do is get better but noisier tires. So is sawtoothing just related to high motorway mileages, or does it happen with mixed driving ? 

Just had the winter tires taken off, and I don't think it is any quieter, as some people suggested it should be. But I am not that happy with the Conti 2s, so the last thing I want to do is get better but noisier tires. So is sawtoothing just related to high motorway mileages, or does it happen with mixed driving ? 

 

Happened to me and I hardly do any motorway miles.

 

My car trashed a set of new rears, swapped them front to back which was the same make and model. Wheels were aligned (hunter rig) and I've had no repeat in the 10k since.

 

Does anyone know whether other VAG group cars suffer from the same droning noise on 225 40 18?  

 

Yes, they do.

 

Prior to the switch to skodas I had a mk5 Golf GTI and that had exactly the same issue.

My Octavia has only done 17k & it's just had it's first MOT, the Skoda dealership swopped the wheels round as a matter of course without being asked, they told me they had also done this when it had it's first service at 2 years & would do it now at every MOT unless asked not to, I thought this was a good idea by them & good customer care.

Edited 4 April, 201412 yr by IdioSyncrasy

Have any of you read any of the threads (which are legion) on sawtoothing?

From the description it certainly sounds like it may be a strong possibility. The particular suspension design and geometry cause a particular wear pattern on the inside edge of the rear tyres. It is well a known phenomena and can be reduced or at least its onset delayed by having the revised suspension settings applied.

It is unlikely a settings change alone will do much, as the condition is already there.

When this happened to me, I swapped wheels and tyres front to back to quickly scrub off a few mm of rubber and there was a noticeable improvement - an alignment is vital.

New tyres, again after the alignment should keep the noise at bay until the tyres are more or less due for replacement anyway.

I am now on my second set of Hankook Ventus V12, which have proved reasonably quiet under normal circumstances and pretty resistant to the onset of the sawtoothing

^^^^ this.

 

I've had sawtoothing on my rear tyres, mentioned at my last MOT in July 2013 - I had the geometry rectified, but I've just changed the tyres as the damage was already done so it just got worse and worse to the point where I couldn't stand it this week.

 

Probably changed them 5,000 miles early as a result, but hey ho.

 

However, what I would say you would be surprised at the noise sawtoothed tyres can make - with my new tyres I could now hear a mouse fart at 50 yards whilst doing 70

^^^^ this.

 

I've had sawtoothing on my rear tyres, mentioned at my last MOT in July 2013 - I had the geometry rectified, but I've just changed the tyres as the damage was already done so it just got worse and worse to the point where I couldn't stand it this week.

 

Probably changed them 5,000 miles early as a result, but hey ho.

 

However, what I would say you would be surprised at the noise sawtoothed tyres can make - with my new tyres I could now hear a mouse fart at 50 yards whilst doing 70

what tyres did you go for Herschel?

Hi guys. I have the same problem in my octavia vrs mk2 tdi dsg 2011. It only appearing on straight line when accelerating hardly above 65mph. Different noise level on different road surface. But really annoying. And also sound and small vibration coming from passenger side. I have been trying to search on forum in other country and i have been told that most likely driveshaft has gone. Some of the owners installed new one and noise gone for ever... I am not sure whether i should go to dealer and ask them to change it under warranty?

Hi guys. I have the same problem in my octavia vrs mk2 tdi dsg 2011. It only appearing on straight line when accelerating hardly above 65mph. Different noise level on different road surface. But really annoying. And also sound and small vibration coming from passenger side. I have been trying to search on forum in other country and i have been told that most likely driveshaft has gone. Some of the owners installed new one and noise gone for ever... I am not sure whether i should go to dealer and ask them to change it under warranty?

Tyre noise is my biggest disappointment with my MK2 Octavia 1.6TDI Elegance. It is beyond belief that it can go from sounding like a Jag on smooth tarmac to a deafening van on others. I know this applies to other cars but it does seem extreme. Also, I don't know if it is the same as yours, but I get an annoying buzzing coming from my left side and it also goes on smoother roads, which are pretty far between round here!

I stopped noticing serious noise after fitting my Vredestein Sportracs, not dead silent but not annoying either. Only about £75 each  fitted too.

Worst ever for noise was a Sunny I had fitted in an emergency, but it was only £52 and is now on the spare. (Actually it was quite good except for the drone.)

what tyres did you go for Herschel?

Uniroyal Rainsport 3's.

 

Got them on front and back.

 

They are excellent.