It just occurred to me that the problem need not be caused by incorrect suspension geometry, tyre pressure etc.

It is simply a symptom of the rear tyres wearing with brake use and not having any drive to counter the wear they naturally take on a set wear pattern.

I had a brainwave (I'm known for having a wavy brain!)

If you have non directional tyres fitted to the rear just swap the sides around so they wear in the opposite direction for a more even tread.

* If my theory is correct then I expect the 4WD variants don't suffer this problem... or at least not as much as the FWD models.

Edited 16 September, 201411 yr by MicMac

The problem with sawtoothing isn't just the wear.

 

When it happened to me the wear was perfectly legal, lots of tread left, but the uneven wear made a feckin racket.

Swapping the tyres round would just give uneven wear on the other inner edge, it wouldn't correct the previous damage. You'd get double the wear from the tyres I suppose but the noise would be appalling.

I have not had the saw-tooth problem on any of the following front wheel drive cars - Citroen BX, 3 x Nissan Primera, Audi A4, Honda Civic, numerous Cavaliers and Vectras.  But then again I haven't had the problem in 15K miles with my Octavia vRS althouugh I did have the suspension alignment checked, and corrected,  when I purchased it at 10K miles.

Mine has always suffered saw toothing its a ball ache ive had hunter re alignment twice no use. But good theory!

I've had a Hunter alignment and the tyres aren't wearing on the inner shoulder, replacing the tyres and shocks seems to have done the trick.

The wear is uniform across the face of the tread and my theory was in part down to the fact that it's the first rear disc braked car I've owned and the braking is quite good all round so the rears do get quite a ragging if you are heavy on the middle pedal.

Re noise, nothing definitively tyre wear like.

It's got 225/45/17s with sport option suspension so it's kinda like driving an oversized go kart.

Firm and clattery, not something I would have again. The 1.9 PD105 in L&K trim is a joke with agricultural engine, lacklustre performance, an interior that's bland and functional but not full of gadgets and certainly not luxuriously comfortable.

The interior noise is above average I'd say, about the only thing it's got going for it is that it corners flat and sticks to the road well, although that's not to say you can't corner like a hovercraft if you try!

;-)

Sorry, I seem to be digressing here... can you tell my car and I aren't exactly a marriage made in heaven. I've owned it for a year now and haven't really bonded with it, it goes unnamed and our relationship has all the warmth you give to a hammer in the toy box, it's there when you need it, does the job and goes back until next time.

And before you ask... it was an arranged marriage!

Some tyres suffer more than others. Dunlops & Bridgestone seem to be worse for it.

My brakes don't get ragged and I still suffered saw toothing at the rear (and front).

When I got my 4x4 Octavia it was sawtoothing badly. I also wouldn't recommend putting on directional tyres backwards as you are compromising their abilities, it will fail an MOT and is a C&U offence.

I was advised by Skoda that Bridgestone tyres are a nightmare for it. I've had no problem on continentals.

Audi's and vw love saw toothing tyres! The worst I see at work are avons and bridgestones continentals are fine though always recommend conti's

I just don't understand why VAG struggle so much with rear alignment.

Is it like the F1 team who found all their wind tunnel and aerodynamic data Calibration was incorrect?

is sawtoothing a problem specific to the vrs ?

anyone had sawtoothing on an elegance or se model ?

 

is sawtoothing a problem specific to the vrs ?

anyone had sawtoothing on an elegance or se model ?

 It's happens on all the Golf 5 style chassis vehicles.

Mic Mac

I agree, you'll cancel it out a bit if you reverse the direction of rotation, especially if you put them on the drive axle. The noise will drive you insane for a while but eventually calms down.

re: all those that have had a Hunter Wheel Alignment. A machine is only as good as the operator. Sometimes you have to set up the angles outside of factory spec to cure a problem. The best aligner in Sydney only ever used a mechanical aligner. To do a 4-wheel alignment he'd reverse the vehicle onto the turntables. When he retired (he was in his late 70s) they pulled out the mechanical aligner & put in an electronic one but I don't think the new guy is as good despite his fancy machine.

A lot of so-called Wheel Alignment Specialists are just setting cars to be in the "green zone" and don't take the time to have a look & see what the car is actually doing.

is sawtoothing a problem specific to the vrs ?

anyone had sawtoothing on an elegance or se model ?

 

Seems to be more common on fat low profile tyres.

VAG disproportionately affected.

 

I had Maxxis tyres which I'd found were grippy and cheap (if noisy) but the rear ones were knackered after 4k.

I swapped them front to back and had an alignment done but I think about 10k later they were going again.

My octavia had balloon tyres, but still sawtoothed until it was put straight.

 

Its not specific to any tyre or trim level, its all of the MKIIs. The geometry was just plain poorly setup and seems to be easily effected by driving.

Mine has sawtoothed rears - Conti Sport Contact 2s on an FL Elegance estate