just replaced all 4 tyres

 

 of OE fronts ( Dunlop Sportmaxx ) were rock hard- replaced at 25k miles with similar

 

replaced second set of fronts, along with oe rears, at 52k miles.

 

Now running Goodyear Vector 4 seasons which are far better in cold weather

Conti sport contract 2s in mine and after 5300 miles the fronts show a little wear on the shoulders but very little other than that. Rears are perfect (other than the hole from a clout nail in one that kwikfit patched for me today). I suspect I'll get about 20k from the front pair which seems hard for me to believe as everyone else seems to be getting half that. I do a large percentage of motorway driving though so I guess that is easier on tyres.

 

Rears will go to the front and new tyres will go on the rear.

The worst thing is most people don't hit the brakes hard enough because they have never practised it, especially women unfortunately.

Totally agree, took my mother-in-law to a quite road to get her to experience the ABS working. I demonstrated a couple of times then tried to get her to do it. Failed miserably as she refused to press the brake hard enough. She's still on the road driving (badly) with no concept or experience of ABS.

Totally agree, took my mother-in-law to a quite road to get her to experience the ABS working. I demonstrated a couple of times then tried to get her to do it. Failed miserably as she refused to press the brake hard enough. She's still on the road driving (badly) with no concept or experience of ABS.

Luckily new cars usually have brake assistants that give you full break pressure in an emergency even if you don't press the pedal hard enough.

Luckily new cars usually have brake assistants that give you full break pressure in an emergency even if you don't press the pedal hard enough.

They certainly do!

My (first and only, so far) sudden application of brakes on a quiet suburb road when a cat ran across in front was a lot more severe than I intended or needed.

It was in a Hyundai Santa Fe and I guess it was my reaction speed off accelerator and onto brake that triggered the assist.

The brakes on the Octavia are very sensitive anyway so it might be worthwhile experiencing under control conditions before a real emergency.

Edited 27 January, 201511 yr by Gerrycan

Another thing to consider is where the weight will lean when you break hard - front. Then it's really important to have as much traction on the rears as possible. The front will have more weight meaning more traction even if you have slicks.

Another thing to consider is where the weight will lean when you break hard - front. Then it's really important to have as much traction on the rears as possible. The front will have more weight meaning more traction even if you have slicks.

That statement was going so well until you mentioned slicks!

Put some slicks on the front of your car and go and brake hard through a puddle... They will NOT have more braking traction despite the extra weight, as they have nowhere to displace the water to, they will skim over the top of a thin film of water and break traction very easily. Take it from someone that has driven around a few damp tracks on semi-slicks, when it starts to drizzle you get back to the pits for treaded tyres ASAP!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The brakes on the Octavia are very sensitive anyway so it might be worthwhile experiencing under control conditions before a real emergency.

It seems like a common trait among all VAG cars. It usually takes a couple of stops to get used to the brake feel after driving a different brand.