Mk2 Diesel VRS. I thought my front tyres looked soft so checked them, fine. Thought maybe my gauge was a bit out on my pump so took it to bp and checked with theirs - still fine.

Is it just mine or a common thing that the tyres on the 18" wheels look a bit soft?

They can do.

But what pressure are you setting them at?

That's impossible to say from what you've said.

 

For example (from personal experience) a Maxxis Maz1 looks different to a Toyo T1-R on the same wheel, and the Toyo wants a couple more PSI to avoid an underinflation wear pattern.

 

In fact, that's a more important point; are you seeing an under or overinflation wear pattern at the present pressures?

I've inflated them to just over the recommended 2.2, think I went to 2.3 - usually running around in a pretty empty car.

Interesting you mention Toyos. As the tyres are Toyo Proxies.

There does seem to be a very slight under inflation wear pattern on one of the fronts, there's a line just starting to show around the outside edge. I've done under 1000 miles in the car so could have been previous owner running them low.

As an aside I'm not convinced by the Toyos in the wet, we tend to use Conti Sports and they seem much better in the wet.

Tyres are different. I chose Michelin X-Ice Xi3 tyres for winter and with 2.2. they looked way too empty. I raised the pressure till 2.5 and it was much better.

My father uses some Hankook winter tyres with similar car and he's happy with 2.1 or something like that. His tyres look like mines with 2.5.

Well I've put them up to 2.4 now (34psi I think) and they do look better. Will run it like that for a while and see.

 

It's probably exaggerated because my old car (X Type Jag) I always ran the tyres at fully loaded pressure because the wheels had a habit of cracking if not.

It's quite common for diesel car tyres to look under inflated due to the weight of the engine. Some tyres are worse than others.

I've inflated them to just over the recommended 2.2, think I went to 2.3 - usually running around in a pretty empty car.

Interesting you mention Toyos. As the tyres are Toyo Proxies.

There does seem to be a very slight under inflation wear pattern on one of the fronts, there's a line just starting to show around the outside edge. I've done under 1000 miles in the car so could have been previous owner running them low.

2.2bar is 32psi?  On 225/40r18 I'd run 36psi minimum (which I do).  I can't believe the soft pressures that Skoda recommend.  It's consistently 4psi less than a Golf (same chassis & similar weight) with the same rubber.