So after 6.5 years it's time for the original 1.4TSi Mark III to be sold, and buy another Octavia (if I can find out  the 1.5 TSI engine really is really fixed) - before I do I have a question on wheels, I live on a hill in North Scotland, I drive rural roads over the Cairngorms in the winter, I need winter tyres.

 

Currently I have two set of wheels - the default 16 inch Skoda "Illias" alloys and some steel ones with winter tyres fitted.  I do low miles (car is only at 38k after 6.5 years) so this has lasted me the life of the car.  I have never had to pay a tyre place to change / balance them for me.    The TPMS is indirect so each time I change I only need to memorise the pressures by pushing the button on the dashboard control.   My plan was to sell car with the steel ones, keep the official alloys and put new winter tyres on them, thus having identical wheelsets and avoiding the discussions i have with the insurance each year at the moment.

 

The new Octavia appears to have direct TPMS with a sensor in each wheel - unlike many on here I am no expert but I think I have two options, can anyone help with the questions below...

 

A - Two sets wheels

Q1 - When swapping wheels how do you "teach" the car it has new wheels / sensors and which wheel is on which corner, can user do it or do I need dealer or VCDS?

Q2 - Can a tyre place retrospectively fit TPMS sensors to my existing Illias alloys?

Q3 - Does anyone sell wheels (alloy or steel) with TPMS sensors in them - last time I used "mytyres" to buy winter tyres on steel rims but they don't mention TPMS

 

B - one set wheels - pay someone to change the tyres and re balance each autumn/winter

Q4 - how many times can a tyre be taken off/on a rim before it's damaged?

Q5 - what would I expect to pay to have this done for 4 wheels

 

 

 

Hi...can't help you re wheels but can confirm the 1.5 Tsi engine in my six week old SEL Octavia Estate manual box is as sweet as a nut with no problems 

whatsoever .

Regards

Gerry

It doesn’t have sensors in the wheels. 

4 minutes ago, SC03OTT said:

It doesn’t have sensors in the wheels. 

+1

 

It's a passive TPMS system that uses clever software in the ABS unit to look for variations in wheel rotational speed and vibration patterns to determine whether the tyre pressures are as expected.

49 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

+1

 

It's a passive TPMS system that uses clever software in the ABS unit to look for variations in wheel rotational speed and vibration patterns to determine whether the tyre pressures are as expected.

That's what I was expecting  - and indeed what I have now -  on my 2013MY 1.4TSi Estate SE -  But reading the spec from the build tool on the Skoda websiste for a new Octavia estate  I see  "Direct Tire Monitoring System"   which seems to imply the opposite. 

 

"Indirect" = uses ABS sensors and wheel diameter/vibration spectral response etc

"Direct" = sensors?

 

Are those answering referring to their own vehicles or specifically the 2019 verison 

@Llwyngwernog you seem to drive the very car I hope to buy, does it have a "set pressures?"  in the settings

 

NESskod:

The Octavia (including the FL) has the TPMS using the ABS sensors as everyone says, so no sensor in each wheel. I have the 2020 modelyear and yes, it has the ”set pressures” in the infotainment display.

Hi can confirm it has SET PRESSURES in the infotainment display.

Regards

Thanks all - I have no idea why the spec says "direct TPMS" but it is clearly not!

At the end of the month I’m have Cross Climates fitted to my Octavia that was built 11/10/19. I’ll see what it has.

13 hours ago, NESskod said:

Thanks all - I have no idea why the spec says "direct TPMS" but it is clearly not!

Copy writer not having a clue?

To answer the original question, on other manufacturers which use sensors in the wheels, the sensors have to be programmed to the car using a diagnostic tool.

You could buy another set of sensors to put onto the winter wheels & program them to the car each time you swap the wheels.

 

It is common here in switzerland to swap tyres twice a year & given the number of "tyre hotels" I'd say its fairly common to just swap the same tyres between one set of rims.

I'd imagine it is safe to do this providing the tyre is removed, stored & refitted correctly for a number of years as I've never heard anyone here say they had to replace the tyres because they had been changed too many times.

I think normally 5 years is the time they recommend to change the tyres (regardless of tread depth) due to rubber degredation.

 

For cars with a sensor connected to the valve, garages here usually charge 5-10CHF extra for changing the tyre. (on top of the usual 20-30 CHF charge per tyre).

41 minutes ago, Gabbo said:

To answer the original question, on other manufacturers which use sensors in the wheels, the sensors have to be programmed to the car using a diagnostic tool.

You could buy another set of sensors to put onto the winter wheels & program them to the car each time you swap the wheels.

 

It is common here in switzerland to swap tyres twice a year & given the number of "tyre hotels" I'd say its fairly common to just swap the same tyres between one set of rims.

I'd imagine it is safe to do this providing the tyre is removed, stored & refitted correctly for a number of years as I've never heard anyone here say they had to replace the tyres because they had been changed too many times.

I think normally 5 years is the time they recommend to change the tyres (regardless of tread depth) due to rubber degredation.

 

For cars with a sensor connected to the valve, garages here usually charge 5-10CHF extra for changing the tyre. (on top of the usual 20-30 CHF charge per tyre).

Very informative, but not relevant to the Octavia III which (whatever the year) has a passive TPMS system.

Tyre damage aside, the cost of swapping tyres twice a year would soon be swallowed up by buying a second set of wheels. 

 

Other reasons I have 2 sets of wheels:

- Ability to have different wheel sizes

- Spare set of wheels 'just in case'

 

Then if take into account the bead stretching twice a year to be fitted it makes total sense.  But then you have @Gabbo reporting no damage with lots of people swapping tyres between rims every year.  And in a country where winter tyres are likely a legal requirement for some months?

I ran 2 sets of wheels on my Scout, both 17"s, one with Uni Royal Rainsport 3's on the summer rims, the other rims had Continental Winter Contact.  Last time I had new tyres fitted I paid £15  per wheel.