Hi again, What tyre pressures do you run your Mk4 Octavias at please?  My tyres are 205/60R16 92V and the recommended tyre pressures (On the fuel filler flap) are 2.5 and 2.6 Bar for two passengers, lightly loaded.  This seems to result in a harsh ride over our North Wales pothole-ridden roads!  My Mk3 Octavia, with 205/55R16/91V tyres ran at a more civilised 2.2 Bar.  I have searched on a few tyre fitting websites and a lot of these still quote 2.2 bar for my car, not the figure on the filler flap!

 

As has been pointed out in previous posts, there is not a great difference between these two tyres and the car, if anything, should be lighter, why the recommended higher pressures and could I (Legally) run at, say, 2.3 and 2.4 Bar for a more comfortable ride?  Cheers, Alan

6 hours ago, AlanOsborne said:

My tyres are 205/60R16 92V and the recommended tyre pressures (On the fuel filler flap) are 2.5 and 2.6 Bar for two passengers

Those seem like very high pressures for that size tyre.

Hi Ken, my thoughts exactly!  I am considering running on 2.2 Bar all round when lightly loaded as an experiment.

12 minutes ago, AlanOsborne said:

Hi Ken, my thoughts exactly!  I am considering running on 2.2 Bar all round when lightly loaded as an experiment.

Well, before I tell you to lower the pressures, is there any mention of "eco" tyre pressures, or any evidence that tyre centre wear is higher than edge wear? (you may need to use a tread depth gauge to check this)

A picture of your particular label would help

Hi again, no, there are not any 'Eco' pressures as per older mk3's etc, I presume that Economy and Emissions being so relevant, Skoda presumes that everyone wants to drive as economically as possible!  (I think that 2.5 Bar seems to appear on older models as an Eco option?)

 

I have only just taken possession of this car and cannot yet comment on tyre wear patterns, only on the harsh 'bumpy' ride, definitely not as compliant as my old Mk3 Octy.

 

I wonder if the fuel flap information does not apply to this vehicle?  It already suffers from not being homologated to tow (0 GTW) - Apparently this could be a mistake made during production according to Skoda UK, whom I am in negotiation with, having bought this car to tow my caravan!

 

 

Hi again, please find a photo of the fuel filler flap

Manufacturers are trying to reduce emissions in every way these days, because of EU fleet emissions law. So they put high tyre pressures and low rolling resistance tyres to win every single gram of co2.

6 hours ago, AlanOsborne said:

Hi again, no, there are not any 'Eco' pressures as per older mk3's etc, I presume that Economy and Emissions being so relevant, Skoda presumes that everyone wants to drive as economically as possible!  (I think that 2.5 Bar seems to appear on older models as an Eco option?)

 

I have only just taken possession of this car and cannot yet comment on tyre wear patterns, only on the harsh 'bumpy' ride, definitely not as compliant as my old Mk3 Octy.

 

I wonder if the fuel flap information does not apply to this vehicle?  It already suffers from not being homologated to tow (0 GTW) - Apparently this could be a mistake made during production according to Skoda UK, whom I am in negotiation with, having bought this car to tow my caravan!

 

 

The fuel filler label only shows fully laden front and rear (and the space saver spare, fully laden), they seem to have dropped the lightly loaded pressures.

 

What type of tyres do you have, (normally nowadays delivered with Eco summer tyres or sport Eco).  These are very hard (and grip poorly) when temperatures are below about +9c.  They are not designed to be used on cold days and will feel like driving on solid wheels.

 

Easing the tyre pressures to about 2.3 bar will slightly help comfort, but you are going to need to change the tyres if you want more comfort (until weather warms up late March).

 

You basically have 2 choices: buy a set of all season tyres (which use a softer compound) and can be used in UK all year, or buy a set of winter tyres and wheels.    You swap the sets end Oct / early Nov and around Easter.  Swapping them around each year means can even out tread so probably won’t need to buy any more tyres until 60k+ miles.   The all season option is simpler but will be binning virtually new tyres (although might sell them for a bit), and will be replacing tyres at say 30-35k miles so more expensive over 50k miles.

 

Winter tyres are better below about +7c (nearer +10c in wet, +4c in dry), are colder weather tyres, not snow tyres as some assume.  Have a look at this video which shows difference.

 

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/Michelin-Pilot-Sport-4S-vs-All-Season-4-vs-Michelin-X-Ice-Snow.htm
 

@AlanOsborneWhy do you still have the new car and are using it, is it not getting replaced?

 

  Is the Dealership replacing the car with the backing of Skoda UK who will have to supply the new one that will allow you to tow?

VW Group could supply a loan car until you get a replacement.

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/492496-planning-to-tow-with-a-new-car-beware   The resolution is on page 2. 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/492890-octavia-mk4-not-approved-for-towing

 

 

 

Edited 28 November, 20214 yr by roottoot

Hi, we took the 0 kg GTW as an omen and have decided to sell the caravan, not having used it for almost 2 years (COVID Notwithstanding).  The dealership has come to and 'understanding' with us re. all issues, including additional free services and some 'cashback' etc.

 

I have a set of used 205/55R16 Winter tyres on steel rims from my old Octavia, but without opening another can of worms, this wheel/ tyre size is not, I understand, approved for the car.  I am looking to perhaps sell these and buy another set with some of the Dealer's refund.

 

As stated previously, I have found that when putting the car's registration number into tyre fitting sites, such as Kwik fit, etc. and the charity, Tyresafe.org they all recommend 2.2 Bar all round as the normal pressure.

Thanks for everyone's responses.

 

 

3 hours ago, AlanOsborne said:

tyre fitting sites all recommend 2.2 Bar all round as the normal pressure

I thought that might be the case, but didn't want to mislead you.

On 28/11/2021 at 00:36, AlanOsborne said:

Hi again, please find a photo of the fuel filler flap

 

The 5E3 code on the sticker should refer to MK3 Octy? Or am I mistaken?

That photo is of the fuel filler flap on my Mk4 Octavia, thanks

My car is 1.5 TSI Octavia Estate, with R17 tyres, 'normal' (not low) profile

The figures shown in filler cap are in photo:

Front 2.7 bar rear 2.6 bar, and rear 3.4 bar with full load

This equates to 39 psi, 38 psi and 49 psi - these are very high esp 49 psi ?!!

I always ran around 32-36 on my old Focus (lower profile than my Octavia)

Any thoughts - based on normal/summer tyres?

The other thing is mine are winter tyres but from what I've read that shouldn't affect pressure required (at a given temperature)

'Normal' modern tyres are actually low profile - just not as extreme as some of the very low profiles around.

A general recommendation is to run 'Winter' tyres about 0.2 bar higher than 'Summer' ones.

I run my rear 16s on the Octavia at between 2.6 to 2.8 bar with no undue harshness.

32 minutes ago, jimharston23 said:

My car is 1.5 TSI Octavia Estate, with R17 tyres, 'normal' (not low) profile

The figures shown in filler cap are in photo:

Front 2.7 bar rear 2.6 bar, and rear 3.4 bar with full load

This equates to 39 psi, 38 psi and 49 psi - these are very high esp 49 psi ?!!

I always ran around 32-36 on my old Focus (lower profile than my Octavia)

Any thoughts - based on normal/summer tyres?

The other thing is mine are winter tyres but from what I've read that shouldn't affect pressure required (at a given temperature)

You appear to have transposed front and rear tyre pressures - rear pressure is normally a little higher than fronts. EG. left hand column is for front pressures.

I didnt transpose just misread the rear as 2.6 but my question remains - don't these seem very high pressures? (Ignore the winter tyre thing)

No, as I said in my 1st post, I normally run my 16s at those pressures.

11 hours ago, jimharston23 said:

My car is 1.5 TSI Octavia Estate, with R17 tyres, 'normal' (not low) profile

The figures shown in filler cap are in photo:

Front 2.7 bar rear 2.6 bar, and rear 3.4 bar with full load

This equates to 39 psi, 38 psi and 49 psi - these are very high esp 49 psi ?!!

I always ran around 32-36 on my old Focus (lower profile than my Octavia)

Any thoughts - based on normal/summer tyres?

The other thing is mine are winter tyres but from what I've read that shouldn't affect pressure required (at a given temperature)

I run mine at the pressures given, usually at 39 and 40 psi (front & rear respectively) increasing to 46-49 on the rears when loaded up. The car is on 205/55R17 tyres and feels fine in wet and dry conditions, tyres last well (originals did 44k miles), fuel economy is excellent.

@jimharston23 Are you actually running 'Winter tyres' all year as in Snow tyres or are they 'All Season / All Weather tyres? 3PMSF

What tyres are them. Brand / name.

Re the advice about Winter and tyre pressures and increasing.

Same stuff for a couple of decades, and this is not Winter or winter temps and All Season / Summer bias tyres are not as Winter Tyres well.

The plus 0.2 bar or the likes are Cold Temp settings, as in set at the temp that day or weather not the same as if a freezing ground temp at night and maybe 15*oC air or road temp day time.

(Not set in a heated / warmer garage.)

Head for thinking and feet for dancing. & location location location.

'The nights are drawing in'

After a heat wave English Bank Holiday Monday comes maybe a rainy week and a few cold nights Oop north. Even frost before September.

Edited 24 August, 202524 Aug by Ootohere

On 24/08/2025 at 07:34, Ootohere said:

@jimharston23 Are you actually running 'Winter tyres' all year as in Snow tyres or are they 'All Season / All Weather tyres? 3PMSF

What tyres are them. Brand / name.

Re the advice about Winter and tyre pressures and increasing.

Same stuff for a couple of decades, and this is not Winter or winter temps and All Season / Summer bias tyres are not as Winter Tyres well.

The plus 0.2 bar or the likes are Cold Temp settings, as in set at the temp that day or weather not the same as if a freezing ground temp at night and maybe 15*oC air or road temp day time.

(Not set in a heated / warmer garage.)

Head for thinking and feet for dancing. & location location location.

'The nights are drawing in'

After a heat wave English Bank Holiday Monday comes maybe a rainy week and a few cold nights Oop north. Even frost before September.

Fair point/question - they are actually Michelin CrossClimate i.e. all season I guess.

I have been running at lower pressures than recommended, around 32-34psi, on my recent trip to France I averaged 50-55mpg (much of it 2 adults 2 children plus luggage, 1.5 TSI Estate) mainly motorway driving 65-80mph. Given that good mpg, I'm not inclined to increase the pressure as doubt I'd save much fuel by increasing and prefer less harsh ride and noise.

Thanks everyone for the advice

19 minutes ago, jimharston23 said:

Fair point/question - they are actually Michelin CrossClimate i.e. all season I guess.

I have been running at lower pressures than recommended, around 32-34psi, on my recent trip to France I averaged 50-55mpg (much of it 2 adults 2 children plus luggage, 1.5 TSI Estate) mainly motorway driving 65-80mph. Given that good mpg, I'm not inclined to increase the pressure as doubt I'd save much fuel by increasing and prefer less harsh ride and noise.

Thanks everyone for the advice

Thanks for a useful reference point for the CrossClimates and pressures.

For comparison, over July & August I’ve covered 3000 miles, mostly UK motorway limits, averaging 60.5mpg on Goodyear Efficient Grip Performace tyres at the ‘standard’ pressures. Again, 1.5TSI Estate; 2 adults and boot rammed.

45 minutes ago, SteveTheElder said:

Thanks for a useful reference point for the CrossClimates and pressures.

For comparison, over July & August I’ve covered 3000 miles, mostly UK motorway limits, averaging 60.5mpg on Goodyear Efficient Grip Performace tyres at the ‘standard’ pressures. Again, 1.5TSI Estate; 2 adults and boot rammed.

Blimey 60mpg for 1.5 TSI is very impressive - I have something to aim for 😄 I will think about increasing those pressures...