I have a 20k mile 2003 Octavia vRS with continuing tyre / wheels probs which are caused by the inside rim of the front wheels being badly corroded. Anyone else had similar probs? I have just contacted the dealer ( West End garage Broxburn ) whom i bought the car off of 3 months ago and they are not interested as the car is now out of manufacturers warranty, although i have a years extended dealer warranty.

I am currently running on the spare because the tyre on one side is now goosed.

So , as well as at least a new tyre I am looking at getting the wheels blasted / coated. Any recommendations?

mulv.

Most decent tyre shops should be able to clean and reseal leaking rims with a special tyre paste, we do at my tyre shop;)

You should also find a place that inflates the tyre with "Nitrogen" as this process eliminates the oil/water content found in most airlines it also helps prevent corrosion, look at www.uniflate.com

HTH

Phil

ta for the reply. Have already had the re-seal done twice on both front wheels.

Will look at getting it inflated with the nitrogen when the new tyre arrives.

I have a 20k mile 2003 Octavia vRS with continuing tyre / wheels probs which are caused by the inside rim of the front wheels being badly corroded. Anyone else had similar probs? I have just contacted the dealer ( West End garage Broxburn ) whom i bought the car off of 3 months ago and they are not interested as the car is now out of manufacturers warranty, although i have a years extended dealer warranty.

I am currently running on the spare because the tyre on one side is now goosed.

So , as well as at least a new tyre I am looking at getting the wheels blasted / coated. Any recommendations?

mulv.

Did you get any further with this. Got the same problem on one wheel on my 2003 vRS. Spoke to a wheel refurb place and they were really surprised that this would happen on a 2003 wheel.

Now in two minds if to get wheel refurbed or even just get a new wheel.

I had exactly the same problem........

I spotted it at the 20k ish mark and reported it, had all four wheels changed at the 30k service under warranty.

They tried the "It's the acidic cleaners you use" and "They must be chipped" but anyone that knows me will testify I don't need any acidic cleaners as they are anally cleaned weekly, and in some cases sooner.

It took the area manager to see them, and he authorised the replacement. Mine was a 2003 vRS and it strikes me as they may have been a batch problem if there are ours with non wear and tear corrosion.

Keep trying is my advice, although I was still in warranty at the time.

/P

I had exactly the same problem........

I spotted it at the 20k ish mark and reported it, had all four wheels changed at the 30k service under warranty.

They tried the "It's the acidic cleaners you use" and "They must be chipped" but anyone that knows me will testify I don't need any acidic cleaners as they are anally cleaned weekly, and in some cases sooner.

It took the area manager to see them, and he authorised the replacement. Mine was a 2003 vRS and it strikes me as they may have been a batch problem if there are ours with non wear and tear corrosion.

Keep trying is my advice, although I was still in warranty at the time.

/P

Getting that feeling now. Although for me it does seem to be just one wheel, as the others have been fine.

Wished I'd spotted it earlier, and would have got it done under warranty.

Just spoken to Skoda UK Customer Services, and they seemed to say that if it is a manufacturer default they will make a contribution.

Little update.

Got car serviced at Parkside Skoda at start of this month, and they weren't interested in looking at the wheels, and blamed loss of pressure on cheap tyres.

Took the car to an independent tyre place, that told me it was definitely corrosion on the inside of the rims, and that this shouldn't occur on a 03 car.

Went straight down to Sylks in Macclesfield, and spoke to them. Were very good and said they would have a look at the wheels on Saturday and then contact Skoda to try and get new ones. Seemed to say that although out of warranty as a manufacturing default (if found) I would be entitled to new wheels.

My only concern is that the tyre place grinned a lot of the corrosion off when they were putting the tyres back on.

Wait I see what happens on Saturday.

Just to say that there is no apparent leakage (or corrosion anywhere) on my alloys (52reg, PDI late August).

Just a little further update.

Took car to Grassmere Skoda (nee: Sylks) on Saturday, and they confirmed Oxydisation on the alloys. As car is out of warranty they were going to talk to Skoda UK and see what can be done.

At the end of the day it is a manufacturing fault, that has been present since before the warranty ran out, so I'm going to be pushing as hard as possible for a full new set of wheels.

I have the same problem on my 03 Octy. I spotted the problem whilst still in warranty but now this has expired. I've resigned myself to either refurb or new alloys - possibly OEM+ look, budget permitting

It would be interesting though to see how things pan out for other suffers.

ATB