Hello all

Could you guys please help me out I just had an MOT on my 1.8T 4x4 and was advised by the mechanic (A close family friend) that the rear passenger side tyre was just legal. The other thing is I just had some warranty work done and a Service at Simpsons Skoda and was advised that both tyres needed replacing on both sides. What the heck is going on and why so soon on one side (I cannot remember exactly when I got the tyres fitted but I am sure one was even recently replaced due to a puncture!). Any ideas I have heard one of these tyre places do a 'Super tracking' or something like that...a taxi driver friend had it done on his Octavia TDI and he said it made a great difference to some handling issues he was getting on his car?

Is there a specific problem that causes this and would I benefit from that kind of tracking...oh yes and by the way does anyone know any places that do decent tracking jobs on cars in Manchester? By the way I do sometimes drive the car a little hard. Also what tyre pressure should I have them on front and rear it is an estate.

Thanks to all

Aaquil

The correct tyre pressures for your car are on the inside of the fuel filler flap*. My car's rear nearside tyre is wearing more on the outside than the offside rear tyre is.

* 205/55 R16 tyres

Half load - front 2.2 (32), rear 2.3 (33)

Full load - front 2.3 (33), rear 2.8 (41)

I run my car's tyres at 2.3/2.5 (33/36)

Thanks for the speedy reply Denis...It seems to be more wear on the outside edges but why is it due to the alignment of the wheels somehing I should get sorted out? THe whole tyre (rear nearside) seems more worn than the rear offside.

I have just checked out Awesome GTI website and they mention that they do laser alignment. So when I get the new tyres fitted I was considering going to them to get the alignment done after that. Has anyone had this done to their car and what is Awesome GTI like?

They also fit a quickshift the gearshift on my car has become quite vague so I was thinking of trying that out as well. Has anyone had one of these fitted?

Do you drive around a lot of roundabouts? The cars weight shifts to the N/S putting more load on the tyres, thus they will wear quicker. I heard that this is more noticeable in Milton Keynes.

Do you drive around a lot of roundabouts? The cars weight shifts to the N/S putting more load on the tyres, thus they will wear quicker. I heard that this is more noticeable in Milton Keynes.

Yep, I've seen this too. My brother in law commutes along a route with a lot of roundabouts and goes through nearside tyres at an alarming rate. He has a new car, the tracking is fine yet Kwik Fit know him on a first name basis.

Thanks for the replies guys I do go around quite a few roundabouts and one at quite a speed (one of those big ones) so that must be it should I give 'Awesome GTI' a miss then I could do with saving the money but on the other hand could do without the tyres wearing down so quickly as well. Will have to chill out around those pesky round abouts!!!

What about the quickshift anyone had it done?

I find that mine wear more quickly on the outside of the fronts despite have tracking done, but otherwise fairly even. Mind you thats on a 4x4 hatch, standard size tyres and rims, 30psi all round (tried higher pressures makes the car more twitchy), 5 roundabouts of varying speed on an 11mile trip to work usually averaging 30mph, 24-28mpg and between 0 and 95mph! depending where I am on the journey.

Aaquil, I'm a little confused by your original message. Did you mean that both n/s tyres needed replaced due to wear on the outside edge?

If so, then I suspect that it probably is due to too many fast roundabouts, since my mates and I had that problem with a lot of cars with driven front wheels (not just FWD cars; one of them was a Sierra XR4x4 [V6]). If not, then I'd suggest you want a 4-wheel alignment check, and would happily recommend Awesome based on some of their work that I've seen (eg 4wd conversions on Vws [if you read this Andy, I did mean you]).

Thanks guys for the replies...

Musky...My Octavia is a 4X4 Estate and it is generally more on the outside edge of both N/S tyres so I presume going round roundabouts too quick (and yes I do!) I will get them changed and calm down.

Ken...Sorry let me clarify my friend who did my MOT stated the rear N/S tyre was just legal and Simpsons Skoda stated that both N/S tyres were worn. Roundabouts are most probably the issue.

What about the quickshifts from Awesome have anyone had them fitted to their Octavias?

I went to see my local tyre fitters they were quite busy so I am going tommorow morning. Regards the tyres the Offside tyres are also a bit worn would it be worth getting them all changed for a different tyre?

I currently have Goodyear Eagle F1's but I have heard they wear very quick and loose they good characteristics (grip in rain etc.) very quickly and become quite average.

They Manager at the tyre place suggested some Bridgestones which he has fitted on his Impreza and likes them alot he recommended them to me for when the tyres need doing. Should i try them out. Any suggestions? Money is not a bit deal as long as they are very good.

If you want to change from the Eagle F1s, then Bridgestones, _T_oyo Proxes T1-Rs or Yokohamas (but maybe not the Yokos if wear is an issue, whether cost is or not).

Thanks for the reply Ken...I got the two worn tyres replaced on Saturday both put on the front and others swapped around. It seems fine but i am sure on FWD cars the best tyres should be on the rears...anyway it is 4X4 Haldex so it should be okay shouldn't it?!!!

This "best tyres on back of FWD cars" thing only appeared a year or 2 back, and is based on a V@*xh@11 C0rs@ without ABS.

I hadn't realised properly that your motor has 4wd before; that's a case for replacing tyres in full sets, to minimise differences in rotational speed between front and rear axles when moving in a straight line, and hence minimise any "wind-up" in the centre diff (although that shouldn't be a problem anyway with a diff, but I've heard of extreme cases of wind-up on vehicles with no inter-axle diffs or locked diffs breaking driveshafts).

a 'duper-tracking' referring to one of the first posts is also called a full geometry. It is to a laser alignment, what laser alignment is to tracking. ie far better, though more expensive. i cant even get a local garage to do a full geometry, the nearest they do is laser alignment, which is what i have to manage with.

however, tracking is something that should be checked every couple of thousand miles, and it usually costs under a tenner. you can knock it out just by clipping a kerb, or more often a pothole.

A full geometry should be carried out if you change suspension components, or fit different wheels. This can cost £60 but will save you that on your first set of tyres that you dont destroy due to faulty shocks, wishbones, ball-joints etc etc.

I have had to make do with laser alignment, but would definitely get a full geometry done if i had more suspension work done, and could get it done without driving 80+ miles for it!

Thanks for the replies Ken and OctaviaBuzz. The new tyres seem fine but being like anyone who get something new you really look after it at first...so i have been driving quite civilised. Give it a week or two. I have also been taking it easy around rounabouts so we shall see.

Thanks for all the helpful replies.