2004 SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR maintenance

155
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Switching around tyresIf the wear to the tyres of the front wheels
is significantly greater, it is recommended
to switch the front tyres to the rear wheels,
as shown in the illustration. This ensures
that the life of all the tyres is approximately
the same.
It may be beneficial to switch over the tyres
diagonally if certain types of wear are
present on the tyre tread (this only applies
to tyres which do not have to be fitted to
run in a particular direction). Details are
available from Škoda Dealers.
Replacing a wheel or tyreTyres and wheels (disc wheels) are impor-
tant design elements. For this reason, use
only tyres and wheels approved by the ve-
hicle manufacturer. They are exactly mat-
ched to your model of car and thus make a
significant contribution to good road-hold-
ing and to safe handling.
Škoda Dealers have available up-to-date
information of which makes of tyres are
approved by us. Many Škoda Dealers al-
so keep in stock an attractive range of
tyres and wheels.

Fitting and repairing tyres requires spe-
cialist knowledge and special tools. Such
work should therefore only be carried out
by qualified persons in Škoda Workshops.
Because of the problems of dispos- ing of old tyres, the special tools
and specialist knowledge required, it is best to have tyres replaced by a ŠkodaDealer.

For road safety reasons, do not replace
individual tyres, if possible, but at least both
tyres on the same axle. The tyres with the
deeper tread should always be fitted to the
front wheels.

Only combine radial tyres of the same
design, size (rolling circumference) and, if
possible, with the same tread pattern on all
four wheels.

Never fit used tyres whose previous his-
tory is not known. Do not fit any used tyres
if you are not aware of their „history“.
Tyres age even if they have not been used
at all or only very little. The spare wheel
should likewise only be used in an emer-
gency and by then adopting appropriately
cautious style of driving.

156GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Knowledge of the tyre inscription and
its meaning makes it easier to choose the
right tyres. Radial tyres have the following
inscription on the tyre wall:
e.g. 175 / 80 R 14 88 T
175 = Tyre width in mm
80 = Height/width ratio in %
R = Tyre design code for Radial
14 = Wheel diameter in inches
88 = Ply rating
T = Speed code
The following speed categories apply to
tyres:
Code letter Q - max. 160 km/h
Code letter R - max. 170 km/h
Code letter S - max. 180 km/h
Code letter T - max. 190 km/h
Code letter H - max. 210 km/h
Code letter V - max. 240 km/h
The tyres may be damaged if you drive
at more than the maximum speed for the
particular tyre.
The date of manufacture is also indicted
on the tyre wall (possibly only on the inside
of the wheel).
DOT 40.04 means that the tyre was manu-
factured in the 40
th calendar week of 2004.
Warning
Tyres which are more than 6 years
old, should only be used in excep-
tional cases and by adopting a cau-
tious style of driving.
If the car is retrofitted with tyres or wheels
other than the factory-fitted type, pay at-
tention to the following points:
Warning

For technical reasons, it is not per-
mitted on any account to use tyres
or wheels on your car which have not
been approved by the manufacturer
for the particular model.


Wheels and wheel bolts are matched
to each other. If different wheels are fit-
ted to the car (e.g. light alloy wheels or
wheels fitted with winter tyres), it is
then necessary to use the matching
wheel bolts of the correct length and
shape of spherical cap. In view of the
fact that the wheels and wheel bolts,
including security bolts, are matched
for all the wheels approved by the
manufacturer (sheet steel, steel and
light alloy wheels), never use wheel
bolts which are not approved by the
manufacturer. These are universal for
all types of approved wheels and are
tightened in the same way as described
in the section DO-IT-YOURSELF.

Using tyres and/or wheels which
have not been approved by the ma-
nufacturer for your model of car can
be detrimental to the safety of the
vehicle. It may also affect official ap-
proval for use of the vehicle on pub-
lic roads!

157
GENERAL MAINTENANCE

If wheel trims are subsequently fit-
ted, it is essential to ensure that the
air flow remains adequate for cool-
ing the brakes.
Škoda Dealers are informed of the techni-
cal possibilities for converting and retrofit-
ting tyres, wheels and wheel trims.Winter tyres
1)
Warning
In winter conditions, winter tyres will
significantly improve the handling of
your car.

Only radial-type winter tyres may be fit-
ted.1)Pay attention to any varying legal requirements
when using winter tyres.
Snow chains
2)
It is possible to fit snow chains to all the
tyre sizes listed (with the exception of tyre
sizes 205/60 R15 and 205/55 R16).
5.5J x 16 ET 36 wheels (Genuine Access-
ories) when used in combination with 205/
55 R16 tyres enable snow chains to be fit-
ted to the Octavia RS including other vehi-
cle models Octavia and Octavia Estate.
The chains must only be fitted to the
front wheels.
Use only fine-link chains which do not ex-
ceed more than 15 mm (including chain
lock).
We recommend purchasing the snow chains
as Genuine Accessories from a Škoda Dea-
ler.
The full wheel trim should be removed when
driving with snow chains.
Snow chains should be taken off when driv-
ing on roads free of snow as they other-
wise impair the handling of the car, dam-
age the tyre and are quickly destroyed.2)Please observe any varying legal requirements
in respect of the approved vehicle speed when
driving with snow chains.

To achieve the best possible handling
and grip, fit winter tyres to all four wheels
(same manufacturer, tyre size, tread pat-
tern).

Winter tyres largely lose their good grip
properties in winter if the tyre tread has
worn down to a depth of 4 mm. The follow-
ing speed restrictions apply to winter tyres.

You can fit winter tyres of a lower speed
category provided that you also do not drive
at a speed in excess of the maximum speed
for these tyres even if your car is able to be
driven at a higher actual maximum speed.
The tyres may be damaged if you drive at
a speed beyond the maximum speed rat-
ing of the tyres.

All-weather tyres may be used in winter
in place of winter tyres.

In the event of a puncture, refer to the
information for using the spare wheel on
page 156.
Summer tyres should also be fitted again in good time as an environ-
mental protection measure as the roll-
ing noises are normally less, tyre wearis reduced and fuel consumption is im-proved.
Further information is available from Škoda
Dealers.

158GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Motoring abroadPlease give consideration to the following
points when driving abroad with your car:

If your car is fitted with a petrol engine
and catalytic converter, it is important that
unleaded petrol is available on your route -
see also page 128. Information regarding
the availability of unleaded petrol can be
obtained from automobile associations.

In certain countries it is also possible that
the Škoda Dealership network is not fully
developed. Certain replacement parts may
therefore not be available or the personnel
of the Škoda Dealer may be able to carry
out repair work only to a limited extent.
ŠKODA AUTO a. s. in the Czech Republic
and the relevant importers will gladly pro-
vide you with the necessary information re-
garding preparing your car technically for
motoring abroad, the servicing required and
repair facilities.
The addresses of the Škoda dealers in
the @! can be found in the brochure
„Škoda dealers in @!“.
For all other countries, you will find a
contact address in the brochure „Trav-
elling assistant“ or in the local „ Work-
shop listing“.
Masking over headlightsAdapt your headlights for using the car in
countries in which the traffic drives on the
left-hand side: If you use your car in coun-
tries in which traffic drives on the left-hand
side of the road, other road users coming
toward you may be dazzled when you use
the headlights of your car which has been
designed for driving on the right-hand side
of the road. In order to eliminate this prob-
lem, you should mask over the left-hand
wedge-shaped areas of the headlight
lenses with an opaque adhesive strip.
The illustrations show how to mask over the
headlights of a car designed for driving on
the right-hand side of the road, when it is
used in a country in which traffic drives on
the left.
Adapting headlights with gas dis-
charge lamps* (applies to left-hand
and right-hand drive models)If you use your car in countries in which traf-
fic drives on the left-hand side of the road,
other road users coming toward you may
be dazzled when you use the headlights of
your car which has been designed for driv-
ing on the right-hand side of the road.
In order to eliminate this problem, the head-
lights must be adapted.
This adaptation is achieved by switching
over the shroud for low beam in the head-
light module.
This measure is carried out by your Škoda
Dealer. He can also provide you with more
detailed information on this matter.
Adapting the headlights with gas discharge
lamps is not a substitute for headlights
which are designed for driving on the right
or on the left, respectively.

159
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Mobile phones
and two-way radios
In addition, it is only possible to achieve the
optimal range of such equipment with an
external aerial.
Note
Please pay attention to the operating
instructions of the mobile phone or two-
way radio!
If you wish to use a mobile phone or two-
way radio with a transmission power of
more than 10 watts, please always discuss
this with your Škoda Dealer as he is in-
structed of the technical facilities which
exist for retrofitting mobile phones and two-
way radios.Warning

Please always devote maximum
attention to driving your car!


Never install mobile phone mounts
on the covers of the airbags or in the
deployment area of the airbags other-
wise there is an increased risk of in-
jury if the airbag is deployed in the
event of an accident!
Installation of mobile phones and two-way
radios requires official approval and should
be carried out by an authorized workshop,
e.g. by a Škoda Dealer.
Škoda Auto has approved the operation of
mobile phones and two-way radios for your
car with a professionally installed external
aerial and a maximum transmission power
of 10 watts.
Use of a mobile phone or a two-way ra-
dio can result in operational problems
to the electronic systems of your car in
the following situations:
- no external aerial
- external aerial incorrectly installed
- transmission power in excess of 10 watts.For this reason, you must not use a mo-
bile phone or two-way radio inside the car
if no external aerial is fitted or if it has been
incorrectly installed.Warning
Using a mobile phone or two-way
radio inside the car without a sepa-
rate external aerial may also be harm-
ful to your health as a result of ex-
cessive electromagnetic fields! Škoda cars are designed to reflect the lat-
est state of safety engineering. To ensure
that this is always the case, do not make
any modifications to your car without proper
consideration. If you wish to retrofit acces-
sories to your car, make any technical modi-
fications or have to subsequently replace
parts, please pay attention to the following
points:


Before purchasing accessories and
before making technical modifications, al-
ways ask the advice of a Škoda Dealer.
This is particularly important when purchas-
ing accessories abroad.
Accessories, modifications
and parts

160GENERAL MAINTENANCEWarning

In your own interest we recom-
mend using only Škoda Accesso-
ries
1) and Genuine Škoda Parts ex-
pressly approved for your car. Such
accessories and parts are your guar-
antee of reliability, safety and suit-
ability specifically for your Škoda.

Despite constantly observing the
market, we are not in a position to as-
sess and also not to warrant other
products, even if in exceptional ca-
ses an official approval has been pro-
vided by a technical inspection au-
thority or other public institution.
1)Accessories approved by the manufacturer are
available in all countries in which Škoda is rep-
resented (by an importer).

Approved Škoda Accessories and Ge-
nuine Škoda Parts are available from
Škoda Dealers who can also carry out pro-
fessional fitting.

All the genuine accessories which are
listed in the catalogue, such as tilting roofs,
spoilers, wheels etc. have to have an offi-
cial approval.

Radios, aerials and other electrical ac-
cessories should also only be installed by
authorized workshops.

It is important to observe the specifica-
tions issued by the car manufacturer if any
technical modifications are made to your
car.
This ensures that no damage occurs to your
car, that the safety and roadworthiness of
your car is maintained and that the modifi-
cations are approved. Škoda Dealers are
also able to carry out such work in a pro-
fessional manner or, in exceptional cases,
to provide you with the address of a spe-
cialist workshop.

Any damage resulting from technical
modifications which have not been ap-
proved by us, are not covered by the
warranty.
Technical changesInterference in the electronic components
and their software can lead to operational
faults.
This interference can also impair not di-
rectly affected systems because of the net-
working of the electronic components.
This means that the operating safety of your
vehicle can be considerably jeopardised,
a greater wear of vehicle parts can occur
and finally the vehicle registration docu-
ments expire.
We trust that you will understand that your
Škoda dealer cannot be liable for damage
resulting from unprofessional work.
We therefore recommend that you have all
work carried out with Škoda original parts
at your authorised Škoda dealer.
Warning
Work or modifications on your vehi-
cle, which have been carried out un-
professionally, can cause operational
faults - risk of accident!