2004 SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR wheel

133
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
WheelsSteel wheels
The wheels and the wheel covers should
also be thoroughly washed during the regu-
lar washing of the car. This prevents brake
abrasion, dirt and road salt forming depos-
its. Stubborn brake abrasion which adheres
to the wheels can be removed with an in-
dustrial dust remover. Damage to the
paintwork should be touched up before any
rust can form.
Light alloy wheels*
Regular care is required in order to retain
the decorative appearance of light alloy
wheels over a long period. It is particularly
necessary to thoroughly wash off road salt
and brake abrasion at least every two
weeks otherwise the light alloy finish will
suffer damage. After washing the wheels,
treat them with an acid-free cleaning prod-
uct for light alloy wheels. It is also neces-
sary to thoroughly rub hard wax into the
wheels about every three months. Do not
use paint polish or other abrasive products.
Damage to the paintwork of light-alloy
wheels should be touched up straightaway.Note
If the wheels are very dirty, this can re-
sult in imbalance. This causes vibra-
tions which are transmitted to the steer-
ing column and in addition results in pre-
mature wear.
Warning
Please note, when cleaning the wheels,
that moisture can affect the braking ac-
tion.HeadlightsPlease do not use any aggressive clean-
ing or chemical solvent products - risk of
damage to the plastic lenses.
Please use soap and clean warm water.
Do not clean the headlights dry or use any
sharp objects for cleaning the plastic
lenses. Otherwise, this can cause damage
to the protective paintwork and conse-
quently lead to formation of cracks on the
headlight lenses, e.g. through effect of
chemical products.
In addition, it is recommended to treat leat-
her which is subject to normal wear-and-
tear every six months with the leather care
product available from a Škoda Dealer. This
product should be applied very sparingly.
Leave for a short time and then wipe dry
with a soft cloth.
„Alcantara“ upholstery*Do not use any cleaning products for
leather for cleaning „Alcantara“ cloth.
Removing dust and dirt
Use a slightly moistened soft washing cloth
to wipe off the „Alcantara“ upholstery or
treat it with a suitable shampoo.
Removing stains
Moisten a soft cloth with water or diluted
alcohol and dab the stain working from the
edge into the middle.Seat covers for electric seat heater *Please
do not clean the seat covers wet.
The seat heater might otherwise be dam-
aged.
Please use special cleaning products, dry
foam, or similar for cleaning the seat cov-
ers.

153
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Wheels
General information
New tyres at first do not offer optimal grip
and should therefore be run in for the first
500 km at a moderate speed and an ap-
propriately cautious style of driving. You
will also profit from longer tyre life.

Because of design characteristics and
different types of tread, the tread depth of
new tyres may vary (depending on the type
of tyre and manufacturer).


Inspect the tyres regularly for signs of
damage (foreign bodies, piercing, cuts, splits
and dents, particularly in the area of the tyre
shoulder). Foreign bodies which penetrate
into the tyre may damage it from the inside.
Only an expert can assess damage to a tyre
and determine whether a repair is possible.
If it is not possible to repair a tyre or if this is
unsafe, the tyre must then be replaced. The
damaged tyre may blow out!

If it is necessary to drive up onto a kerb,
do this at a very low speed and at right
angles if possible. Avoid driving up onto
kerbs with pointed edges. Driving quickly
onto kerbs or driving onto a kerb at an ob-
lique angle or driving over obstacles with
pointed edges or points (e.g. stones) can
result in concealed tyre damage which can-
not be detected immediately. This harbours
the risk of an accident in the event of the
tyre puncturing at a high speed.

Damage to tyres and wheels is fre-
quently not visible. Unusual vibrations or
the vehicle pulling to one side, may be an
indication of tyre damage. If you suspect
that a wheel is damaged, immediately
reduce your speed and stop!
Inspect the tyres (dents, splits etc.). If you
cannot find any defect, drive at a slow
speed to the nearest Škoda dealer and
have the vehicle inspected.

Keep oil, grease and fuel away from the
tyres.

Replace any lost valve caps without de-
lay.

If the wheels are taken off, they should
be marked first of all so that they can be
refitted to rotate in the same direction.

If wheels or tyres are taken off, always
store them in a cool, dry and dark place.
Tyres which are not fitted to a rim, should
be stored upright.Tyre lifeThe life of the tyres depends essentially on
the following points:
Inflation pressure
The tyre inflation pressures are indicated
on a sticker on the inside of the fuel filler
flap. Further information is available from
your Škoda Dealer. Tyre pressure is an important factor, particu-
larly when driving at high speeds. The infla-
tion pressure should always be checked at
least once a month and before setting off on
a long journey.
Do not forget to check the air pressure in
the spare wheel when checking the tyre air
pressures.


The spare wheel with a standard tyre
should always be inflated to the maximum
pressure indicated for the car.

Always check the inflation pressure
when the tyres are cold. Do not reduce the
pressure of a warm tyre. Adjust the infla-
tion pressure accordingly if there is any
major change in the load of the car.
If the tyres are not sufficiently or excessively
inflated, this will have a detrimental effect
on tyre life and also on the handling of the
car.
Warning
When driving continuously at a high
speed, a tyre which is not sufficiently
inflated has to perform greater flex-
ing work and thus heats up exces-
sively. This can cause sections of the
tread to detach and even result in a
tyre blow-out.

154GENERAL MAINTENANCE
If the tyres are not adequately in-flated, your fuel consumption will
be higher and you will be unnecessarily polluting the environment.
Driving style
Driving fast through curves, sharp accelera-
tion and sharp braking increase tyre wear.
Balancing wheels
The wheels of a new car are balanced. Va-
rious factors when driving may, however,
produce an imbalance which makes it felt
by steering wobble.
In such a case, the wheels should then be
re-balanced as any imbalance in the
wheels also results in increased wear and
tear to the steering, suspension and tyres.
In addition, a wheel has to be re-balanced
after fitting a new tyre and each time any
repairs are carried out.
Wheel alignment errors
Faulty alignment of the wheels and suspen-
sion not only increases tyre wear, often on
only one side, but also affects the handling
of the car. If any unusual tyre wear exists,
contact a Škoda Dealer.
Wear indicators
The base of the tread of the original tyres
contains 1.6 mm high „wear indicators“ at
right angles to the direction of running - see
illustration. These wear indicators are
spaced evenly around the circumference of
the tyre 6 to 8 times - depending on the
make. Markings on the tyre walls, for ex-
ample the letters „TWI“ or triangle symbols,
indicate the position of the wear indicators. Warning


New tyres during the first 500 km
do not offer optimal grip and should
therefore be run appropriately - risk
of accident!

The tyres should be renewed with-
out delay no later than when they are
worn down to the wear indicators.

Worn tyres are detrimental to
road-holding particularly at high
speeds on wet roads. In addition, the
vehicle tends to aquaplane sooner.

Never drive with damaged tyres -
risk of accident!

Immediately replace the damaged
rims or tyres.

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.

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!

161
DO-IT-YOURSELF
First-aid box,
warning triangleApplies to models fitted with all-wheel
drive*
The first-aid box is attached to the inside
of the cover of the storage compartment on
the right.
Applies to models fitted with front-wheel
drive
A commercially available first-aid box to-
gether with a warning triangle fit together
in a foam base below the floor covering of
the luggage compartment.
Note
The first-aid box, the warning triangle and
the bulbs are not supplied with the car!
The warning triangle is part of the stand-
ard equipment only on all-wheel drive ve-
hicles.
Car tool kitThe car tool kit and car jack are stored in a
plastic basket in the spare wheel.
This also provides space for the detachable
ball head of the trailer hitch (only on cer-
tain models) or also, for example, for a
trailer hitch which has been sold as a Škoda
Genuine Accessory.
Depending on the model version, the ball
head of the trailer hitch may also be stored
in the well behind the spare wheel. In this
case, you then have to use the first-aid box
stored in the upholstery.
More detailed information is available from
your Škoda dealer. Warning


The car jack supplied is only de-
signed for your model of car. On no
account attempt to lift heavier vehi-
cles or other loads.

Ensure that the vehicle tool kit is
safely attached in the luggage com-
partment.