Wheels and Tyres
236
setting off on a long trip. Please do not forget the spare wheel when checking the tyres. The tyre inflation pressures for
summer tyres
are indicated on the inside of the fuel
filler flap
⇒page 235, fig. 210
. The inflation pressures for
winter tyres
are 20 kPa
(0.2 bar) higher than those for summer tyres
⇒page 239.
The tyre pressure should be at the highest pressure specified for your vehicle at all times. The tyre inflation pressure of the emergency spare wheel R 18 is 420 kPa (4.2 bar).Always check the inflation pressure of ty
res when cold. Do not reduce the higher
pressure of warm tyres. Adapt the inflation pressure of the tyres accordingly if your vehicle is carrying a significantly higher payload. Driving style Fast cornering, sharp acceleration and braking (squealing tyres) increase wear-and- tear on your tyres. Balancing wheels The wheels of a new vehicle are balanced. There are a wide range of influences when driving which may result in an imbalance and which makes themselves felt through vibration in the steering. You should have the wheels rebalanced
since any imbalance increases wear-and-
tear on the steering, the suspension and
tyres. A wheel must also be rebalanced
when a new tyre is fitted and each time a tyre is repaired. Wheel alignment errors Incorrect wheel alignment at the front and re
ar will not only increase wear-and-tear
on the tyres but will also has an adverse
effect on vehicle safety. Contact your
specialist garage if you notice any unusual tyre wear.
WARNING
•
If the inflation pressure is too low,
the tyre must perform a greater flexing
work. At higher speeds the tyre will warm up as a result of this. This can result in tread separation and even a tyre blowout.•
Immediately replace the damaged rims or tyres.
For the sake of the environment
Tyres which are insufficiently inflated increase your fuel consumption.Wear indicatorsThe base of the tread of the original tyres has wear indicators 1.6 mm high, installed at right angles to the direction of travel. These wear indicators are located at 6 - 8 points depending on the make and are evenly spaced around the circumference of the tyre
⇒fig. 211
. Markings on the walls of the
tyres through the letters “TWI”,
triangular symbols or other symbols identi
fy the position of the wear indicators.
A remaining tread of just 1.6 mm, measured in the grooves of the tread next to the wear indicators, means that your tyres
have reached their legally permissible
minimum tread depth.
WARNING
•
You must have your tyres replaced with new ones at the latest when the
wear indicators have been worn do
wn. The legally permissible minimum
tread depth should be observed.•
Worn tyres do not provide the necessar
y adhesion to the road surface at
high speeds on wet roads. One coul
d experience “aquaplaning” (uncon-
trolled movements of the vehicle - “swimming” on a wet road surface).
Fig. 211 Tyre tread with wear indicators
s2dk.1.book Page 236 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Wheels and Tyres
237
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Changing wheels aroundIf significantly greater wear is present on the front tyres, we recommend changing the front wheels around with the rear wheels as shown in the diagram
⇒fig. 212
.
You will then obtain approximately the same life for all the tyres. It may be advantageous to swap the tyre
s over “crosswise” when certain types of
wear characteristic arise on
the running surface of the tyres (but not in the case of
unidirectional tyres). The co-workers of the authorised Škoda Service Partners are extensively familiar with the combination possibilites. We recommend that you change the wheels around every 10 000 km in order to achieve even wear on all wheels and to obtain optimal tyre life.New tyres and wheelsTyres and wheel rims are important design
elements. One should therefore use the
tyres and wheel rims which have been released for use by Škoda Auto. They are exactly matched to the vehicle type and th
erefore contribute significantly to good
road holding and safe driving characteristics
⇒
.
Only fit radial tyres of the same type on
all 4 wheels, size (rolling circumference)
and, if possible, the same tread pattern on one axle. The authorised Škoda Service Partners have access to the most current information about which tyres we have rele
ased for use on your vehicle.
We recommend that you have any work rela
ting to tyres or wheels carried out by
an authorised Škoda Service Partner
. The authorised Škoda Service Partners
have all of the necessary special tools
and replacement parts available plus the
required specialist knowledge and are also in a position to properly dispose of the old tyres. A large number of authorised Škod
a Service Partners also have an attrac-
tive range of tyres and wheels available. The tyre/wheel combinations which are appr
oved for your vehicle are indicated in
your vehicle documents. Approval and lice
nsing may differ according to the legis-
lation prevailing in individual countries. Proper knowledge of the tyre data makes it easier for you to select the correct type of tyre. Tyres do, for example, have the following
inscription
on their walls:
205 / 55 R 16 94 V
What this means is: The following
speed restrictions
apply to tyres.
Fig. 212 Changing wheels around
205
Tyre wid th i n m m
55
Height/width ratio in %
R
Code letter for the type of tyre -
R adial
16
Diameter of wheel in inches
94
Load index
V
Speed symbol
Speed symbol
Permissible maximum speed
S
180 km/h
T
190 km/h
H
210 km/h
V
240 km/h
W
270 km/h
Y
300 km/h
s2dk.1.book Page 237 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Wheels and Tyres
238
The date of manufacture
is a lso s tated on the tyre wal l (poss ibly o nl y on the
inside
of wheel):
DOT ... 20 09...
means, for example, that the tyre was manufactured in the 20th week of the year 2009. Any
spare wheel
which differs from the tyres fitted to the vehicle (e.g. winter tyres
or low-profile tyres) should only be used
only for a short time in the event of a
puncture and when adopting an appropriately
cautious style of driving. It should be
replaced as quickly as po
ssible by a normal wheel.
WARNING
•
Only use those tyres or wheel rims
which have been approved for your
model of Škoda Auto vehicle. Failure to observe this instruction will adversely affect the road safety of your vehicle - risk of accident! Approval and licencing of your vehicle on public roads may also become void as a result.•
You must on no account drive at a higher speed than is permissible for
y our t yre s - ris k of a n ac cid e n t re su lti ng fro m ty re d a m ag e a nd lo ss o f c ont rol over your vehicle.•
Tyres which are 6 years old or more should only be fitted in exceptional
cases and when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.•
Never fit tyres which have already been used without having adequate
knowledge of their previous history. Ty
res age even if they have not been
used at all or only very little. A spare tyre must only be used in exceptional cases and only then when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.•
Do not, where possible, replace indivi
dual tyres but at least replace them
on both wheels of a given axle at the same time. Always fit the tyres with the deeper tread depth to the front wheels.
For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed
of in conformity with the appropriate regulations.
Note
It is not normally possible to fit wheels
from other models of cars for technical
reasons. This may also apply in certain
circumstances to the wheels of the same
type of vehicle.Wheel boltsWheels and
wheel bolts
are matched to each other in
terms of design. Each time
you fit other wheels - e.g. light alloy wheels
or wheels with winter tyres - you must
therefore also use the matching wheel bolts of the correct length and shape of spherical cap. This is essent
ial to ensure that the wheels are tightly fitted and that
the brake system operates properly. If you retrofit
wheel trims
(or have this done), please also ensure that an adequate
flow of air remains assured for cooling the brake system. The authorised Škoda Service Partners are instructed in the technical possibilities which exist regarding converting or retrofitting tyres, wheels and wheel trims.
WARNING
•
In case of incorrect treatment of th
e wheel bolts, the
wheel can loosen
when the car is moving - risk of accident!•
The wheel bolts must be clean and must
turn easily. However, they must
never be treated with grease or oil.•
If the wheel bolts are tightened to a too low tightening torque, the rim
can lossen when the car is moving - risk of accident! A tightening torque which is too high can damage the bolts and threads and this can result in permanent deformation of the contact surfaces on the rims.
Caution
The prescribed tightening torque of the wh
eel bolts for steel and light alloy wheels
is 120 Nm.
s2dk.1.book Page 238 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Wheels and Tyres
239
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Winter tyresThe handling of your vehicle will be significantly improved when driving on wintry roads if you fit winter tyres. Summer tyres do not offer the same grip on ice, snow and at temperatures below 7 °C because of
their construction (width, rubber blend,
tread pattern). This partic
ularly applies to vehicles
which are equipped with
low-
profile tyres
or high-speed tyres
(code index H or V on wall of tyre).
Winter tyres must be mounted on all four wheels to obtain the best handling char- acteristics. You must only fit those types of winter tyre which are approved for your vehicle. The permissible
sizes of winter tyres
are stated in your vehicle documents. Approvals
may differ because of national legislation. Please remember that the tyres should be in
flated to 20 kPa (0.2 bar) more than is
the case for summer tyres
⇒page 235, fig. 210
.
Winter tyres no longer
offer the same winter performance once the
tyre tread
has
worn down to a depth of about 4 mm. Ageing
also causes winter tyres to lose most of their winter performance properties
- even in cases where the remaining tread depth is still clearly more than 4 mm. Speed restrictions
apply to winter tyres as well as to summer tyres
⇒page 237,
⇒
.
You can fit winter tyres of a lower speed ca
tegory to your vehicle provided that you
also do not drive faster than the permis
sible maximum speed fo
r such tyres, even
if the possible maximum speed of your ve
hicle is higher. The corresponding tyre
category can damage the tyres when ex
ceeding the permissi
ble maximum speed.
Please pay attention to the notes if
you decide to fit winter tyres
⇒page 235.
You can also fit so-called “all-year tyres” instead of winter tyres.Please contact your specialist garage if
there are any points which are not clear who
will be able to provide you with information regarding the maximum speed for your tyres.
WARNING
You must on no account drive your car at more than the permissible maximum speed for your winter tyres - risk of an accident resulting from tyre damage and loss of control over your car.
For the sake of the environment
Fit your summer tyres on again in good ti
me since summer tyres offer you better
grip and handling on roads which are free of snow and ice as well as ar tempera-tures below 7 °C - the braking distance is shorter, there is less tyre noise, tyre wear is reduced and fuel consumption is reduced.
Note
Please observe the various differing legal requirements regarding tyres.Unidirectional tyres*The direction of rotation of the tyres is marked by
arrows on the wall of the tyre
.
This indicates the direction of rotation of the tyre, and it is essential that the tyres are fitted on to run in this direction. Only then are the tyres able to provide the optimal properties in terms of grip, low noise, wear-and-tear and aquaplaning. Should it be necessary to fit on a spare
wheel in exceptional cases with a tyre not
dedicated to the running dire
ction or in opposite running
direction, please adopt a
cautious style of driving as the tyre is no
longer able to provide optimal grip and
handling in such a situation.
This particularly important
on wet roads. Please refer
to the notes
⇒page 245, “Spare wheel*”.
You should have the defective tyre replac
ed as soon as possible and restore the
correct direction of rotation on all tyresSnow chainsSnow chains must only be mounted on the front wheels.
s2dk.1.book Page 239 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Wheels and Tyres
240
When driving on wintry roads, snow chains
improve not only traction, but also the
braking performance. For technical reasons, it is only permissi
ble to fit snow chains
with the following
wheel/tyre combinations: Only use
fine-link snow chains
. They must not project more than 9 mm -
including the chain lock. Remove the
full wheel trims
if you wish to fit snow
chains to the wheels.
Observe the national legal requirements
relating to the maximum vehicle speed
with snow chains.
WARNING
Please pay attention to the information in the supplied fitting instructions of the snow chain manufacturer.
Caution
You must take the chains off as soon as you drive on roads which are free of snow. They adversely affect the handling of your
vehicle, damage the tyres and are rapidly
destroyed.
Note
We recommend that you use snow chains
from the Škoda genuine accessories.
Wheel size
Depth (D)
Tyre si z e
7J x 16
a)
a)Not valid for vehicles with 3.6°ltr./191°kW FSI engine.
45 mm
205/55
6J x 16
a)
50 mm
205/55
6J x 17
45 mm
205/50
s2dk.1.book Page 240 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Breakdown assistance
244
WARNING
If the fire extinguisher is not correc
tly attached, in case of sudden manoeu-
vres or an accident it can be “thrown” through the interior compartment and cause injuries.
Note
•
The fire extinguisher must comply with
the relevant and valid legal require-
ments.•
Pay attention to the expiration date of the fire extinguisher. If the fire extin-
guisher is used after the expiration date,
its proper function is
no longer assured.
•
The fire extinguisher is only supplied in
certain countries within the scope of
delivery.Vehicle tool kitThe vehicle tool kit and the lifting jack*
are stored in a locable box in the spare
wheel
⇒fig. 215
. There is also space here for the removable ball for the trailer
towing device*. The box is attached
with a strap on the spare wheel.
The vehicle tool kit contains the following parts (depending on equipment fitted):•
Hook for pulling off a full wheel trim,
•
Plastic clip for a wheel bolt cover,
•
Wheel wrench*,
•
To w i n g e y e ,
•
Adapter for the wheel bolts lock*,
•
Replacement lamp*,
•
Torx wrench.
After using the lifting jack, screw in the arm
of the lifting jack fully before placing it
back in its storage area.
WARNING
•
The factory-supplied lifting jack is only intended for your model of
vehicle. On no account attempt to lift a heavier vehicle or other loads - risk of injury!•
Ensure that the vehicle tool kit is
safely attached in the luggage compart-
ment.
Note
Ensure that the box is alwa
ys secured with the strap.
Tyre repair kit*The tyre repair kit is intended for the repair of minor tyre defects. The tyre repair kit contains a compressor, inflation bottle, operating instructions and accessories. The repair with the
tyre repair kit is
not at all intended to replace
a permanent
repair on the tyre, this repair only serves
to reach the next specialist garage. The
repair can be undertaken on
the vehicle immediately.
Please read the attached
instructions carefully before the repair. The tyre repair kit is located in a textile bag. There is a velcro fastener on the under- side of the bag, with which the bag is atta
ched to the floor covering of the luggage
compartment in such a way that the side of the bag rests on the right side of the luggage compartment and on the seat backrest.
Fig. 215 Luggage compart- ment: Storage compartment for vehicle too kit
s2dk.1.book Page 244 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Breakdown assistance
245
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Spare wheel*The spare wheel lies in a well under the floor covering of the luggage compartment and is fixed in place using special screws
⇒fig. 216
.
Before removing the spare wheel, you must take out the box with the vehicle tool kit box
⇒page 244, fig. 215
.
One should check the inflation pressure in the spare wheel (at best when generally checking the tyre air pressures - see sign on the fuel filler flap
⇒page 235) to
ensure that the spare wheel is always ready to use. Temporary spare wheel A warning label displayed on the rim of the temporary spare wheel indicates that your vehicle is equipped with a temporary spare wheel. Please observe the following notes when driving with a temporary spare wheel:•
After fitting on the wheel, the warning stic
ker must not be concealed (e.g. by the
wheel trim).•
Do not drive with this spare wheel at more than 80 km/h - risk of accident. Avoid
accelerating at full throttle, sharp braking and fast cornering.•
The inflation pressure for this spare wheel is identical to the inflation pressure
of the standard tyres. The temporary spare wheel R 18 must have an inflation pres-sure of 420 kPa (4.2 bar)!
•
Use this spare wheel only to reach the nearest specialist garage as it is not
intended for continuous use.•
No other summer or winter tyres must
be mounted on the rim of the spare
wheel R 18.Changing a wheelPreliminary workThe following steps should be carried out before actually changing the wheel. – If it is necessary to change a wheel, park the vehicle as far away as
possible from the traffic flow. The place you choose should be
level
.
–Have
all the occupants get out.
While changing a wheel, the occu-
pants of the vehicle should not stan
d on the road (e.g. behind a crash
barrier).
– Apply the
handbrake
firmly.
–Engage
1st gear
or if your vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox,
position the
selector lever into position P
.
– If a trailer is coupled, uncouple it. – Take the
vehicle tool kit
⇒
page 244 and the
spare wheel
⇒
page 245 out of the luggage compartment.WARNING
•
If you find yourself in flowing traffic switch on the hazard warning lights
system and place the warning triangle
on the side of the road at the
prescribed distance from
your vehicle while obse
rving all national legal
provisions. In this way you are protecting not only yourself but also other road users.
Fig. 216 Luggage compart- ment: Spare wheel
s2dk.1.book Page 245 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Breakdown assistance
246
•
Never start the engine with the vehicle
sitting on the raised jack - danger
of suffering injury!
Caution
If you have to change a wheel on a slope
first block the opposite wheel with a stone
or similar object in order to secure th
e vehicle from unexpectedly rolling away.
Note
Comply with the national legal regulations.Changing a wheelAlways change a wheel on a level surface as far as possible. – Take off the full wheel trim*
⇒
page 247 or the caps
⇒
page 247.
– In the case of light alloy wheels remove the wheel trim cap
⇒
page 248.
– First of all slacken the safety wh
eel bolt * and afterwards the other
wheel bolts
⇒
page 248.
– Jack up the vehicle until the wheel to
be changed is clear of the ground
⇒
page 249.
– Unscrew the wheel bolts and place them on a clean surface (cloth,
paper etc.).
– Take off the wheel. – Fit on the spare wheel and tighten the wheel bolts slightly. –Lower the car.
– Tighten the wheel bolts firmly, al
ternately and diagonally using the
wheel wrench (crosswise) and last the safety wheel bolt*
⇒
page 248.
– Mount the full wheel trim/w
heel trim cap or the caps.
Note
•
All bolts must be clean
and must turn easily.
•
You must never grease or oil the wheel bolts!
•
When fitting on unidirectional tyres, ensure that the tyres rotate in the correct
direction
⇒page 235.
Subsequent stepsAfter changing the wheel, you must perform the following steps. – Stow and attach the replaced wheel in the spare wheel well using a
special screw
⇒
page 245, fig. 216
.
– Stow the vehicle tool kit in the space provided.–
Check
the
tyre pressure
on the spare wheel just mounted as soon as
possible.
– Have the
tightening torque
of the wheel bolts
checked
with a torque
wrench as soon as possible. Steel and light alloy wheels must be tight-ened to a tightening torque of
120 Nm
.
– Have the defective tyre repaired as soon as possible.
WARNING
It is necessary to observe the guidelines given on
⇒page 237 if the vehicle is
subsequently fitted with tyres which are
different to those it was fitted with
at the works.
WARNING (continued)
s2dk.1.book Page 246 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM