2012 SKODA OCTAVIA winter tyres

WARNING■In view of the high temperatures which can be produced in the catalytic con-
verter, the vehicle should be parked in such a way that the catalytic converter
cannot come into contact with easily flammable materials under the vehicle –
risk of fire!■
Never use additional underbody protection or anti-corrosion agents for ex-
haust pipes, catalytic converters or heat shields – risk of fire!
CAUTION
■ Never drive until the fuel tank is completely empty! The irregular supply of fuel
can cause misfiring, which can result in considerable damage to parts of the en-
gine and exhaust system.■
Just filling the tank with leaded petrol once will damage the exhaust system!

Economical and environmentally friendly driving
Introductory information
The technical requirements for low fuel usage and economic efficiency of the ve- hicle have already been built into the vehicle at the works. ŠKODA places a partic-
ular emphasis on minimising negative effects on the environment.
It is necessary to take note of the guidelines given in this chapter in order to
make best use of these characteristics and to maintain their effectiveness.
Your fuel consumption, any pollution of the environmental and the wear-and-tear
to the engine, brakes and tyres, depend essentially on three factors:
› your personal style of driving;
› the conditions under which your vehicle is operated;
› technical aspects.
The fuel economy by can be improved by 10 -15 % by always looking ahead and
driving in an economical way.
Fuel consumption is also be influenced by external factors which are beyond the
driver's control. Consumption increases during the winter or under difficult condi-
tions, on poor roads, etc.
Fuel consumption can vary considerably from the manufacturer's data, as a result
of outside temperatures, the weather and driving style.
The optimal engine speed should be obtained when accelerating, in order to
avoid a high fuel consumption and resonance of the vehicle.
Looking ahead when driving
A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs when accelerating, therefore unnec-
essary accelerating and braking should be avoided. If looking ahead when driving, less braking and consequently less accelerating are required.
If possible, let your vehicle coast to a stop, or use the engine brake, if you can see that the next set of traffic lights is on red, for example.

Shifting to save energy
Fig. 95
Principle sketch: Fuel consump-
tion in litres/100 km depending
on the selected gear
Shifting up early saves on fuel.
Manual gearbox › Drive no more than about one length of your vehicle in first gear.
› Shift up into the next gear at approx. 2 000 revolutions.
An effective way of achieving good fuel economy is to shift up early. Observe the
recommended gear » page 21.
A suitably selected gear can have an effect on fuel consumption » Fig. 95.
Automatic gearbox › Slowly
apply the accelerator pedal. However, do not depress it to the kickdown
position.
› If the accelerator pedal is only depressed slowly on a vehicle fitted with an au-
tomatic gearbox, an economic driving programme is automatically selected.

101Driving and the Environment

Wheels
Tyres and wheel rims
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Tyre life
182
New tyres and wheels
183
Unidirectional tyres
184
Spare wheel
184
Full wheel trim
185
Wheel bolts
185
Tyre control display
185
Wheel bolts
186
Winter tyres
186
Snow chains
186WARNING■ During the first 500 km, new tyres do not offer optimum grip and appropri-
ate care should therefore be taken when driving – risk of accident!■
Never drive with damaged tyres – risk of accident!
■
Never exceed the maximum permissible load bearing capacity of mounted
tyres.
■
Immediately replace damaged wheel rims or tyres.
■
On all four wheels, use only radial tyres of the same type, size (rolling cir-
cumference) and the same tread pattern.
■
Only use those tyres or wheel rims which have been approved by ŠKODA for
your model of vehicle. Failure to observe this instruction will adversely affect the road safety of your vehicle – risk of accident!
■
The maximum permissible speed for your tyres must not be exceeded under
any circumstances – risk of an accident resulting from tyre damage and loss of
control of the vehicle.
WARNING (Continued)■ If the inflation pressure is too low, the tyre must perform a greater rolling
resistance. At higher speeds the tyre will warm up as a result of this. This can
result in tread separation and a tyre blowout.■
For safety reasons, do no replace tyres individually.
■
Never use tyres if you do not know anything about the condition and age.
■
You must have your tyres replaced with new ones at the latest when the
wear indicators have been worn down.
■
Worn tyres do not provide the necessary adhesion to the road surface par-
ticularly at high speeds on wet roads. One could experience “aquaplaning” (uncontrolled movements of the vehicle – “swimming” on a wet road surface).
■
Do not use summer or winter tyres that are older than 6 years or 4 years re-
spectively.
■
The wheel bolts must be clean and must turn easily. Never treat them with
grease or oil.
■
If the wheel bolts are tightened to a too low tightening torque, the rim can
come loose 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 per-
manent deformation of the contact surfaces on the rim.
■
In case of incorrect treatment of the wheel bolts, the wheel can loosen
when the car is moving – risk of accident!
■
Never drive with more than one spare wheel mounted.
■
Only use the spare wheel while absolutely necessary.
■
The snow chains cannot be used on the spare wheel.
■
An incorrect wheel alignment at the front or rear impairs handling - risk of
accident!
■
The tyre control display does not absolve the driver of the responsibility to
ensure the correct tyre inflation pressure. Check the tyre inflation pressure at
regular intervals.
■
Unusual vibrations or pulling of the vehicle to one side could be a sign of
tyre damage. If there is any doubt that a wheel is damaged, immediately re-
duce your speed and stop! If no external damage is evident, drive slowly and
carefully to the nearest ŠKODA specialist garage to have the vehicle checked.
■
To low or too high inflation pressure impairs handling - risk of an accident!
■
The national legal requirements must be observed for the use of tyres.
■
Observe the national legal regulations relating to the use of snow chains
and the maximum vehicle speed with snow chains. 
181Wheels

CAUTION■If a spare wheel is used that is not identical to the fitted tyres, the following
must be observed » page 184, Spare wheel .■
Protect the tyres from contact with oil, grease and fuel.
■
Replace lost dust caps.
■
If, in the event of a puncture, it is necessary to fit a spare wheel with a tyre
without a dedicated running direction or the opposite running direction, drive carefully as the optimum characteristics of the tyre are no longer applicable in
this situation.
■
The tyre control display does therefore not replace the regular tyre inflation
pressure control, as the system cannot detect an even loss of pressure.
■
The system cannot warn in case of very rapid tyre inflation pressure loss, e.g. in
case of sudden tyre damage. In this case carefully bring the vehicle to a standstill
without sudden steering movements or sharp braking.
■
To ensure a proper functioning of the tyre control display, it is necessary to re-
peat the basic setting every 10 000 km or once a year.
For the sake of the environment
Tyres which are insufficiently inflated increase your fuel consumption.
Note
■ We recommend that any work on the wheels or tyres is carried out by a ŠKODA
Partner.■
We recommend that you use wheel rims, tyres, full wheel trims and snow chains
from ŠKODA Original Accessories.

Tyre lifeFig. 155
Tyre tread with wear indicators/Open fuel filler flap with a table de-
tailing the tyre size and tyre inflation pressure
Fig. 156
Changing wheels around
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 181.
The life of tyres depends on the inflation pressure, driving style, and other cir-
cumstances. If you follow the advice below you can extend the life of your tyres.
Tyre pressure
Check the tyre pressure, including that of the spare wheel, at least once a month and also before setting off on a long journey.
The tyre inflation pressures for summer tyres are indicated on the inside of the
fuel filler flap » Fig. 155 –
. The inflation pressures for
winter tyres are 20 kPa
(0.2 bar) higher than those for summer tyres.
The tyre pressure should be at the highest pressure specified for your vehicle at all times. 
182General Maintenance

240 km/h
270 km/h
Load index
This indicates the maximum permisible load on each indvidua tyre.
615 kg
630 kg
650 kg
690 kg
730 kg
775 kg
CAUTION
The information about the speed symbol and load index are listed for your vehicle in your vehicle documents.
Unidirectional tyres
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 181.
The direction of rotation of the tyres is marked by arrows on the wall of the tyre.
The so specified running direction must absolutely be complied with. Only then
are the tyres able to provide the optimal properties in terms of grip, low noise,
wear-and-tear and aquaplaning.

Spare wheel
Fig. 157
Luggage compartment: Spare
wheel
VW919293959799First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 181.
The spare wheel is located in a well under the floor covering in the luggage com-
partment and is fixed in place with a special bolt » Fig. 157.
Before removing the spare wheel, the box containing the vehicle tool kit must be removed.
If the dimensions or design of the spare wheel differ from the tyres fitted to the
vehicle (e.g. winter tyres or low-profile tyres), it must only be used briefly in the
event of a puncture and if an appropriately cautious style of driving is adop-
ted »
.
Install a wheel having the appropriate version and dimensions as soon as possi-
ble.
Spare wheel
A warning label is displayed on the rim of the spare wheel.
Please note the following if you intend to use this wheel.
› The warning label must not be covered after installing the wheel.
› Be specially attentive when driving.
› The inflation pressure for the spare wheel is identical to the maximum inflation
pressure of the standard tyres. The spare wheel R 18 must have an inflation
pressure of 420 kPa!
› Only use this temporary spare wheel to reach the nearest ŠKODA specialist ga-
rage 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.
WARNING■ Never use the temporary spare wheel if it is damaged.■If the dimensions or design of the temporary spare wheel differ from the fit-
ted tyres, never drive faster than 80 km/h (or 50 mph).■
Avoid accelerating at full throttle, sharp braking and fast cornering.
CAUTION
Observe the instructions on the warning label on the spare wheel.
184General Maintenance

While pressing the button, the warning light  lights up. At the same time the
system memory is erased and the new calibration is started, which is confirmed
with an audible signal and then the warning light  goes out.
If the warning light  does not go out after the calibration, this indicates a sys-
tem fault. Seek help from a ŠKODA specialist garage.
The rolling circumference of the tyre can change if: › the tyre inflation pressure is too low;
› the structure of the tyre is damaged;
› the vehicle is loaded on one side;
› the wheels of an axle are loaded heavily (e.g. when towing a trailer or when
driving uphill or downhill);
› snow chains are mounted;
› the spare wheel is mounted;
› one wheel per axle was changed.WARNING■
When the warning light  illuminates, immediately reduce the speed and
avoid sudden steering and brake manoeuvres. Stop the vehicle as soon as
possible and inspect the tyres and their inflation pressure.■
Under certain circumstances (e.g. sporty style of driving, wintry or unpaved
roads) the warning light  can be delayed or does not light up at all.

Wheel bolts
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 181.
Wheels 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
also use the matching wheel bolts of the correct length and shape of spherical cap. This is essential to ensure that the wheels are tightly fitted and that the
brake system operates properly.

Winter tyres
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 181.
The handling of your vehicle will be significantly improved when driving on wintry roads if you fit winter tyres. Summer tyres on ice, snee and at temperatures be-
low 7 °C have less grip. This is especially true of low-profile tyres or high-speed
tyres .
To achieve the best possible handling properties, winter tyres must be fitted on
all 4 wheels, the minimum tread depth must be 4 mm and tyres must be no older than 4 years.
Winter tyres of a lower speed category can be used provided that the permissible
maximum speed of these tyres is not exceeded even if the possible maximum
speed of the vehicle is higher.
The winter tyres speed limit is set in the menu » operating instructions for Info-
tainment , chapter Setting vehicle systems (CAR button) .
For the sake of the environment
Fit the summer tyres on again in good time as they provide better handling prop-
erties, a shorter braking distance, less tyre noise, and reduced tyre wear on roadswhich are free of snow and ice as well as at temperatures above 7 °C. The fuelconsumption is also lower.
Snow chains
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 181.
When driving on wintry roads, snow chains improve not only traction, but also the
braking performance.
Snow chains must only be mounted on the front wheels.
For technical reasons, it is only permissible to fit snow chains with the following wheel/tyre combinations.
Wheel sizeDepth (D)Tyre size6J x 15 a)43 mm195/65 R156J x 16 b)48 mm205/55 R166J x 17b)48 mm205/50 R17a)
Only fit snow chains with links and locks not larger than 13 mm.
b)
Only fit snow chains with links and locks not larger than 12 mm.
Remove the full wheel trims before installing the snow chains. 
186General Maintenance

Towing196
Towing a trailer106
Towing device Description
106
Drawbar load106
Towing eye front
197
Rear197
Towing protection36
Traction control system (TCS)113
Traffic sign recognition25
Traffic signs see Traffic sign recognition
25
Trailer106
13-pin power socket110
driving with a trailer110
loading109
Safety eye110
Transport Boot
64
Roof rack system68
Transporting children safely154
Two-way radio systems134
Type plate207
Tyre control display Calibration
185
Tyre load-bearing capacity see Wheels
184
Tyre repair192
Tyres see Wheels
183
U
Underbody protection
163
Unlocking Remote control
32
Unlock the vehicle Keys
31
V
Vehicle battery Automatic load deactivation
180
charging179
Checking the electrolyte level179
Operation in winter179
replacing179
Safety instructions176
Vehicle care Alcantara
164
Artificial leather164
Cloths164
Vehicle Condition see Auto Check Control
12
Vehicle data sticker207
Vehicle dimensions208
Vehicle height208
vehicle identification number - VIN (vehicle body number)
207
Vehicle key28
Vehicle length208
Vehicle tool kit188
Vehicle width208
Vest Holder for reflex vest
74
Visors see Sun screen
53
see Sun visors53
W
Warning lights
12
Warning symbols see Warning lights
12
Warning triangle188
Washing159
Automatic car wash system160
by hand160
Chrome parts161
High-pressure cleaner161
Weights207
Wheel bolts Anti-theft wheel bolt
192
Caps185
Loosening and tightening191
Wheel rims181
Wheels Bolts
186
changing189
Full trim185
General information181
Load index184
Low-profile tyres184
new tyres183
replacing wheels182
Snow chains186
Spare wheel184
Speed symbol183
Store wheels182
Tyre inflation pressure182
Tyre life182
Winter tyres186
Window Interior mirror
57
Window convenience operation40
Windows De-icing
162
See Electrical power windows38
Windscreen heating
52
see Radio reception162
Windscreen washer fluid Checking
176
Replenishing176
Warning light19
Winter176
Windscreen washer system176
Windscreen wipers54
217Index

Windscreen wiperReplacing the rear window wiper blade56
Windscreen wipers Activating
54
Replacing the windscreen wiper blades56
Windscreen washer fluid176
Winter operation Snow chains
186
Winter tyres see Wheels
186
218Index