Skoda RS replacement tyres - interesting

[BottomScratcher]

I wasn't being that serious and, despite your concerns, I simply don't foresee it being an issue.

I came across this anomaly while pricing Michelin PS3 tyres. A lot of forum members have given favourable reviews of them after fitting them to their cars. It crossed my mind that if two senior sales professionals at a reputable tyre firm weren't across the NSW regulation pertaining to speed ratings then perhaps a few average motorists aren't either.

Michelin don't make a Y rated 225/40 R18 PS3, so I think it fair to say that many forum members could be running W rated PS3s. Maybe they have speed ratings on their vehicle tyre placards, and are compliant with NSW regs. I don't, and my car is currently fitted with Y rated tyres.

It's not a tyre plate - if the owner's manual refers to it as such, it's a misprint or a typo.

I see your point, and think it's a case of lost in translation. "Tyer plote" would be a misprint, or a typo. Someone made a conscious decision to call it a tyre plate. That it is referred to as one in the manual is no mistake.

If we can ignore the placard shenanigans and just be practical for a moment, it would be safe to assume that the manufacturer approved fitments for the Octavia RS are:

225/45 R17 91W
225/40 R18 92Y XL

You can verify this after you've obtained the print out from the workshop manual.

And yes, you shouldn't have to ask the dealer (though it isn't a big inconvenience in the grand scheme of things), but such is life.

I'll agree to disagree. I think it impossible to ignore the placard shenanigan's. Just as it's impractical, if not unwise to assume what the manufacturers tyre fitments are.

RTA VSI No9 says, "From 1973 all cars are fitted with a tyre placard (usually located in the glove box, the engine bay, or on a doorpillar) which specifies the wheel and tyre combinations recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. The placard also specifies load capacity, speed rating, and the recommended tyre pressures."

Under "Tyre speed rating" it says, "If the replacement tyres fitted, including winter tyre treads (commonly called "mud and snow" tyres) and retreaded tyres, have a speed rating less than that shown on the vehicle's tyre placard, then a warning label must be affixed to the vehicle (usually by the tyre dealer) which states: Warning. This vehicle is fitted with tyres that have a lower speed rating than that stated on the tyre placard. RTA VSI No.9"

I fully understand the engineering side of things. Even a V rated tyre must be capable of sustaining a factor of safety of 10% of its speed rating for 10 minutes, meaning it can run at 264 kmh for 10 minutes before any structural defect occurs.

What you, or I forsee as an insurance issue is as worth as much as we get paid for posting here. We don't underwrite other people's insurance policies. RTA VSI No9 gives an insurance warning in its introduction on the first page.

I'll try to get some answers from a dealer.

[Diesel_vert]

I came across this anomaly while pricing Michelin PS3 tyres. A lot of forum members have given favourable reviews of them after fitting them to their cars. It crossed my mind that if two senior sales professionals at a reputable tyre firm weren't across the NSW regulation pertaining to speed ratings then perhaps a few average motorists aren't either.

Michelin don't make a Y rated 225/40 R18 PS3, so I think it fair to say that many forum members could be running W rated PS3s. Maybe they have speed ratings on their vehicle tyre placards, and are compliant with NSW regs. I don't, and my car is currently fitted with Y rated tyres.

Practically speaking, whatever the approved fitment may be, it's a bit of a moot point in NSW - because the regulations allow you to fit a tyre with a lesser speed symbol regardless.

The only issue here is a technicality - the missing information on the tyre placard (load index and speed symbol). Yes, it's inconvenient, but the missing info can easily be sought after by anyone placing a phone call or sending an email to any Skoda dealer.

RTA VSI No9 says, "From 1973 all cars are fitted with a tyre placard (usually located in the glove box, the engine bay, or on a doorpillar) which specifies the wheel and tyre combinations recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. The placard also specifies load capacity, speed rating, and the recommended tyre pressures."

Under "Tyre speed rating" it says, "If the replacement tyres fitted, including winter tyre treads (commonly called "mud and snow" tyres) and retreaded tyres, have a speed rating less than that shown on the vehicle's tyre placard, then a warning label must be affixed to the vehicle (usually by the tyre dealer) which states: Warning. This vehicle is fitted with tyres that have a lower speed rating than that stated on the tyre placard. RTA VSI No.9"

What you, or I forsee as an insurance issue is as worth as much as we get paid for posting here. We don't underwrite other people's insurance policies. RTA VSI No9 gives an insurance warning in its introduction on the first page.

I'll try to get some answers from a dealer.

You are right in saying that we don't underwrite insurance policies, but my personal opinion is that I don't think anything will come of it, unless you start fitting 225/40 R18 88Y or 88W tyres or something.

The safest way would be to get the same type of tyre that was originally fitted from the factory (225/40 R18 92Y XL). Rarely is the case that factory fitted tyres contravene local regulations.

[brad]

get somebody with the same engine/trans/body combo as yours to post up their tyre placard from the fuel lid. Bottom right will have the partno of the placard. Tell your dealer to supply one FOC. problem solved. It wouldn't be the first VW in AUS to be supplied with an incorrect placard.

PS: it will have the same info as a 147 TSI VRs - minimum load index of 91 & minimum speed of W.

Storm Teacup Here

[BottomScratcher]

get somebody with the same engine/trans/body combo as yours to post up their tyre placard from the fuel lid. Bottom right will have the partno of the placard. Tell your dealer to supply one FOC. problem solved. It wouldn't be the first VW in AUS to be supplied with an incorrect placard.

PS: it will have the same info as a 147 TSI VRs - minimum load index of 91 & minimum speed of W.

Storm Teacup Here

brad,
I rang a dealership this morning, and they assumed that the specs were on the plate, and I couldn't locate them on it. I asked for an email address and sent a clearer photo than the one on here. I'm waiting to see what comes back.

Like you, I'm convinced that I've got the wrong sticker inside the filler flap. I've asked another forum member with a vRS TDI wagon (MY11 I think) for a pic of his placard. It might seem I'm being pedantic, but it's not like insurance companies aren't thorough. Frankly, I don't see it as a technicality, or a storm in a teacup. The info is required by law to be on the placard, and it's not. As to whether it would ever come to a dispute with either the RTA or my insurer is admittedly probably very remote. None the less, it's a gamble I shouldn't be in the position of having to take.

[Mysticality]

MY12 (07/11) vRS TDI 6M

[DunlopRS]

... Mysticality beat me, but anyway as it seems there is a few different versions out there...



and I may have forgotten how to upload photos....

And I cannot resist saying that I highly recommend the 205 55 16 option for anyone who regularly spends time at 100+ km/h off the motorway….

[Mysticality]

and I may have forgotten how to upload photos....

I upload pics to Facebook, in a hidden album. Saves fiddling around with photobucket and whatnot.

And I cannot resist saying that I highly recommend the 205 55 16 option for anyone who regularly spends time at 100+ km/h off the motorway….

There are no decent aftermarkets for the Octy, in 16" or even 17"!... I've been looking.
Unfortunate, really. Personally I don't think the stock rims suit the vRS.

[BottomScratcher]

MY12 (07/11) vRS TDI 6M

Thanks for that. I saw DunlopRS's pic as well before it was removed. Both placards only in English, same part number, and showing a min speed rating and a min load index.

My placard in Czech, Russian, German, and English must have missed getting changed. Nothing from the dealer yet.

[woofy]

The PS3s from Michelin are the official replacement for the Michelin PE2s I had from factory so if they don't meet specs then something is up.

[Diesel_vert]

The PS3s from Michelin are the official replacement for the Michelin PE2s I had from factory so if they don't meet specs then something is up.

Whether or not a particular model of tyre is designated by the tyre manufacturer as an 'official' replacement has no relevance to the vehicle manufacturer's original recommendation or the local regulations.

The vehicle manufacturer recommends a 225/40 R18 92Y XL tyre - this doesn't change.
However, the regulations in QLD, NSW and VIC allow you to fit a tyre with a lesser speed symbol.

As far as the law is concerned, there is no issue in fitting 225/40 R18 92W XL tyres in QLD, NSW or VIC on a Skoda Octavia RS.

The only issue here is the missing information on BottomScratcher's tyre placard.