Handling Wheels And Tyres - Skoda Rapid Owner's Manual

Handling wheels and tyres

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First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 160.
Tyres are the most stressed and under-appreciated parts of a vehicle. Tyres are
very important because the narrow contact surfaces of the tyres are the only con-
tact of the vehicle to the road.
The tyre life is dependent on tyre inflation pressure, driving style, handling and
proper fitting.
Tyres and rims are important design elements. The tyres and rims approved by
Škoda have been precisely matched to your particular vehicle model and thus con-
tribute significantly to the good handling and safe driving characteristics.
Avoiding damage to the tyres
● Drive over curbs and the like only slowly and at right angles if possible.
● Check tyres regularly for damage, such as pierces, cuts, cracks and dents.
● Remove foreign objects that are located externally in the tread of the tyre and
have not penetrated into the inside of the tyre ⇒ p age 165.
● Have damaged or worn tyres replaced immediately ⇒ p age 165.
● Check tyres regularly for hidden damage ⇒ p age 165.
● Never exceed the load capacity and speed of the fitted tyres ⇒ p age 168.
● Protect tyres, also the spare wheel, against contact with aggressive substan-
ces including grease, oil, petrol and brake fluid ⇒
● Replace missing dust caps of the valves immediately.
Vehicle overview Before driving
Unidirectional tyres
Unidirectional tyres are designed to roll in one direction only. Unidirectional tyres
have arrow markings on the wall of the tyre ⇒ p age 168. The so specified running
direction must absolutely be complied with. Only this ensures optimal tyre per-
formance in respect of aquaplaning, grip, noise and wear.
If a tyre is nevertheless fitted opposite to the designed running direction, be sure
to drive more carefully because the tyre is no longer used as intended. This is es-
pecially important on wet roads. The tyre must be replaced or fitted in the correct
running direction as soon as possible.
Exchanging tyres
To ensure even wear of all tyres, it is recommended to exchange the wheels regu-
Fig. 92 Pattern for the ex-
larly according to the pattern
change of the wheels.
same life for all the tyres.
Škoda recommends having the wheels exchanged by a specialist garage.
Tyres that are older than six years
Tyres age due to physical and chemical processes, so their function may be im-
paired. Tyres that are stored unused for long periods of time harden and become
brittle sooner than tyres that are constantly in used on the vehicle.
Škoda recommended to have tyres, six years and older, replaced with new tyres.
This also applies to tyres, including the spare wheel, which outwardly appear of
good quality and whose tread depth has not yet reached the statutory minimum
⇒
The age of each tyre can be determined by the date of manufacture, which is part
of the tyre identification number (TIN) ⇒ p age 168.
Storing tyres
Mark the wheels before they are removed so they can retain their current running
direction when they are fitted again (left, right, front, rear). Always store wheels or
tyres which have been removed in a cool, dry and, where possible, dark place. Do
not store tyres fitted to a rim vertically.
Protect tyres without rims in appropriate bags against contamination and store
them upright on their tread.
.
When driving
Care and maintenance of the vehicle
⇒ f ig.
92. You will then obtain approximately the
.
Maintenance, cleaning, servic-
ing
161
£
Do-it-yourself