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-   -   Skoda Yeti : Review, Price & Pictures (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/official-new-car-reviews/92207-skoda-yeti-review-price-pictures-89.html)

Dear Sid,

Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of one of the better mini-SUVs around in India today. Believe me, I have driven it on Delhi roads, on the highways (including from Hyderabad to Delhi), and most importantly on the Manali Rohtang Road, which is pretty much the worst stretch in this country. There was this one instance on the Rohtang road where there was 2-ft-deep slush for 200 mts on 3-4 stretches. I used to have a Pajero before the Yeti, and this stretch looked daunting. But the Yeti 4x4 sailed through. I remember another instance when I was returning from Manali to Delhi via Narkanda and through Jalori Pass. Where the Pajero had stuttered and swayed at even 15 kmph, the Yeti went through at 45-50 kmph, as my T-LOG on the trip and a video there will certify.

(http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...koda-yeti.html).

The Yeti is an adorable car, full of surprises and capable of almost everything that any SUV can do, and much more, for it becomes a sedan on sedate roads. Don't get me wrong, T-BHPians. I love the Pajero and miss it terribly. I have taken that brute to Rohtang and beyond as well, and it has never let me down. My friend NilanjanM who tok her off me has done enough mountains and river beds in her and is tickled pink. The Pajero is the only cause for angst between him and his wife; they both want to be in the driver's seat on long trips! clap: The sheer road presence and courage it inspires are awesome, but to each his own, I guess. The high CG and the rigid suspension perhaps made the Paj waltz around on the Jalori Pass road.

Al the best to you again, Sid. Run the Snowman in nice and easy and then let her rip; it's one helluva vehicle, as you will realize when you take it to the mountains and bad roads.

Take care and God Bless.

I am on a trip to Sikkim with the Yeti and its been a great experience. Only one thing was strange. Before starting I had the tyre pressure set to 34. When I got it checked today in Siliguri all the tyres showed 30. The road to Gangtok is pretty potholed in places and the dust that was raised made me sort of hurry through them. But the jerks should not reduce the tyre pressure should it?

Of course it all be the result of different pumps not being caliberated in the same way.

Busted my left front tire. I was driving at about 50 or so when it went into a small four inch deep pothole. Ten seconds later a racket started and was forced to stop. The great thing about it was I felt no pull on the steering . TCS ? The side wall is holed in two places and I will have to buy a new one. Why did Skoda provide such a soft walled tyre for a softroader ?

That's not good, especially if you want to travel out of station in your vehicle, leave alone some real off roading. But then, sometimes, it's just a matter of bad luck, one unlucky brush on the sidewall.

What are your stock tires?

Yeti tires are a known area of improvement and most people on the forum have complained about them on quite a few aspects. In fact, there is a separate Yeti tire thread here.
Goodyear Excellence I believe.

I am using the oem goodyears. I am getting the Bridgestone ep 100a easily .the Yokohama dealer does not the size required for the Yeti!

The dealer says the bridgestones will last 60000/ kms. If so they are certainly value for money.

Luckily I had replaced the space saver with a full size one , otherwise I was looking at a 500 km drive back home with the speed limited to 80/ km/ hr

The Bridgestone Ep100 are quite soft and actually even more that the Goodyear stock. What I suggest is that buy one Goodyear now and then swap all four with either Yoko HTS in stock size or Pirelli scorpion in 215/65 r 16. Then use the new Goodyear as a spare.

Thanks. I will try to see if I can get the Yokohama HTS. I think I will dash off a complain to Skoda, not that it will achieve anything but it will make me feel better.

The Yeti handled itself in one and a half feet deep sand on this trip really well. I wove in and out of stranded trucks when other vehicles would have had a tough time climbing sandy rises and getting down pits that this tyre thingy is a sore point.

Hi Behemoth, the dealer says he has Geolander 215/70/16 with him. Will it be a good idea to get them keeping warranty in mind? Thanks in advance.

Oops, just saw the tyre thread, so no question of size increases.

215/70 R16 is way too big! Highest you should go is 215/65 R16, which many users (in Russia) have tested to fit and also Steeroid (on TBHP) has also done on his Yeti and has not faced any issues so far in almost a year.

If you use your Yeti on rough roads quite a lot, you can try the MRF wanderers in 215/65 R16 size, which are OE for the Duster and should be easily available and IIRC, they come for around 7500 a tyre.

Also, don't change the alloys - Skoda will nullify your suspension warranty if alloys are changed!

Regards,
Behemoth

I am basically a town lubber with say 45% long runs thrown in, mountains included. I have high hopes of a lot of long runs all over the country so good tyres are a must.

I will stick to the stock size, thanks.

Sid - can you please share the cost details/discounts/freebies, if you are OK to?

Hey Behemoth
Long time!
Are you advocating the 215/65/16? Is this within the acceptable norm, without burning the warranty?

The Wanderers are nice but they are made of a hard compound and hence will definitely last long but at the cost of comfort, to an extent.
How about Bridgestones? if yes which ones in particular? Any idea of the prices?
Also, do you think Pirelli Scorpions and Yoko Geos are available in this size? If yes, do you have any idea of the prices?

Yup, been really very busy in the past few months!
Yes, I am actually think of using 215/65 R 16 in my next changeover too. My Yeti has done around 40K kms so far out of which 18K are on the Yoko C-Drives. The Yoko C-Drives are running well and should last for at least another 20K kms. After this, I am planning to switch over to 215/65 R16, most likely AT profile.
I spoke to my dealer and they said one size up (either aspect or Profile) is ok and they don't complain, but changing the alloys is a strict no-no.
There are quite a few references in Germany and Russia websites where people are using their Yetis with 215/65 R16 and all of them say that they fit fine and there is enough clearance for the tyres.
Steeroid also went with 215/65 R16 in his Yeti and I think it has been a Year now and he has also not faced any issues. IIRC, he fitted Michelin latitude tour HP on his Yeti.
I might go for Pirellis on my Yeti, if I can find them!
The Wanderers may also be good for really rough road users as they are quite hard and replacement tyres should be available easily with Dusters proliferating like rabbits now!
Yoko Geo AT-S are definitely available in 215/65 R16, but at 10K a tyre, are quite expensive. Pirellis I am still searching for!
Michelin Latitude Tours are also good for 80/20 on road/ mild off road use.

In fact the Yeti started the Compact SUV segment, but because it was as expensive as a C-segment sedan, it never really got big numbers. Now the Dusters and the Ecosports are going to break new territory in B-Segment sedan territory.
I think to stay in the race, Skoda should now consider upsizing its Yeti , which I think is already part of the plan! New Yeti is suppossed to be slightly bigger, with possibly a tailgate mounted spare and Vision-D front and maybe even a 7 seat option ! Don't know when it is going to come to India though.

Regards,
Behemoth

I went for the 7000 km check up yesterday. It cost me Rs1850/0 including front mud flaps, one litre of Mobil, distill water and shampoo for the windshield washer.

They did not have the 507 equivalent mobil but I decided the 505 one would have to do for now as the top up was needed. I think after the air filter was changed the Yeti is responding faster!

The Yokohama dealer is offering me A348 or E70B for 9000/00 and 9200/00 respectively. I have been unable to find the exact versions on the net. I will check out the Bridgestones too, they should be cheaper.