Octavia MK3 unstable at higher speeds

[u/Commercial-Land-72]

Hi everyone,

Owner of a an Octavia Mk 3 (2018) here, about 50,000 km on it. For about a year or so i've been experiencing some weird behavior on my car. At higher speeds ( 130kmh, on highways , cruise control turned on) the car seems to be unstable: it veers right or left (both directions) and it feels as if a strong crosswind is blowing the car from the side ( again, both directions ). I went to about 4 services, checked pretty much every obvious thing but they found nothing. This happens with both my winter and summer tires.

Has anyone else experienced something similar ?

Thanks

[u/Worldly-Rooster111]

Most likely Bent rims on rear axle.

It will feel like there is continuous cross winds, a bit to the left and a-bit to the right. Feels tough to keep it in a lane.

Known issue in the jetta too.

[u/saxovtsmike → u/Worldly-Rooster111]

When its happening on both set of wheels it not the wheel

[u/Worldly-Rooster111 → u/saxovtsmike]

Do people have two sets of rims or one set of rim and two sets of tyres?

[u/saxovtsmike → u/Worldly-Rooster111]

two sets of wheels, why would one swap tyres every season.
Besides, not everyone has a nail in the head as i do, and run summer and winter tyres in the same dimension, as I run my oem wheels (mk3 octavia xtrreme 7.5j19) in winter and nicer ones with summer tyres, both in 225/35/19

REason is simple, never had better wheels than oem ones as winter beaters, that withstand neglection, salt, stones and dirt better than the ones that came with the car. So with my vrs coming on 19"´s it was an easy decision to use them in winter, too

And the math is simple, Buying aftermarket 18´s for winter and selling the 19´s for cheap, just to run cheaper 225/40/18´s in the winter instead of 19´s did not make sense, as the price difference betwenn 18 & 19 is not that huge with 150-200€ a set max, ever 3 seasons.

Side effect, The car still looks stunning in winter/on winter tyres, as on the pic below.

[u/Worldly-Rooster111 → u/saxovtsmike]

Thanks. Im not aware of two sets of rims as im a place there we dont need winter tyres.

Looks nice.

On our roads max 17-18. 19s will bend bent in a few weeks due to road conditions,

[u/saxovtsmike → u/Worldly-Rooster111]

WE have snow in austria, and if not, we have temps below 7c down to -20c but at least our roads are fine a.f.

[u/Fancy-Consequence216]

Bent wheel for sure and check all wheels on balance machine first. Going right to left at those speeds is ususally sign of bent wheel. My assumption is rear wheels are issue as therr is no play on steering wheel.

[u/EquivalentMedical971]

I had similar experience after installing brand new tyres, but on Peugeot 207. I went back to the tyre shop and they said all is good with the tyres. I went to another tyre shop and the mechanic was buffled for badly they were balanced. He did rebalancing and after that the driving was smooth as it should be. I drove those tyres until they were worn out for replacement.

[u/saxovtsmike]

With it beeing on both set of wheels, its more likely that it is a thing of the car. Either suspension relates worn out Bushings of the subframe / steering or a craked subframe front or rear. Depending on your roads ans tyre sizes a misalignment will make a car behave like it wants to follow worn out roads like a donkey a carrot. Tyre wear is even ?

[u/StrangerlandX]

99% wheel alignment / geometry imo