why the speed limit on it then seen as it is a full size spare with the same conti sport contact2 tyre on it as the rest of the car??

The steel wheel is of a different weight to the alloy wheels on the other 3 corners and could potentially upset the handling of the car as it is unsprung weight on one corner.

mines an alloy and the centre retainer isnt long enough to hold it in position, crap design no forethough etc... or is there a longer centre retainer i can get?..

I have a standard fabia vrs alloy as my spare wheel and the centre retainer fits perfectly?

The steel wheel is of a different weight to the alloy wheels on the other 3 corners and could potentially upset the handling of the car as it is unsprung weight on one corner.

ahh okay so it's a handling issue rather than a wheel cant take it one like the skinny space savers you normally find with the 50mph limit on them!

god i wish i'd known that before i did the 55 mile commute home last night at 50mph!!!!!

They also put a 50MPH limit on it in case it is fitted with a uni-directional tyre (e.g. Toyos) and you have to put it on the wrong side of your car. This could upset grip and handling at high speed.

I'd say the unidirectional tyre was the main reason, cant see the weight difference being enough to worry too much about, those vRS alloys are not particularly light.

True though, 1 wheel different regardless is possibly a handling problem waiting to happen.

mines an alloy and the centre retainer isnt long enough to hold it in position, crap design no forethough etc... or is there a longer centre retainer i can get?..

Because it doesn't fit a wheel it wasn't designed for makes it a crap design? :confused::confused:

Also, that particular one is an Octavia not a Fabia, and although similar, they may not be the same?

On the Fabia, the bolt does not have that far to go as the 'back' of the wheel is upwards. If you put it in the other way up the bolt does not reach either. But then that's ok

They also put a 50MPH limit on it in case it is fitted with a uni-directional tyre (e.g. Toyos) and you have to put it on the wrong side of your car. This could upset grip and handling at high speed.

Skoda Don't fit Directional tyres as standard. They fit Asymmetrical Tyres which means it can go on any corner and it will still be the right way round

Skoda Don't fit Directional tyres as standard. They fit Asymmetrical Tyres which means it can go on any corner and it will still be the right way round

Mine was directional..

Skoda Don't fit Directional tyres as standard. They fit Asymmetrical Tyres which means it can go on any corner and it will still be the right way round

Indeed, but that doesn't mean that a directional tyre won't ever be fitted on the wheel. Hence the warning stickers.

On a related issue, I am looking to buy a 16" spare wheel myself (Fabia vRS spec). I wonder if any wheel size experts can tell me whether this: VW 16 inch steel wheel Volkswagen on eBay, also, Trims, Car Wheels, Tyres Trims, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 22-Feb-09 17:03:45 GMT)

is the same size / spec as a Fabia vRS?

Indeed, but that doesn't mean that a directional tyre won't ever be fitted on the wheel. Hence the warning stickers.

I understand what your saying but that would be the owner who was responsible for fitting a Directional tyre, not skoda. There not fitted as standard as Skoda cannot be held responsible for supplying a spare tyre which may be used the wrong way round. Motor Manufacturers who fit directoinal tyres as standard usually have space saver spares or a can of stuff to re-inflate the tyre.

Edited 20 February, 200917 yr by DGW
Quote fixed.

Mine was directional..

Can you tell me the Make please, I'm suprised......

It is 4 years ago now sorry, I just remembered as I had to use the spare and noticed the direction was wrong.

There is often confusion over directional tyres. Proper Directional tyres have like arrow head tread, like a "V" and have to be fitted in such away that they roll in the right direction. Asymmetrical tyres have to be fitted a certain way on the rim usually have "outside" written on the side wall. the tread pattern on the outside of the tyre is different from the inside tread but can be fitted to any corner of the car as the outside is always the outside. then you get the ordinary tyre which can be fitted anyway you want...

Just found this

Symmetrical: consistent across the tyre's face. Both halves of the treadface are the same

design.

Asymmetrical: the tread pattern changes across the face of the tyre. These designs normally incorporates larger tread blocks on the outer portion for increased stability during cornering. The smaller inner blocks and greater use of grooves help to disperse water and heat. Asymmetrical tyres tend to also be unidirectional tyres.

Unidirectional: designed to rotate in only one direction, these tyres enhance straight-line acceleration by reducing rolling resistance. They also provide shorter stopping distance. Unidirectional tyres must be dedicated to a specific side of the vehicle, so the information on the sidewall will always include a rotational direction arrow. Make sure the tyres rotate in this direction or you'll get into all sorts of trouble.

mines an alloy and the centre retainer isnt long enough to hold it in position, crap design no forethough etc... or is there a longer centre retainer i can get?..

Which way up is the wheel? vRSs used to come with an alloys as a spare, so there must be a pin that holds it in place

On a related issue, I am looking to buy a 16" spare wheel myself (Fabia vRS spec). I wonder if any wheel size experts can tell me whether this: VW 16 inch steel wheel Volkswagen on eBay, also, Trims, Car Wheels, Tyres Trims, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 22-Feb-09 17:03:45 GMT)

is the same size / spec as a Fabia vRS?

Any help?

Any help?

Yes! It's the correct wheel!

Which way up is the wheel? vRSs used to come with an alloys as a spare, so there must be a pin that holds it in place

The alloy fits as a spare exactly the same in the boot as the steel wheel, it's the same size after all or it wouldn't fit on the car.