Hi,

Yes I have tried to teach my wife how to change a wheel in the past - but with not much success. i.e. "Yes I know you showed me how to do it, and I did do it mysef but I preferred to call the AA o.k.!"

From the speed restriction point of view 50MPH on oversized bike tyre will be o.k. for where I live - as you can't do more than that on most the of the roads where I live anyway.

I do agree the tyre options/setup is poor. As per this Forum, finding 4x4 tyres for 17" rims is harder than it should be, and a skinny spare isn't robust.

Husbands teaching wives can sometimes be a problem, no more so than with cars or driving. I was glad that she put here self on a car course. Less irritation and stress all round.

I can not quite remember it was so long ago but it might have been one of those courses that some Technical Colleges put on just for women.

I'm sure it's been said before, but what you get when you order a spare is a full size 16" steel wheel and tyre. Speed restricted because it's different to whatever else is on the car not because it's a skinny space saver. (Though I'm pretty sure if you order an 'E' which does have 16" steels you'd still get a yellow stickered spare.)

It is because of the Skoda policy of giving a dissimilar wheel as a spare that I shall not be getting a spare with the car when I order it. It is really amazingly crass that they do this. That no appropriate Spare is on offer, after all we have to buy them, they are not supplied with the car other wise! One has to reed the small print to prevent wasting money. Why do they not just offer a spare of the same type, is that too much to ask for! I wonder what the situation might be in the rest of the EU? We are already disadvantaged here in GB by being offered less choice than our EU neighbors. How can that disparity satisfy EU legislation? Probably because disparity has not been legislated for.

I wonder if one could complain successfully to trading standards, on the basis that Skoda states it is a full size wheel with the implication that it is of the same size when in fact it is not.

I can visualize some poor person driving a long distance to an interview. They get a puncture. No problem they think, I have purchased a full sized spare instead of a space saver in order that I can drive normally I have planned just enough time for a normal emergency such as this! Only to find on opening the boot to take out said full sized wheel to see a sticker with a speed rating attached to it of 50 mph! Result did not attend the interview because too late!!!!

I'm sure it's been said before, but what you get when you order a spare is a full size 16" steel wheel and tyre. Speed restricted because it's different to whatever else is on the car not because it's a skinny space saver. (Though I'm pretty sure if you order an 'E' which does have 16" steels you'd still get a yellow stickered spare.)

Edited 3 December, 200916 yr by Anthony 1

Back to the question earlier in this thread how much higher does a 17" wheel raise the boot floor when placed in the spare wheel well?

Will it fit in the spare wheel well?

tom

Presumably it's the width of the tyre/wheel that is going raise (or not) the boot floor?

Having had a look at what came on my 16" wheels, the fitted tyres are 205 wide whilst the spare is 195 (also 16"). So although it's a 'full size' spare it's still a narrower section than on the fitted wheels. I'm assuming 10mm difference wouldn't impact on the height of the boot floor but haven't checked yet.

Presumably it's the width of the tyre/wheel that is going raise (or not) the boot floor?

Having had a look at what came on my 16" wheels, the fitted tyres are 205 wide whilst the spare is 195 (also 16"). So although it's a 'full size' spare it's still a narrower section than on the fitted wheels. I'm assuming 10mm difference wouldn't impact on the height of the boot floor but haven't checked yet.

Interesting that you have 205 tyres fitted to your Yeti, are these from the factory?

I ask as both the hand book and brochure indicate 215/60/R16, unless your running snow chains which need 205/55/R16.

Anyway how are you liking your Snow-monster? if you could post your thoughts particularly as I believe you have a 1.2TSI, be very much appreciated.

Regards,

TP

You are right of course, my mistake - they are 215, still only 20mm different though.

I did have a check in the boot this morning and it looks like the floor sits right on the tyre, so even 20mm is going to push it up a bit.

Just getting to know the new arrival really, just over 70 miles so far but will post some first impressions later.

First real test of the Snow-monster in minus temperatures and frosty roads this morning. Left me wondering if 16" rims and winters might be necessary. Need to have a couple more runs in these conditions to be sure but somehow didn't feel confident in the grip levels of the standard Goodyear tyres fitted.

I am fairly convinced it's these daft sport saloon size tyres that are the problem, as I ran the previous Golf 4motion with 205/55/16 summer tyres on the same roads and conditions with no problem other than in snow.

Could really do without the expense though, anyway I got a price from the dealer regard rims.

Steel £41 + £26 for wheel trim (daft a piece of plastic costs over half the rim price)

Alloys £133 for Spectrum, although Hortons in Lincoln are advertising them at £126 (out of stock in UK though)

Preferred option Moon alloys as on the European spec are not available to order in the UK :(

Shopped around for a reasonable brand of winters fitted x4 best so far £360 for 205/55/VR16 as on the Golf; should be able to run on Yeti as this is size required if you put snow chains on.

If you use Spider Spikes as mentioned on the chains post you can use normal size wheels and no need to go smaller but they do appear to be expensive.