Hi, wondering if anyone can help me here,

Going to be getting winter tyres on the front of my `54 fabia vrs, the profile will be 205/55/16 the profile on the rear is 205/45/16, the guy said there is a chance it may trigger the abs light to stay on, thus giving me now abs.

Ive had a quick search and couldnt find a definate answer, can anyone tell me for sure or is it a case of waiting to find out!?

Thanks.

The light should stay off as long as the sizes are the same on all four wheels as I understand it. If the sizes are different then it'll register different speeds so ABS will think it's a fault.

So as long as all 4 are = then you should be ok, if one is != then you'll have issues.

*Edit* And what Julie says - I have no idea about vRS tyre sizes, so didn't take that into account at all, just the differences in size.

Edited 22 November, 201015 yr by TriggerFish

More than likely it will trigger the ABS light, but that'll be the least of your worries.

The rolling circumference (and diameter) of 205/55/16 is 7% greater than 205/45/16. When your speedo reads 70mph you will actually be doing 75mph, and that's if you don't have rubbing issues from the tyre being too big in the first place.

Also, do not mix winter tyres on the front with summer tyres on the back - it's dangerous. Going downhill in the snow/frost/ice and taking a bend with grip from the front and none from the back will end in disaster.

do not mix winter tyres on the front with summer tyres on the back - it's dangerous. Going downhill in the snow/frost/ice and taking a bend with grip from the front and none from the back will end in disaster.

Looking forward to the "I've stacked my 'Furb, What did I do wrong" Thread.

The ABS sensor as actually speed sensors too and will continually trigger the ABS on the wheels which are running slower until the wiring burns out and causes you a £1300 bill for a new engine bay loom - as this is exactly what happened to my wife's driving instructors car - he put 205/55/26's on the front with winter tyres on, but left the std rear ones in place!

More than likely it will trigger the ABS light, but that'll be the least of your worries.

The rolling circumference (and diameter) of 205/55/16 is 7% greater than 205/45/16. When your speedo reads 70mph you will actually be doing 75mph, and that's if you don't have rubbing issues from the tyre being too big in the first place.

Also, do not mix winter tyres on the front with summer tyres on the back - it's dangerous. Going downhill in the snow/frost/ice and taking a bend with grip from the front and none from the back will end in disaster.

Woah, ok. Do you think I will have scrubbing issues with that size of tyre? I do assume 45 is the standard profile for the vrs yes?

Yes on my last car (which, for the record did not get written off!!) I realised the disadvantage of summer tyres on the back to winters on the front very quickly when when i entered a T junction looking straight down the road out of the passenger window

Think it might have to be winters all round since we had a couple feet of snow up here last year.

If the abs light was to come on, would it correct itself once the tyre sizes were matched?

Thanks for the replies folks, I appreciate it

Many places will not fit just two winter tyres now for safety reasons.

I plumbed for all four and stayed at standard size.

I have run 215/40 R17 on the front and 165/70 R14 on the back and never had any problems.

The ABS sensor as actually speed sensors too and will continually trigger the ABS on the wheels which are running slower until the wiring burns out and causes you a £1300 bill for a new engine bay loom - as this is exactly what happened to my wife's driving instructors car - he put 205/55/26's on the front with winter tyres on, but left the std rear ones in place!

My days, thank fook I found this place, cheers bud!

Do you think I will have scrubbing issues with that size of tyre? I do assume 45 is the standard profile for the vrs yes?

If you put a 205/55/16 side by side with one of your wheels I think you might be shocked at how big a difference there is. 205/45/16 is the standard vRS tyre sze, but you'll find it difficult and expensive to find winter tyres in that size. If your car has standard brakes then you can fit 15" wheels and go for 195/50/15 which you'll find much cheaper - that's what I've done. Secondhand 15" wheels should be pretty cheap too - anything off a Furby, mk1 Octavia, mk1 Audi A3, or mk4 Golf should fit.

I run 195/45/16 on the front and 205/45/16 on the rear. Done 20000+ miles with no issues....

If you put a 205/55/16 side by side with one of your wheels I think you might be shocked at how big a difference there is. 205/45/16 is the standard vRS tyre sze, but you'll find it difficult and expensive to find winter tyres in that size. If your car has standard brakes then you can fit 15" wheels and go for 195/50/15 which you'll find much cheaper - that's what I've done. Secondhand 15" wheels should be pretty cheap too - anything off a Furby, mk1 Octavia, mk1 Audi A3, or mk4 Golf should fit.

I seen one against the car but didn't think it would seem so big once on!

Yeah the car is standard so 15's would be an option I'd rather I didn't have to!

We are meant to have snow tomorrow, dammit!!

Thanks for the help

I run 195/45/16 on the front and 205/45/16 on the rear. Done 20000+ miles with no issues....

Your speedo must be over reading by some considerable margin. I guess when your speedo indicates 70 on the motorway most traffic comes sailing by because you'll most likely be going less than or around 60.

I got winter tyres at 205/45 x 16 OK for my VRS - Goodyear Eagle Ultragrips. There are several other makes available too. Quite a few threads running about these.

Your speedo must be over reading by some considerable margin. I guess when your speedo indicates 70 on the motorway most traffic comes sailing by because you'll most likely be going less than or around 60.

Only about 3mph over at 70mph according to my TomTom, so probably as accurate as a standard car speedo.... :-)

I got 215/40 on the front, and 205/40 on the rear. Would this cause issues?

Matt