Front tyre flat tonight changed to the spare, it is a full size steel wheel with a full size tyre on it, the same as the alloys. On placing it on the hub I saw the outside for the first time, it has the huge yellow band and the warning that you should not exceed 50 mph, why?

Truth is no one actually knows for sure,

The fact its a steel and not an alloy is the only difference, but that hasnt meant stickers on wheels before now.

Directional tyres doesnt come into it either as alot came with non directional tyres and still had the warning.

Front tyre flat tonight changed to the spare, it is a full size steel wheel with a full size tyre on it, the same as the alloys. On placing it on the hub I saw the outside for the first time, it has the huge yellow band and the warning that you should not exceed 50 mph, why?

I assume you have a MK 1 Fabia VRS, with the spare tyre size and brand the same as fitted to the alloy road wheels.??

I bought an alloy wheel and had the spare tyre fitted to it.

The steel wheel is slightly smaller in width ( being a space saver) compared to it's alloy counter-part.

It will sit slightly higher in the wheel well, and the centre tool box bolt is only just long enough to reach to tighten down tool-box from moving about.

Skoda and the tyre fitting trade told me identical tyre fitted to space saver and alloy road wheel, can be swapped.

Edited 6 January, 201115 yr by giandougl

I bet it's a case of Skoda covering themselves just incase?

I know that mine definately doesn't have the sticker, although it's an early car.

I was told it's still completely illegal to go over 50.. and technically illegal to remove the sticker when used as a spare.. and they can pull you if ya do.

It'll be due to the weight difference and potential for incorrect tyre constructions & sizes being mixed.. though you'd be hard pushed to really get that wrong these days.

Edited 7 January, 201115 yr by Rob.

I was told it's still completely illegal to go over 50.. and technically illegal to remove the sticker when used as a spare.. and they can pull you if ya do.

It'll be due to the weight difference and potential for incorrect tyre constructions & sizes being mixed.. though you'd be hard pushed to really get that wrong these days.

That is the whole issue, (not weight, tyre size, construction)

The tyres are identical fitted both to the alloy road wheel and the steel spare.

It is the actual steel wheel (spare) that is not as wide as the alloy road wheel which in turn has a low speed restriction.

I suppose you could fit 4 steel wheels with the same tyre size of it's alloy opposite without any speed problem's at all, as they

would be all uniform.

Similarly owners fit larger tyres to wheels that normally take a smaller tyre, years gone by I did that on my old Mini, A35 etc.