Hi guys, I have fitted my VRS with a set of 15" steel wheels with Toyo winter tyres. However after running them for a day to and from work I was sure after I stopped I could smell a burning ,heated kind of smell and I wasn't thrashing. Any ideas? I used the same bolts off my standard alloys to fix the steelies on with.

Its not catching on the brake calipers is it? 15" alloys do usually clear the calipers, but not sure about steels.

I would jack vehicle and check each wheel for clearance. It might rubbing againt arches. Thats way rubber smell.

I would jack vehicle and check each wheel for clearance. It might rubbing againt arches. Thats way rubber smell.

No, Plenty of clearance, would have noticed if they were catching when I put them on, also would hear any rubbing inside the car, used to have a lotus sunbeam with big wheels that scraped the arches, big noise that

Steel wheels often need a different shaped bolt, but not at all sure it'd make much difference if you used the same ones. As above, I'd jack each corner and play around with the wheel to see if you can feel anything funny. IIRC 15" is the "official" steel wheel size for winter tyres on the VRS, so I don't think size can be the problem.

Steel wheels often need a different shaped bolt, but not at all sure it'd make much difference if you used the same ones. As above, I'd jack each corner and play around with the wheel to see if you can feel anything funny. IIRC 15" is the "official" steel wheel size for winter tyres on the VRS, so I don't think size can be the problem.

I'm assumming that the wheel centre offset is correct for that width of wheel fitted to Fabia (and the hub bore)?

I'm sure that you will have looked for "witness marks" on the inside of a front and rear rfitted wheel.

Wheel bolt types, all modern VAG cars, have, I think the same "shape" of bolt head "mating surface" on steel and alloy wheels - this is okay, as long as these wheels are for a modern VAG car.

I have "mytyres" supplied 14" steels for the Polo 9N and they are same as OEM which means can use same bolts as the VAG alloys.

The Poland based tyres supplier that seems to have been used by a few people also seems to sell "same as OEM" steel wheels.

Edited 29 November, 201114 yr by rum4mo

No, Plenty of clearance, would have noticed if they were catching when I put them on, also would hear any rubbing inside the car, used to have a lotus sunbeam with big wheels that scraped the arches, big noise that

Problem solved, dodgy front drivers brake caliper, coming home yesterday night disc was red hot. Took it to garage today and new caliper is comong tomorrow.

Problem solved, dodgy front drivers brake caliper, coming home yesterday night disc was red hot. Took it to garage today and new caliper is comong tomorrow.

Ah well, now you know, life's a bit like that - ie you change some thing and it looks like you've caused a problem, when in fact it due to that unavoidable "thing" called coincidence!

Maybe that was a handy mod to help melt the snow and ice!?!

Edited 1 December, 201114 yr by rum4mo