Phoned DMKeith to check that the spare (as offered in recent emails from dealers) will be compatible with my Fabia Greenline 2. They phoned back to say that the spare is a Continental Contact 2 on a steel wheel (the Greenline has alloys), and that it has a sticker saying that it is restricted to 50mph. They say that is not a 'get you home' tyre, so no reason given for the speed restriction advice.

Is this just Skoda covering their back, or is there a good reason? (btw I'd be quite happy to use the steel as a temporary replacement should I puncture).

NB- also posted on Octavia forum by mistake (sorry! - forum newbie), but guess that same applies to all models.

Recent thread here

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/266323-50mph-spare-steel-wheel/

As I understand it the speed restriction is down to the fact that the space saver spare is a different rolling diameter and width to the standard wheels/tyres and so will affect the handling.

In my opinion it is a get you home tyre as it should not be used unless necessary (unless it is the same size as you alloys). I suppose you could call it temporary as well as long as you change it at the first opportunity. And will probably not have the distance restrictions a foam repaired tyre probably has.

I had to use mine when I got a puncture and as the alloy would not come off the hub (common problem) I had to get the RAC in (how embarassing) the guy got it sorted but when they fit the space savers you have to acknowledge formally, signature I think, that you are aware of the speed restriction.

Still better than a can of foam which probably writes the tyre off from any possible repair.

The tyres on the Greenline II are 185/60 R15 from recollection and the official Fabia spare is 195/55 R15. Therefore IMHO the speed restriction would apply as it's a different size. If however you had an S, SE or SE+ on standard tyres, then no restriction as they are also 195/55 R15.

May take on it anyway,

TP

Thank you for helpful responses.

Have now ordered a spare wheel kit, which will probably reside in my boot for the life of the car! If not, sticking to 50mph until I get the puncture fixed is hardly likely to be much of a problem.