I'm looking at getting new wheels & winter tyres for my Fabia. It currently has 185/60 R14. I was half thinking of using the spare plus one other 14" Fabia wheel I have, and just buying two more wheels - either new or used.

 

Popped into a tyre shop (an independent on an industrial estate) to ask what they had.

 

He said he had 4 15" VW wheels with Hankook tyres on them that they'd taken off a customer last year. He looked things up on his magic computer and said they would fit the Fabia. Tyres looked good and had 6-7mm tread so I took them for £150. 

 

I checked when I got home. As it turns out, they're 195/65 R15. Looking on e-tyres, that's a difference of nearly 10% and way outside the acceptable range (2.5%).

 

They also don't appear on this list:

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/217351-oem-tyre-sizes-and-alternatives/

 

I've just been back and, while helpful, he was quite adamant that they'd be fine. He kept saying 'you can put 15" wheels on', and I kept saying 'yes, but with 195/50 tyres, not 195/65'.

 

Anyway, he's looking up some prices for 195/50 R15 tyres, and some 185/60 R14 tyres + 2 used wheels.

 

Just wanted to check that I'm not going mad. The 195/65 R15 aren't suitable, are they?

Nothing like - you're an inch up on rim size, plus higher profile and wider tyres. Not only will it put your speedo out, but it will kill your initial acceleration from rest.

Those tyres are for a Golf, and as you thought are far too big for a Fabia

Those tyres are for a Golf, and as you thought are far too big for a Fabia

Or possibly an Octy; they're a standard size there too.

Thanks for the replies. I was fairly sure I was right, but had begun to doubt myself!

They're just the right size from swmbo's Leon. In fact anything based on the mkIV Golf.

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The wheels might just have been okay for the Fabia, you would need to know the offset, but as said wrong profile. Now, I can't think of any good reason why someone with 14" wheels on their car for summer use would fit 15" for winter use - the other round YES but the way you were going - NO!

 

For example my wife's Polo 9N has 15" alloys for summer use with 195/55 summer tyres, but for winter use steelies in 14" with something like 185/65 winter tyres.

 

If you are not too car "snobbish", then maybe get something even smaller like 175/70 or 175/80 or even 165/?? if that is a Fabia tyre size, that way you will get really good grip in winter.  Me picking 185/65 as winter options on the Polo is in reality a compromise between look and grip, but I can live with making that choice as "so far so good" - after 4 winter's use.

Edited 9 September, 201312 yr by rum4mo