So I was looking for a 2nd car for the Mrs. Budget of around £2,500 - 3000. With the proviso it had low mileage and reliable.

I've had a few Vags before and modified them, a passat and a Ibiza. So when I found this 08 fabia with 34k on the clock it was a no brainer, especially at £2,800!

Still with a few pounds left in the pot it was time for a few mods. Thankfully the Mrs likes her car to look good but doesn't care about power.

So the first was a set of wheels. I found some seat FR wheels in need of some TLC on eBay for a bargain. 225 45 r17's! After picking them up a referb was much needed. Photos to follow

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Welcome to the forum.

 

If you are going to use those tyres, they are too big really for your car.

http://kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-calculator

 

The 17" tyre on Fabias are 205/40 R 17 & 215/40 R 17 can work.

Thanks for that, I've found out the hard way, which has included making a modification to the wheel arch and chassis. Fit like a treat now, and the stance is great!

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And if you noticed a vinyl wrap of the front grill that costs about £10

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Looks Fine,  is the gearing feeling OK?

Yep, still nippy. I should've said as part of the budget side of things its a basic 1.2 3v camchain with great Mpg, aircon upgrade!

So the plans are as follows.....

Chrome air vents and interior parts.

New wheels - check

VRS black grill

New skids badges all round

Tints or blinds- New born to consider!

Rns 510 sat nav replica?

DRL's?

Any other reasonable suggestions....

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Those tyres are far too big for that car

Your speedo will under read by over 6%

'Under reading' the actual speed being done, which is illegal. Unless you check with GPS and see it is Accurate.

Over reading is not the same problem.

 

It is quite probably an Issue with your Insurance,

and with a Vehicle Examiner if anything was to happen.

Maybe start a build thread?

Those tyres are far too big for that car

Your speedo will under read by over 6%

 

Indeed, when your speedo is indicating 30 you could be travelling enough in excess of the speed limit to trigger a speed camera, and with an indicated 70mph you'd be doing nearly 80mph.

 

Fitting the correct tyres for a Fabia should be a priority if only to save the misses driving license.

Sorry to be a nuube, where do I start a build thread?

On tyre size I thought if you went up an inch on rim diam, you can go down 5mm on tyre depth. I.e. the 17 x 45's I've fitted is the same as the 15x 55's that are on there, I assume as standard?

Let's not go onto the mods for the 225's, I hate using the angle grinder, I fear loosing digits every time.

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On tyre size I thought if you went up an inch on rim diam, you can go down 5mm on tyre depth. I.e. the 17 x 45's I've fitted is the same as the 15x 55's that are on there, I assume as standard?

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Only if you maintain the same tyre width. the 45 is a percentage of the tyre width, so if you increase the width as well, the profile number must also go lower for that too.

 

For 225 wide tyres you actually needed 225/35 17, these would have fitted straight on without modifying anything. 

 

The tyres you currently have are 4 centimetres to tall and have a rolling radius which is 12 centimetres to long.

rlewis3003

Sorry but you thought wrong.

 

What width were the original tyres.?

55 is 55% of say 185,,  or 55% of 195

 

225/45 r17 is 45 % of 225mm

 

205/40 R17 is   40 % of 205 mm

 

http://kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-calculator

Here mate:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/205-fabia-project-journals/

Might just help to keep everything together .

Also, if you do the maths, going up an inch and down 5mm on the tyre still gives you an increase in overall diameter.

15mm is roughly 1/2 inch. 22mm is roughly 3/4 inch, and 28mm is just over an inch.

(Only relevant ones i know, being a plumber haha )

Edited 2 June, 201412 yr by Otaylor38

Only if you maintain the same tyre width.

 

Cheers Guys, you learn something every day.

 

All the tyres need replacing anyway so I guess ill have to look for some 35's.

I would not go for 35 Profile on 215 or 225's

 

205/40 R17 or even some makes of 215/40 R 17 are going to work on your car, 

maybe not that comfortable though.

Just ordered a pair of 215 40 17's thanks. But on a fair point, I take it the rears can have anything on them?!

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where did yo get the grille wrapped?

 

i want mine redone.

On a basic model it could have different tyres front to back i think?

Wont it look silly though?

all 4 tyres should be the same size on any model.

 

would a higher model not look silly with different tyres 'front to back'?

Edited 3 June, 201412 yr by fabia55

Of course it would look silly on any model, and i certainly wouldnt condone it myself.

What i was referring to is functionality. I dont know, but does abs, xds or esp operate on the back wheels? It might play games with those if it does. But obv a basic spec car wont have those.

basic spec car has ABS, it will affect the braking

blinds for me - you can open the windows and still have some protection from sun/UV rays, unlike tinted. also stops flies/bees entering the cabin with window open. can be removed and cheaper.

Edited 3 June, 201412 yr by fabia55

But does the abs work on the rear wheels too, or just the front?