Hi there I have a 2001 model fabia 1.9tdi (red DI) comfort which has 15" alloys on the when I'm driving on the white lines of the road or when the camber changes on the road the car pulls all over the place so I've bought a set of 14" steelies but I don't know which size of tyres to get as the fabia diesels list few different sizes .can someone please help me and tell me which size do i need .

Thanks. Paul donachy

There is no way for us to tell because the new wheel could be various widths, you you will probably have to take it to a shop so they can look and see what the size is. but you problem is more likely going to be down to a tracking or suspension problem than its likely to be about your wheels.

I know the width 185 it is it's the profile size I'm stuck on really

standards where 6jx14 for a comfort spec fabia

 

tyre size being 185/60/14

 

if you plan on keeping the 15s

it should be 195/50/15

+1 crpvrs 

I will go with 195/60/15 though .. 

thats providng the steelys are 6j

Yeh steelies are 6j...

Yeh the alloys are 195/50/15s..thanks lads so 185/60/14s it is then

The sizes should be on the inside of your fuel flap, usually all the certified ones for various diameter wheels.

 

But as above, 185/60R14 is correct.

I've had mine since  factory fit tyres and they are 185.60/14. But as said, problems you have are either down to wrong pressure or suspension problems.

Hi there I have a 2001 model fabia 1.9tdi (red DI) comfort which has 15" alloys on the when I'm driving on the white lines of the road or when the camber changes on the road the car pulls all over the place so I've bought a set of 14" steelies but I don't know which size of tyres to get as the fabia diesels list few different sizes .can someone please help me and tell me which size do i need .

Thanks. Paul donachy

+1 crpvrs 

I will go with 195/60/15 though .. 

+12mm of clearance compared with max size 205/45R16 + loss of acceleration a bit' + more comfortable drive- why not? ;-)

At a second thought, I wouldn't enjoy the idea of destroying my steering components with larger tires. I will go with the 185/55/R15 ones.

IMO, it's the perfect balance comfort/car specs.

!! Also, in the front, the Golf MK4 wheels (1JO 601 025Q, ET38 6JX15 H2) are fine, but with 185/60 tires on the back, there is just not enough space left between the wheels and the inner arches (original, non-VRs spoiler), causing some friction between them when cutting sharp corners (with no passengers ... I didn't test it fully loaded ... wouldn't go there though). So with 195/60 might get worse.

Maybe some spacers are required, but I don't enjoy this option.

Can you recommend me 185/55/R15 tires? I was initially thinking about Falken 912, but not very sure. I am not taking my car on the track and I'm also not a very fast driver. A little more flexible sidewalls would do the job for me (comfy, comfy, comfy). 

Edited 6 August, 201411 yr by Alexandru

You will not destroy anything with 3% larger tyres, in fact due to higher profile, fewer shocks will be transferred to the bearings/joints. But I'd check the spare wheel bay first if it could take a taller spare, e.g. my Superb's spare wheel bay cannot take any taller tyres at all.

 

As I type this, there are 6 new Vredestein Quatrac Lite all weather tyres sitting in my garage, waiting for my Roomster to come back from Europe., Then 5 of them will go on the car, and 1 is left to work with the spare after 1 axle is worn out.

 

On the Roomster, it is actually even clearer that no harm will be done by taller wheels, as bearings/steering all round is same as Mk1 Octavia that takes 195/65/R15 tyres (with Sport suspension! Roomster actually does handle better than my old stock Mk1 Octavia, not many people know that Fabia 2 front suspension is essentially same as Mk1 Octy's). So spare wheel bay takes anything up to 205/55/R16 (I tested with RIP Octy spare). The only thing limiting the size, actually width, are rear fenders. 195/60/R15 is definitely OK, 195/65/R15 might be OK, but I would not use 205/55/R16 on this car as it will contact the fender under load.

 

3% loss of acceleration is not noticeable, speedo under-reads in my Roomster by 3.5%, so will be spot on with taller tyres, as you mentioned ground clearance and comfort will be much better. As a final bonus, if you travel on autobahn at all, you will be able to go past the electronically limited 190km/h on long downhills, and up to a heart-stopping speed of 196km/hr :p . That's for a 105bhp 1.6CR, which has 180km/h brochure top speed, somewhat pessimistic but I think they measured it in 4th at peak revs (5th is very long for a 100bhp engine, more like overdrive). Good cruising speed on autobahn is ca 165km/h +- wind speed.

At a second thought, I wouldn't enjoy the idea of destroying my steering components with larger tires. I will go with the 185/55/R15 ones.

IMO, it's the perfect balance comfort/car specs.

!! Also, in the front, the Golf MK4 wheels (1JO 601 025Q, ET38 6JX15 H2) are fine, but with 185/60 tires on the back, there is just not enough space left between the wheels and the inner arches (original, non-VRs spoiler), causing some friction between them when cutting sharp corners (with no passengers ... I didn't test it fully loaded ... wouldn't go there though). So with 195/60 might get worse.

Maybe some spacers are required, but I don't enjoy this option.

Can you recommend me 185/55/R15 tires? I was initially thinking about Falken 912, but not very sure. I am not taking my car on the track and I'm also not a very fast driver. A little more flexible sidewalls would do the job for me (comfy, comfy, comfy). 

Strange... had 185/60R15 (i.e., +6mm of radius, compared with allowed max 205/45R16) on mine MK1 "non-VRS" for first 4 summers (standart susp.)- nothing was rubbing- even, with full load.

Last 4 summers am driving 185/55R15- good compromise between comfort/precize handling/"non-baloon" look :-)

But seems, my 6.5J discs are bit' bit' too wide for 185mm tyres- but with your 6J discs it should be ok.

Falken 912 185/55R15... rare chance to get tyre in that dimension which have rim protection! ("+" for good look and protection / little "-" for comfort).

I have a 2001 TDI comfort it has 195 60 14's on steels. it drives perfectly fine at all speeds,  in fact SWMBO says this car is more comfortable than our previous Octavia TDI  DSG I have to agree.

Before going to the expense of wheels and tyres I would have had all the front suspension bushes checked, they are a common failing on the MK1 Fabia and the symptoms are as described. I suspect that even fitted with 14" steel wheels the car is still going to continue pulling all over the place.

@indars - It was my mistake, I had 185/65/R15 on the back ! 195/60/R15 are more than perfect. Good handling, extra comfort and a lot of extra ground clearance. Can you recommend me anything else beside that Falkens?

Edited 11 August, 201411 yr by Alexandru

@indars - It was my mistake, I had 185/65/R15 on the back ! 195/60/R15 are more than perfect. Good handling, extra comfort and a lot of extra ground clearance. Can you recommend me anything else beside that Falkens?

Everything stops at question of money :-) At least, with brand-name tyres you'll never get really bad ones.

And for calm :-) driving style, in summer... almost nonsense to look at super-puper names.

 

At mid-price area look on Hankook, Kleber, BF Goodrich, Kumho, Falken...- should be ok.

To be honest- never have driven Falken; but my friend have- normal tyre (don't know model).

Have driven Kleber Dynaxer HP 2 and BF Goodrich G-Grip; each lasted 4 summers, with no problems.