Hi everyone

 

Couple of quick questions please: I've been offered a set of 6Jx15 ET43 steel rims at a good price - have been assured these will fit my Spaceback, but any guidance there will be most appreciated.

 

If they are indeed compatible with the car (I'm mainly concerned about being big enough to clear the brakes), what size tyres will fit them? I ask as I already have a set of 195.65.15 winter tyres from my old car that I would like to reuse if I can (they are a decent make in very good condition) but I'm mindful they are a different size to the 15inch summer tyres currently on the car (IIRC, the stock Dunlops on the car are 185.60.15).

 

Any advice most welcome.

 

Thanks

Chris

 

I moved to 195/60/R15 all weathers on a Roomster, which is very similar platform underneath and definitely no clearance issues (and the larger spare fits in the Mk4 spare wheel well).

 

Factory winter size is 185/60/R15 on both Rapid and Roomster. Assuming up to 12mm wide chains (that's what past Skoda manuals quoted), there should be enough space in each wheel well for up to 205/60/R15 with no chains, over the same rim. 195/65/R15 adds a further 3.5mm to tyre diameter, but is narrower than 205, so you might get away with it as usually clearance issues start at tyre edges (rubbing). So 195/65/R15 are likely to fit without issues at least when the car is not fully loaded/cornering hard, some forum users had them on Roomsters either due to incorrect fit or to try them out. But forget using chains or even snow socks with these.

 

In my opinion, 195/60/R15 is the biggest size you can use on these cars without worrying about clearance issues with stock suspension height and wheel offset. 195/60/R15 also is the size that corrects speedo to near perfect, it will under-read by ~3% with 195/65/R15. Gearing will also be longer, and at 6% longer than stock you might not like it anymore.

 

Suspension/bearing/drivetrain wise, same components were used on Mk1 Octavia (rear is Mk4 Golf-ish, front is Fabia 2-ish which itself had migrated to Mk1 Octy suspension layout in 2010), and worked with 195/65/R15 wheels there, so there should be no issues there.

Edited 26 September, 201411 yr by dieselV6

The official rim 15" size for the Rapid is a 6Jx15 ET38

 

Tyres wise then officially you have either 185/60 R15 or 195/55 R15 to choose from.

 

Myself I went for these a month ago;

 

http://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-details/uniroyal-ms-plus-77-185-60-r15-84-t#72550574

 

http://www.wheels.oponeo.co.uk/alloy-wheel/alutec/grip/skoda/rapid/spaceback/i/1-2-tsi-77kw

 

Prices have already started to creep up, as I paid 42 for the tyres and 55 for the rims; imagine prices will keep on rising until the late spring.

 

Went with the Uniroyal as we use the older MS Plus 66 pattern on our Monte with success, plus as claimed they are a good wet weather tyre.

 

 

TP

Thanks dieselV6 and The Plumber - that is massively helpful. I am inclined to agree that the increase in gearing is not good, and as always would prefer to keep overall rolling circumference and gearing as close to stock as possible for speedo accuracy.

 

I think, reluctantly, I might be better off selling my existing winter tyres along with the Peugeot/Citroen steel rims they are currently on, rather than transfer them onto new Skoda rims. Instead, I'll look at a tyre+rims package from someone like MyTyres and get all new, to the correct factory spec. A shame, as the Uniroyal MS Plus 66 winter tyres I currently have are excellent.

 

Cheers

Chris

Edited 26 September, 201411 yr by chrisgreen

Prices have already started to creep up, as I paid 42 for the tyres and 55 for the rims; imagine prices will keep on rising until the late spring.

 

Went with the Uniroyal as we use the older MS Plus 66 pattern on our Monte with success, plus as claimed they are a good wet weather tyre.

You are spot on about the prices creeping up. I know my timing is not ideal and normally I would have made these purchases earlier in the summer, when winter boots and ugly rims are a lot cheaper. Alas, the timing of my move to a Skoda was not of my own choosing (though the choice of brand was), so have no option but to address this stuff now. As I do a fair few miles, i'd rather not risk running my first winter on summer tyres as knowing my luck we'll have a very cold and icy winter in the south (rather than last years wet and not that cold winter).

Right - 6Jx15 ET38 rims ordered, picking up next week. Now to sort out some rubber for them.