So I picked up a suitable 16" steel wheel from a breakers yard today, it's a genuine skoda one. The question I have is that it has a decent quality 205/55/16 tyre on it but the size should be a 195/60/16 for the spare tyre. Will it damage the diff or anything else or cause safety issues if I use the spare with the current tyre on it or am I best to go and get the proper tyre fitted. 

Welcome.

 

What size tyres are on your Yeti?  How does the spare measure side by side with what is on your Yeti?

 

The 205/55 R 16 might be very near the same as a 195/60 R 16 brand dependent.  Total Circumference.

You are fitting the spare as a temp and will need to slow down anyway unless identical to the 3 on the car.

Do you have a 4x4 Yeti?

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

 

?

Or is it a Mk2 Fabia you have?

The Spares for those are 195/55 R15,  so your 205/55 R16 will be just fine, or if you want fit a tyre to the spare identical to those on the car.

Edited 2 November, 20178 yr by Headinawayoffski

Hi sorry I don't have the fabia anymore, it's a 4x4 yeti and currently has 215/60/16 tyres fitted. 

See how the 205/55 R 16 compares side by side then to what is fitted.

 

Even a 195/60 R 16 is smaller than a 215/60 R 16 if you need the spare on.

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

 

 

Edited 2 November, 20178 yr by Headinawayoffski

It deffinately looks smaller side by side but just wondered if it would be safe or sensible to drive on it if needed. 

I have the 205 x 55 x 16 on my Yeti as standard.
This table shows there is very little difference in diameter.

Simple answer:
Yes it is safe to use and won't do any harm.

The OP has 215/60 R 16 on.

Most space saver wheels are a lot smaller than the standard fit tyres and Audi and other VAG group cars have them as standard. The Yeti is unusual in that it comes with nearer full size spares. My Yeti has 17" wheels as standard and a 16" spare so as Graham says it will be fine, but keeping speed down to less than 50mph when in use is advisable.

As above have said you are fine to use the slightly smaller wheel and tyre combination. To put it into perspective, my last car a Touran came with 16" wheels but no spare. I sourced a 15" wheel and deeper profile slightly narrower tyre as a spare. One year when returning from France with a caravan I had cause to tow the 650 miles back running on the spare. I was unaware that my speed was to be limited even though the rolling diameter was within a few mm. I detected no difference in steering, stability etc.

 

Colin

Its not rolling diameter that is the problem, it is that the tyre is a different width and has a different sidewall height as on a different rim size and will react differently to the other tyres. Hence it has to be limited to 50mph as a spacesaver and must have the relevant warning stickers on the rim to be compliant.

 

I would think without that your insurance could be void whilst using it.

Cheers guys very helpful!