Hello.  My 2010 1.9tdi estate is fitted with 205/45x16 alloys. I find the ride very firm/hard. The spare is a steel wheel fitted with 195/55x15. I am considering aquiring three more wheels/tyres to go with the spare, and using these on the car. Has anyone any experience of this, and would it in fact be legal?

yes it would be legal, the rolling overall size is pretty much identical as well, so no problems, just a softer ride.

7 hours ago, Emaharg said:

Hello.  My 2010 1.9tdi estate is fitted with 205/45x16 alloys. I find the ride very firm/hard. The spare is a steel wheel fitted with 195/55x15. I am considering aquiring three more wheels/tyres to go with the spare, and using these on the car. Has anyone any experience of this, and would it in fact be legal?

 

Your spare will probably be 6Jx15 ET43 5/100 57.1 like this one:

 

https://www.oponeo.co.uk/steel-wheel/alcar-kfz-8000#21060293

 

However, mytyres are cheaper for the Alcar 8000 at £32.40

 

Also consider the Alcar 9545. Same specification except that the position of the valve hole is rotated 15 degrees clockwise. This is to facilitate the use of different wheel trims, so that the holes in the wheel trims line up with the holes in the steel rims. The Alcar 9545 is made for VW Polo MK4, whereas the Alcar 8000 is made for the Skoda Fabia MK2.

 

Other non-standard options include:

 

 Alcar 8380 6Jx15 ET38 5/100 57.1 (made for VW Golf MK4, Skoda Octavia MK1)

 

Alcar 7760 6Jx15 ET38 5/100 57.1 (made for VW Polo MK5, Skoda Fabia MK3)

 

Alcar 4055 5.5Jx15 ET40 5/100 57.1 (made for VW Polo MK6)

 

The 5.5J option with its 0.5" narrower rim would give you a softer ride and is an attractive 18-hole design. Ideal if you want to use the steel rims without wheel trims.

 

This link shows the Skoda online catalogue with the steel rim and wheel trim part numbers:

 

http://www.oemepc.com/skoda/part_single/catalog/sk/markt/CZ/modell/FAB/year/2010/drive_standart/608/hg_ug/601/subcategory/601010/part_id/2543667/lang/e

 

Here's yet another non-standard option from the Skoda Scala. Specification is 6Jx15 ET35 5/100 57.1 and the Skoda part number is 2Q0 601 027 T 03C

 

https://www.skoda-parts.com/spare-part/2q0601027t03c-steel-wheel-disc-skoda-38412.html

 

If you don't want the standard Skoda Fabia MK2 steel rims, then the Skoda Scala 15" steel rims would be at the top of my list as the 35mm offset pushes each 195/55R15 tyre 8mm further out to the edge of the wheelarch compared to the standard 43mm offset (so you gain 16mm extra front and rear track). The Skoda Scala 15" steel rims look good without wheel trims, whereas the Skoda Fabia MK2 steel rims don't look good without wheel trims.

Edited 2 January, 20206 yr by Carlston

A very comprehensive response Carlston, thank you very much.