If it helps, I have 205/55/16 Contis fitted which are quite squashy and the ride isn't too bad, but not as great as the 215s. 

 

I agree about ditching the 1.6, I wish I'd never seen mine. 

I wonder; do any tyre manufacturers list the larger size as being suitable for your car?

 

It seems that The European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) frequently publish various technical documents and manuals regarding wheel and tyre sizes.

https://www.etrto.org/home

 

I have found one of their documents ETRTO RECOMMENDATIONS 2013 (there may be more recent versions are available online - I haven't looked) contains the following paragraph:

 

Quote

The tyres fitted to your vehicle as original equipment were selected by the vehicle and tyre
manufacturers taking into account all aspects of the vehicle’s operation. Changes in tyre size,
structure, load and speed rating should not be made without first seeking advice from the tyre
or vehicle manufacturer as the effect on safety, car behaviour and clearances must be
considered.
Therefore, when replacing tyres, it is essential to fit either the size and type identical to those
fitted on the car originally, or the alternatives recommended by tyre manufacturers in their
official literature. 

http://pneusnews.it/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/2013-ETRTO-RECOMMENDATIONS.pdf

 

 

 

Wont cut any ice in France, only the combinations that appear on the CoC for that particular vehicle can be fitted.

 

And then you have CT testers that say your tyres are wrong because it does not come up on their computer despite them actually being a homologated fitment.

 

Then you have CT testers and tyre fitters saying any of the ones shown on the fuel filler flap is fine when that absolutely isn't so especially for the Greenline.

 

Then you will have tyre fitters saying a size is OK because the manufacturer (which manufacturer? The happygoluckysunnyshinekungfueychinesetyre corporation?) says it is an alternative fitment.

 

Then you have the insurance agents (it wont be the insurer) throwing in their Bravo Sugar, ditto the so called legal experts (who will be anything but) for the legal protection insurance.

 

Even VAG France say one size only without backing it up with a copy of the certificate of conformity which is the definitive document.

 

You wont be surprised to learn that I don't take a blind bit of notice of any of the above which always comes with a dire warning, I just get on and do my thing, I fit my own tyres so as not to be shafted for a pair of tyres when one has a puncture because eet eex zee loi! which it isn't, my CT tester is a friend of 18 years and will tell me what I need to do for him to not see any of these non conformities.

 

That said it seems like PhilEyre is fed up with the 1.6 engine anyway so wont mind changing, he wont get any compo though, just a long dragged out process while everyone fills their boots.

1.6 engine is fine for my needs, as is the gearbox the only hiccup was the water pump which fell to pieces and is replaced with a better made non-Skoda replacement (it seems a very common problem).  Very happy apart from being instructed to fit the utterly absurd Mini/Twingo tyre sizes purely for clean/low emissions purposes by a company ready to cheat on emissions checks by fitting fake-data software.