Hi, I have a set of steel winter wheels from my 'old' mk3 Octavia, with 205 55 R16 tyres on 6Jx16 ET48 rims, can I install them on my Mk4  Octavia, which comes with 205 60 R16 tyres on 6.5Jx16 ET46 rims as standard?  As far as I know, the centre bore, offset, pcd and lug dimensions are the same.  Would I be right in thinking that despite the rim and tyre differences, both cars wheels have the same overall rolling diameter?  Assuming that the mk4 has Direct TPMS, I would have to replace the standard steel rim wheel valves with 'intelligent' ones?  Do these then need coding to the car?  Who could undertake this, the Dealer or Tyre Fitter?

I apologise for all these questions, but it would be a shame to 'lose' the winter wheels!

Yours confused

Alan

Rolling diameter is different. 205 60 R16 is a bigger wheel than 205 55 R16. 205 is the width in millimeters, so that means 60 is 123mm high and 55 is 113 mm high. Gives you an overall 20mm larger diameter.

 

 

 

MK4 doesn't have direct TPMS.

 

Basically the wheels would fit and work fine, you would just have a wrong speedometer number. Not sure about legality in the UK. In Lithuania no one cares about the spec, in Germany everyone cares.

 

 

Edited 24 November, 20214 yr by zetzet

Thank you for the information, I think that I will have to sell these wheels and order some new ones!  Anyone want a set of four steel wheels fitted with Continental winter tyres to fit a Mk2 or Mk 3 Octavia?

kind regards

Alan

Put all the info into https://www.willtheyfit.com/ and it'll give you all in the results you need to see if its acceptable to you.

 

Seems a shame to sell and buy almost identical wheels! And costly!

20mm larger diameter is not a lot,

 

Winter tyres probably got 8mm tread when new, let’s say change them at 3mm.  The 5mm tread wear difference is 10mm diameter difference.

 

So half your diameter difference could be due to tread wear, not really worth selling them and buying an almost identical size for so little difference.   You would need a very nerdy vehicle examiner to reject them.

As for speedo error, could be 3%, but tyre tread wear will change it by 1.5% over time anyway.  So close that unless you watch it like a hawk, you aren’t going to notice the difference.

 

 

 

Edited 24 November, 20214 yr by SurreyJohn

Right, from the speed point of view the difference is about 3% between the 2 tyre dimensions, which is covered by the speedometer error anyway, so that's not the main concern.
Two main reasons not to use the unlisted tyre dimension:

- routine checks (authorities may not be too happy with that); 

- insurance companies; I've heard more than one situation when they refused to cover the expenses following an accident, invoking the technical nonconformity of the car - since the tyres/rims were not  those specified in the car's certificate.

So personally, I wouldn't use those for the long run, maybe just as a temporary solution over a short time&distance.

Edited 25 November, 20214 yr by SkOmk4

Just ring your insurance company and ask, can’t hurt! 
 

Also have a look here:

https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/choosing-the-right-insurance/motor-insurance/winter-tyres/

 

You can check your owners manual to see what tyres are listed. Often there will be a couple of different sizes listed which should all be ok and “tested” with the car, even at the same wheel size. 

Edited 25 November, 20214 yr by MiniNinjaRob

Hi.

If you do have any issues with insurance at all then please feel free to drop me a line.

Regards,

Dan.

Thanks everyone for your advice, I have decided to sell my Conti Winter Wheels and put the money towards a set of Cross Climate or similar tyres!

BTW, can anyone confirm the front and rear tyre pressures for the 1.5 TSI 150 Mk4 please?  The petrol flap tells me 2.5 and 2.6 Bar respectively - This seems high for a lightly loaded vehicle?  Or is this to improve stability and economy?  Thanks in anticipation, Alan

Correct for 16 inch wheels. 2.7 / 3.3 fully loaded. This from a 1.5 TSI 150 Mk4 hatchback. 2.7 / 2.8 ;  2.7 / 3.4 laden for 17 inch wheels.

Thank you for your help

Alan