I have 215/45R16 86H tyres, the original Dunlop Sport on 2019 Fabia Estate. I'm considering 185R15 or R16 to give a less firm ride. Is it a straight swap using the same wheels? And is there anything, pros, cons to a swap in size. The tyre pressure guide in fuel flap gives pressures for R14,15,16&17 so I assume my proposed swap is ok. Is it classed as a modification for car insurance? The spare is 175/70/R14 84T . 

2 hours ago, Ben645 said:

I have 215/45R16 86H tyres, the original Dunlop Sport on 2019 Fabia Estate. I'm considering 185R15 or R16 to give a less firm ride. Is it a straight swap using the same wheels? And is there anything, pros, cons to a swap in size. The tyre pressure guide in fuel flap gives pressures for R14, 15, 16, and 17 so I assume my proposed swap is ok. Is it classed as a modification for car insurance? The spare is 175/70R14 84T . 

 

As you have 14" wheels listed inside the fuel filler flap, I assume your 1.0 engine has less than 110HP. This is because the 110HP model uses bigger front brake discs (288x25mm) than lower powered models (which use 256x22mm front brake discs) and therefore needs at least 15" wheels on the front to clear the front brake calipers.

 

There's a lot of choice if you also look at non-standard tyre sizes.

 

When you say you're considering 185R15 or R16, do you mean 175/70R14 or 185/60R15? Or are you considering non-standard 16" tyre sizes other than 215/45R16...such as 195/50R16 and 195/55R16?

 

Edited 5 July, 20241 yr by Carlston

Thanks Calston. It's a 94hp so the smaller front discs. I'm not sure what would be best but am thinking a wider tyre 185/60R15 to give a smoother ride. On the tyre search websites I see lots of size options so assume any would be ok to swap to 

Welcome.

 

That is not a wider tyre though,

it is a narrower tyre with more Profile (taller sidewall.)

 

 

Edited 6 July, 20241 yr by Ootohere

17 minutes ago, Ben645 said:

Thanks Calston. It's a 94hp so the smaller front discs. I'm not sure what would be best but am thinking a wider tyre 185/60R15 to give a smoother ride. On the tyre search websites I see lots of size options so assume any would be ok to swap to 

Unless you intend to change the rims as well, you will have to use R16 tyres.

Edited 6 July, 20241 yr by Warrior193
typo

Thanks for the info. I'll most likely stick with the current rims and tyre size given the advice. 

@Ben645  What tyres are on the car and have you tried different pressures? 

It's the original Dunlop Sport Maxx 215/45R16. Theres only 20K on the clock so plenty of tread but have been told I should get new due to their age, 4-5 years on a 69 plate. Think the tyre guy said they are 'tesalated' or something. I've got them at 31front 32rear (2.1/2.2 bar), not the higher eco pressures.

Provided there is ample tread and the rubber is not displaying signs of significant degradation, there is no need to replace tyres, based on age, below around 10 years.

6 hours ago, Ben645 said:

Theres only 20K on the clock so plenty of tread but have been told I should get new due to their age, 4-5 years on a 69 plate. Think the tyre guy said they are 'tesalated' or something.

Change your tyre supplier then. That is so much male bovine faeces. 

215/45R16 is a fashion decision, overwide and too small on the sidewall but you're stuck with it unless you downsize a lot with the wheels and tyres - otherwise as put you could look at your tyre pressures and go for lowest recommended for your car, tyre size and car loading.  Perhaps a different make and model of the same tyre size may be a little better and the fact the tyres would be new on the car and not 5 years of aged use and sitting around on the car but there's the cost and research to find a more comfortable tyre for possibly little gain because of the silly wheel size.

 

I've had tyres split on the inside where you don't see them in a few years and about 20k-miles use and would never judge a tyre over the internet or by photos, perhaps unless they were very high resolution so they could be zoomed in a lot but even then it's an image on a screen so may not be entirely accurate.  Tyre fitters are often very eager to replace tyres prematurely but there are still some decent and honest workers about that don't, finding them is the difficulty.

 

nta16, what would you recommend as an ideal tyre size instead, for the mk 3 fabia?

And a question on my spare 175/70/R14 84T. If I have need to use it can I travel at normal speeds. Most spares now are spacesavers limited to 50mph. I'm guessing this size is not, but probably best to go slower due to the different tyre and rim size.

I'm no ta tyre, wheel or suspension expert, nor an engineer or mechanic.  Depending on the brakes the car could easily take a 14" wheel and tyres but if 15" is the smallest size VWSkoda specify for your model and year then that would be the size I'd go for.  And for rough roads personally I'd go for steel wheels which along with the tyres may well work out lighter than the 16" alloy wheel and tyre combination you have fitted now.

 

Do check all figures and facts I give as I could have looked at incorrect sources or they've made mistakes.

 

I believe smallest VWSkoda have for your year and model is 15" so tyres same as on my wife's 2015 1.2 SE with 185/60 r15 tyres.

 

185/60 r15 tyres against 215/45 r16 gives nominally 0.6" (15  mm) 15.8% more sidewall height(but the tyre's design, build and composition will effect ride and comfort and flex).

 

The factory wheels that you have on now appear to be 7Jx17 ET46 and appear would be 6Jx15 ET38 for 15" wheels, so that is going from 7" wide rim to 6" rim wheel to accommodate the narrower tyre.

 

 

If the 175/70/R14 doesn't have the restrictive stickers on for speed and use and your Owner's Manual doesn't tell you otherwise (are you sure there's no stickers on the spare wheel) then in theory you drive as normal but that wouldn't be good even if the wheel and tyres were the same size as the ones on the car as unless the tyres are all the same make, model, age and use you will be having two different tyres on the same axle which is OK but not best.  Now look at what you would have on your car, a 215/45 r16 tyre that is around 5 years age and use, H rated against the presumably never used 175/70/R14 tyre of a different speed rating and probably different make and model, one tyre is wider than the other side and other axle.  I'd only use it as a get-me-home.

 

In fact I didn't carry a spare wheel in many of my cars for over 30 years just a a good manual footpump (I dislike the wheezy electric ones you get as repair kit) - but that's all another subject and it seems to upset some.

 

I just remembered something I forgot to put before.

 

Some buy s/hand wheels (sometimes with tyres) from places like this site's 'Marketplace' section, eBay or other sites and sellers.

 

Or try for a swap with someone that wants smaller (or bigger) set of wheels (and tyres) in the 'Marketplace' or elsewhere.

 

Or perhaps even post in 'Marketplace' 'Items Wanted'. 

 

 

'Wheels & Tyres For Sale' - https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/333-wheels-tyres-for-sale/

 

'Swap Zone' - https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/272-swap-zone/

 

'Items Wanted' - https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/404-items-wanted/