Good day All,

This query is to satisfy my curiosity (hopefully).

I'm in the process of getting two replacement front tyres for my Fabia. As you check for prices on the various on-line retailers they will ask for the car's reg. no., etc. All retailers bar none, gave the cars full spec, plus this size of tyre 165/70R14.

However, on checking my Fab, the tyres are 185/60R14 all round. Was this an optional size when the vehicle was purchased from new, or the preference of a previous keeper, or a change of spec during the vehicle production run?

Any enlightenment would be appreciated.

Yes, 185/60/14 is an option for all mk1s that don't have front brakes larger than 256mm.

3 hours ago, IainGill said:

...I'm in the process of getting two replacement front tyres for my Fabia...165/70R14...185/60R14...

As the Fabia MK1 currently has 185/60R14, that was probably what was fitted to the car in the factory. If the spare wheel is also 185/60R14 that would also add to the evidence that the car was fitted with this tyre size in the factory.

Notice in the chart below, that the 165/70R14 and 185/60R14 tyres use different rim specifications, ie. the wider tyre uses a 1" wider rim and 8mm more offset (43mm offset instead of the narrower tyre's 35mm offset).

ET is the abbreviation of the German word EinpressTiefe and means offset. Increasing the offset from 35mm to 43mm moves the centre of the tyre (and the centre of the rim) 8mm further into the wheelarch. It's common for wider tyres to have more offset than narrower tyres so that the outside edge of the tyre isn't too close to the outside of the wheelarch.

14" wheel specification (Fabia MK1)

165/70R14 5Jx14 ET35

185/60R14 6Jx14 ET43

Edited 25 minutes ago25 min by Carlston