Just had the misfortune to fit the spare on my car for the first time. Damn bulge in the sidewall of a less-than-1000-mile-old Conti Sport 3.

Now, I'd always assumed, looking at it in the boot, that it was a full size, non-alloy, replacement.

Not so, when I got it out the underside (outside when on the car) is stickered up with yellow "Do not exceed 50mph" stickers.

It's dimensions are 205/55 16 where as the standards are 225/45 17.

Do I need to stick to 50mph (i.e. use my missus' car) or can I hoon around like usual.

If I have to stick to 50mph, why?

Its an insurance clause for skoda if you like. The tyre could possibly be directional/assymetrical and there is a chance it could go on the wrong way as you never know what wheels going to go so they stick the limit on it to cover their behinds. If its going in the right direction on the right side then no reason to take it too easy (Allthough i wouldnt condone it of course ) but do remember that the difference in profile could throw some ABS faults up so get it changed pronto

Just had the misfortune to fit the spare on my car for the first time. Damn bulge in the sidewall of a less-than-1000-mile-old Conti Sport 3.

Now, I'd always assumed, looking at it in the boot, that it was a full size, non-alloy, replacement.

Not so, when I got it out the underside (outside when on the car) is stickered up with yellow "Do not exceed 50mph" stickers.

It's dimensions are 205/55 16 where as the standards are 225/45 17.

Do I need to stick to 50mph (i.e. use my missus' car) or can I hoon around like usual.

If I have to stick to 50mph, why?

get 4 of these and the car will go well fast less resistance, however do seem to do massive burn out from lights trying to put power down lol 50mph my ****.

I reckon i could get up to 120 on them grippy bad boys!!! lol

205/55 16 tyres are standard fitment to the Superb - you have the optional 17" wheels on the road of your car.

VAG obviously can't be bothered to give you a matching spare (17" steel wheels were never offered, and they would be too mean to give you an alloy spare) so they simply stick a speed limitation notice on the standard spare provided. Job done as far as they are concerned.

At least it's not a scooter wheel. When I was shopping for a towcar, some of these were on offer from other makers. I wouldn't fancy a rear wheel puncture towing a heavy trailer with one of these useless things as a spare.

rotodiesel.

Thanks, makes sense.

Lets hope it is the tyre that faulty or I'm gonna have to cough up. And lets hope again that the rim is not bent (as it is ?pot hole damage)

205/55 16 tyres are standard fitment to the Superb - you have the optional 17" wheels on the road of your car.

VAG obviously can't be bothered to give you a matching spare (17" steel wheels were never offered, and they would be too mean to give you an alloy spare) so they simply stick a speed limitation notice on the standard spare provided. Job done as far as they are concerned.

At least it's not a scooter wheel. When I was shopping for a towcar, some of these were on offer from other makers. I wouldn't fancy a rear wheel puncture towing a heavy trailer with one of these useless things as a spare.

rotodiesel.

I wonder if these wheels were fitted by the stealer rather than the factory, and they skimped (surely not:rolleyes:) on the spare wheel.

I have 17" X-tended alloys (fitted with 225/45 Michelin Pilots from new) and the spare is a 17" steel with the same tyre.

The tyre could possibly be directional/assymetrical and there is a chance it could go on the wrong way as you never know what wheels going to go

Don't think Skoda fit Directional tyres, Assymetrical tyres will always be the correct way round no matter where on the car it goes [ provided it fitted correctly on the wheel ] " Outside " will always be " Outside "

Don't think Skoda fit Directional tyres, Assymetrical tyres will always be the correct way round no matter where on the car it goes [ provided it fitted correctly on the wheel ] " Outside " will always be " Outside "

Yep that's right. My Michelin Pilots are assymetrical, so the spare's fine either side of the car. Used to have Goodyear Eagles many moons ago on my MR2 - they're unidirectional, so I kept the spare as the original-fit Continental non-directional tyre.

You want to try running the 16" spare wheel when yout other wheels are 19's................

Will the spare wheel well take a 17" wheel.

It might be worth scouring the breakers' yards for a single alloy?

Yes because the OD of the tyre is the same whether 16" or 17"