Bongo Fury

Only recently coped on that if the front and back wheels are different sizes as is the case on our bongo, What a bout the spare? On ours the spare is a big one and so it will do if I need to replace the back one but not the front.. As I think of the mechanism now, I could probably fit a 2nd spare wheel in the same place?

No need for a second spare. Although the tyres are different sizes the circumferance is the same, this is critical with 4wd, so you spare will fit front or back. (Assuming you have standard or equivilent tyres.)

If you were to put 2 tyres under the bongo (unnecessarily, as Bob said), you'd bottom out.
IMO if you got 2 different size tyres, have you're spare the same size as the narrower front tyre, this will then do front & back quite happily, by having the bigger tyre as the spare, if you do use it on the front, it'll unbalance the steering.

If your talking 195's on the fronts, and 215,s on the rears, then that is normal when they are imported.

I had no end of trouble with the 195's they would not last long at all. I was told ( by Wheelquick) I would be better off with suitable 215's all round. I'm now on the suitable 215's all round, and have never had it so good for so long. Also if you do this you would solve you spare worry as well.

We have 215's all round on ours and the handling, stability and ride is so much better, you really notice the difference.

The use of the same size tyres all round is the best option, i have had my bongo since 2004 and have always had the same size tyres all round on my 4wd version with no problems.

Bob wrote:Although the tyres are different sizes the circumferance is the same, this is critical with 4wd,

Can you clarify this please. The Fact Sheet says otherwise

We've had 215s all round on our 4WD since we got it 3 years ago too. Didn't even realise that they weren't built this way until I read it on this forum. Had no problems with it so far, and the handling is excellent. Recently fitted new tyres all round and improved it even more, especially since I had the wheels balanced and got rid of the typical Bongo "shimmy" at 60mph. All perfectly smooth now at all speeds.

Here you go chaps

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

195/70 and 215/65 -maybe 1% difference when new, when worn differently who can say. So for practical purposes the same circumference.

Different tyre sizes chosen in Japan to promote some understeer, regarded as safer (translation of Japanese literature in Russia finally nailed this ). So not to 'pretension' 4wd as some have believed in the past.

With 15inch wheels, 2wd and 4wd can run on 215/65s all round or 195/70 front 215/65 rear, (or even 195/70 all round).

Our tyre plate also suggests higher profile alternatives



I would say of you have different size front and rear, use what you choose on the spare, and regard it as a temporary get you home, if its on the 'wrong' axle.

Its going to be safer than a skinny space saver that is for most Bongos well past its legal age. The only place for a Bongo skinny space saver is at the council recycling!

(We have run 215s all round for 3 yrs and have a 215 on the spare)

hmm, havin them all the same size seems the best way to go. As it is the front tyres can loose grip in cornering, n they loose their thread quickly. Could be just tracking, but it seems good to have em equal. Its just the tyre needing chaning not the whole wheel right?
I made the stove n sink based on it all slantin a bit so it'll mess that up now, but prob not too badly

Trevor has nailed it 100% on all fronts. I don't think the finer points matter as its harder to think of anything nastier than driving home on the space saver (which of course failes to match the profile of ALL of the tyres by a clear kilometre).

I'm disappointed Trevors plate gives not advice for 17" and 18" tyre users. Hey ho

trevd01 wrote: With 15inch wheels, 2wd and 4wd can run on 215/65s all round or 195/70 front 215/65 rear, (or even 195/70 all round).

Do not even so much as think about it, let alone give it any serious consideration.

Mine came like that (I didn't know any better at the time) and I really began to hate it - then I bought some 16" alloys and fitted excellent 215/60 Vredestein Quatracs all round and it was transformed beyond all expectation.

I have 2wd with 195/70 front 215/65 rear. When I got a spare to replace the skinny, I made the decision to replace with 215/65 96 purely on the loading.

Manny

patjunfa wrote:hmm, havin them all the same size seems the best way to go. As it is the front tyres can loose grip in cornering, n they loose their thread quickly. Could be just tracking, but it seems good to have em equal. Its just the tyre needing chaning not the whole wheel right?
I made the stove n sink based on it all slantin a bit so it'll mess that up now, but prob not too badly

I doubt it'll make any difference to the stance of the vehicle, as already said, it's the width of the tyre, rather than the diameter that should be smaller. The diameter should be near enough the same.
Make sure your load & speed rating are correct too, minimum of 92S front & 96S rear, my 17" tyres are 98W XL (extra load), better to err on the side of caution with something as important as tyres on such a heavy vehicle.
Tracking should be between -1 & 7mm toe in, mine are set parallel (0mm toe in) & seem to wear very evenly.
If yours is 4wd & the fronts are wearing out quickly it could be that they are the wrong size, so I'd definitely go for the same size all round & no you don't need to change the wheels