Bongo Fury

Hi All,

The question is in the topic.
What size am i best going for for a full size spare?

15" steel is what most people go for, but as long as the rolling diameter is the same size as the tyres fitted, it shouldn't matter. I guess if you've got alloys, it's an idea to carry a set of wheel nuts for a steel wheel ( must get around to getting some) or using an old alloy as a spare.

It depends on what size wheels and tyres you've got fitted to your Bongo - tell us that and we can answer your question accurately

195 70 r15 front 215 70 r15 rear on my SGL5

195 70 r15 front 215 70 r15 rear on my SGL5

Those are the sizes you should go for as a spare. Either will do.

(The two different sizes are only a couple of % different in diameter,
it's generally acknowledged that up to 2.5% difference is acceptable).

SD

I havent checked, but will both those widths fit underneath?

Yep, no problem. I've got 16" wheels, with a 16" spare underneath, and it fits OK.


I have a couple of steels spare, unfortunately I'm not near you....

SD

what size are the spares we,ve been looking to buy a spare to replace our space saver - and we are near you -not sure what size our wheels are though -need to check later.

Etienne & Katie wrote:195 70 r15 front 215 70 r15 rear on my SGL5

Those tyres are 4.3% different in size and, I believe, may damage your viscous coupling The standard size rear tyre is 215 /65 r15, which is only a 1% difference.

Etienne & Katie wrote:195 70 r15 front 215 70 r15 rear on my SGL5

I have the same set-up with a full size spare that is the same size as the rear wheels, when I had an MOT the tester added it as aconcern that if I had a punture on the front and fitted this tyre it would be unsafe!

francophile1947 wrote:

Etienne & Katie wrote:195 70 r15 front 215 70 r15 rear on my SGL5

Those tyres are 4.3% different in size and, I believe, may damage your viscous coupling The standard size rear tyre is 215 /65 r15, which is only a 1% difference.

Apologies, I skim-read the sizes, and saw 215/65 - teach me not to pay attention!

Are you sure they're 215/70's on the rear, Etienne and Katy?

SD


PS Karena, PM sent

definitely 215/70 on the rear. is this going to cause a problem?? i dont really want to replace two tyres that are in good nick!!

Etienne & Katie wrote:definitely 215/70 on the rear. is this going to cause a problem?? i dont really want to replace two tyres that are in good nick!!

If you look at

http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual ... calculator

It shows, as John pointed out earlier, that there's 4.3% difference in tyre size front axle to back axle. John says that 2.5% is the recommended max recommended difference, he has consistently given good advice on the forum, and what he says agrees with another site

http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyresize.html

The problem, much simplified, is that, with four wheel drive, all the wheels are connected together. The rear wheels, being 4% bigger, are doing one revolution on the road, whilst the (smaller) front wheels are having to turn one and a bit (104.3%) times. As they are connected, this causes stress in the system, which can lead to failure of (say) the differential.

I understand when you say you don't want the expense of replacing good tyres, (After all, I'm a Yorkshireman ), however a new diff will cost a lot more

Why don't you look out for two steel wheels (215/65 x 15") here on the forum, and on fleabay, £15 -£20 with reasonable tyres should be fair.

Hope this helps,

SD

Etienne & Katie wrote:Hi All,

The question is in the topic.
What size am i best going for for a full size spare?

PM sent

I agree 215/70 is the wrong size and could be storing up much more costly problems than fitting 2 correctly sized tyres.

Did you have them fitted? or did you buy it like that?

I would be tempted to have the spare the same WIDTH as the front tyres so as to avoid any steering imbalance - a difference in tyre width on the rear where the wheels are just "trailing" is (IMHO) less likely to unbalance the handling.

The problem may be finding a 195 width tyre that has the correct load rating for use on the rear axle.