Bongo Fury

Hi all,

I know this subject has been covered many times but still seems to be open to some personal interpretation and that too by your friendly local tyre fitter.

I have 215/65/15 on the rear (new) and need to replace fronts which are 195 70 15.
Was thinking why not 215s on the front aswel. I have budget "Nangkangs" £32 fitted each on the rear and seem fine??
My tyre fitter assures me the quality of budget tyres today is not to be sniffed at and that most are made by the large independents anyway.
Will it handle better with 215s all round? and can anyone recommend a brand they are happy with? do they have to be special van tyres for the load rating or do normal car tyres have the same properties dependant on brand?

Thanks for opinions in advance.

i have Nankangs all round 215's no problem with them just make sure they are about 96 load rated.
van tyres are not suitable for a car.

Same size all round is fine, most seem to find the 215s give a grippier ride.

Bear in mind the Bongo is a 2 ton plus van & needs some pretty fierce sidewall support.

Make sure you get a minimum load rating of 92 front/96 rear, most car tyres seem to be 88>91.

Its worth spending a few extra quid on a few extra years of living.

Excellent! Thanks for that, I've forgotten how good this community is! cheers.

We just put 215 65 15 on front lot better ride no scrabble going round steep corners shiuld have changed them 3 years ago

It is indeed a great community and I hope I'm in it for longer than my bike ones (still have bike but not on forums)....but there's just too much information!! So instead of me buying one and being oblivious I now have bought most of the stuff and yet still worry about having 215/65/15 on Rear and 215/70/15 on front and a spacesaver.....
Spacesaver's rubbish, but if I replace it I have to pick which size tyre to put on it....and potentially replace them all to 65/15s!


What's best between 65/15 and 70/15....or is it not worth worrying as they are so close?
(ok I know I can't chop and change them on same axle).


Mind you after the mason alarm, cat 1 alarm, coolant alarm, xyz for inside maybe this is the 'last' thing!
In saying that, better having these things than frying my engine like my mate who was a bit ahead of the bongo curve (and never liked spending money)

Unfortunately the tyres are unlikely to be changed before an Italy trip though.

wanderingscotsman wrote:It is indeed a great community and I hope I'm in it for longer than my bike ones (still have bike but not on forums)....but there's just too much information!! So instead of me buying one and being oblivious I now have bought most of the stuff and yet still worry about having 215/65/15 on Rear and 215/70/15 on front and a spacesaver.....
Spacesaver's rubbish, but if I replace it I have to pick which size tyre to put on it....and potentially replace them all to 65/15s!


What's best between 65/15 and 70/15....or is it not worth worrying as they are so close?
(ok I know I can't chop and change them on same axle).


Mind you after the mason alarm, cat 1 alarm, coolant alarm, xyz for inside maybe this is the 'last' thing!
In saying that, better having these things than frying my engine like my mate who was a bit ahead of the bongo curve (and never liked spending money)

Unfortunately the tyres are unlikely to be changed before an Italy trip though.

The immediately prior post answers your question. 215/65 all round

I am not quite sure whether I am coming in on an ancient thread or whether it is still live........ but it does appear to relate to the query I have come on-line to post!!!

We are still new to Bongo-ing, having bought our 1997 Bongo about 2 months ago. Today we looked at the tyres for the first time.................one was more than a little flat............and consulted the MAZDA BONGO FRIENDEE handbook which came with the Bongo (the one sold by Bongo Fury - the book, not the Bongo) for tyre pressures.
Page 202, "WARNING Different size of tyres are fitted to front and rear wheels........................"
Consulted further up page -2WD Front: 195/70 R15 92S Rear: 215/65 R15 96S

Panic!

The ones fitted on our Bongo (fairly new ones I think) are ALL 215/65 R15 100H

Is this critical?

Does it matter at all?

All help very gratefully received.

Laraine
Norfolk, UK

Whoops! - just realised that the date of the posting is over on the right, not the left, which was the reason I thought it was an ancient thread (2007 !) - and it does appear that the previous posts answer the very query I came on line to sort...............although I am not sure what the end bit - 100H means on my tyres.

Should I still use the tyre pressures of 180 for fronts and 240 for rears?

I think most people run with the same size tyre all round, mine are the same as yours 215 65 R15.
I usually run with the tyre pressure at about 32psi front (2.2 bar) and 34psi rear (2.4bar).

Same size all round is fine, You may be better off with higher pressures a - handbook pressures are based on the softer tyres fitted in japan 14 years ago, I ran my 15" tyres at 38 & 40 psi, with no problems - you'll get better economy & handling too

Thank you for both replies!

does having 215's on the front put any extra stresses on bearings etc or is there no difference have been thinking about swapping for a while now

all smoother to us changed about a month ago . our 195s were van tyres but 215 96 rated tyres on front gives a lot softer ride.