Tyre pressures/size

[Giffybongo]

Hi there,

Girlfriend has recently bought a 1999 Bongo, a 2.5TD, rear wheel drive, automatic.

The tyres on it when she bought it are 205/70 R15C on steel wheels. Is there any reason the previous owner would have fitted these rather than say 215/65 R15s, which seem to be the standard/most commonly fitted size?

Should we stick with this size when its time to replace the tyres or go with 215/65 R15s? And does anyone know what pressures we should be running the current 205s at?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated guys.

Thanks

[Bob]

Hi, and welcome aboard.

The original spec is 195/70 92 S on the front, 215/65 96S on the blunt end, there are tyre size calculators free on line if you fancy, but what your friend has seems fine. The load rating is important as these are heavy lumps.

Many of us run with 215s all round and it's done me well for 14 years.

The slightly different sizes give the same rolling circumference, which is vital on a 4wd, not a problem on a rear wheel drive.

Various theories I've heard include money saving for Mazda and slightly better steering.

Tyre pressures are listed as 30 front/34 rear. I find this a little soft and run 38/40.

Also well worth checking the spare, if you have the original 'skinny' it's worth sourcing a full size rim and new tyre, it will fit perfectly.

Hope that helps a bit.

[ever after.]

Also well worth checking the spare, if you have the original 'skinny' it's worth sourcing a full size rim and new tyre, it will fit perfectly.

Must do that, had to put on the skinny wheel the other day and it's not exactly confidence inspiring

[Giffybongo]

Thats great, guys. Many thanks for the replies!

[Tom.GT]

The slightly different sizes give the same rolling circumference, which is vital on a 4wd, not a problem on a rear wheel drive.

So I definitely shouldn’t go ahead with fitting the set of four 215/65/15 tyres I’ve just bought to my 4WD then?

[Bob]

Same size all round is fine, they will (obviously) have the same rolling circumference.

That’s what’s on mine.