Bongo Fury

Yesterday at 5.30am i had the misfortune to have a puncture on the near side rear on my 2 wheel drive which turned out to be a bit of a saga when i bought the bongo in April checked the jack was there handle and wheel brace and the adapter for the locking nuts was in the glove box everything i thought was ok then i had the puncture to my horror i found that the locking nut was a different size to the wheel nuts and i had nothing to fit not to worry called green flag excellent service there in no time he was very reluctant to fit my space saver wheel as i have 18'' alloys fitted and recommended that he transported me to my tyre depot which i agreed no problem as that was where i would have driven it anyway so i would like the views of members on fitting a 15'' spare on the rear with 18'' wheel on the other side also it may be worth checking the size of your locking nuts and wheel nuts not to get caught like me.

I thought that the wheels on the same axle had to be the same size to comply with the law. I stand to be corrected.
I would do it to get me to the nearest garage though.

Sorry to hear of your trouble.

Don't forget thet the spacesaver tyre is as old as your Bongo....and they are a accident waiting to happen anyway....why not invest about £30 in a fullsize spare wheel/tyre....it will fit in the same place as the spacesaver.

wormey wrote:I thought that the wheels on the same axle had to be the same size to comply with the law. I stand to be corrected.
I would do it to get me to the nearest garage though.

Sorry to hear of your trouble.

Properly marked* spacesaver spares are exempt from normal legal niceties (and normal common sense) apparently.

*Must be distinctively marked with maximum speed and range for use.

thanks Hayden that was the answer i was hoping for will now start looking what cars have 18'' steel wheels with the same PCD or will it be a van.

With respect - properly marked or not - a fifteen year old skinny bit of nylon compound ain't up to the job of lugging its share of a two ton van very far, they were barely up to the job when new.

Bin it or use it as an ornamental garden planter, stick a full size steel spare in the back instead.

It makes sense.



Edit: a 15" steel with an original size tyre is likely to have as near as dammit the same rolling circuferance as your 18's.

It'll be fine for a short while - just don't try to put it through an MOT like that.

i have 18" alloys fitted and have put a 15" full size 215/70/15 underneath where the spacesaver rubbish was as it will be ok if have a puncture to get me home but i also keep a set of 5 standard wheel nuts in the bongo as well for the steel wheel

valley boy wrote:thanks Hayden that was the answer i was hoping for will now start looking what cars have 18'' steel wheels with the same PCD or will it be a van.

Rim size is irrelevant as MM says. The tyre diameter is all that matters.

Spot on! I have a 15" steel wheel spare "full size" yet have 18" alloy wheels. My tyres are 235/40/18, and the full size 15" spare is a 225/60/15 less than 1% overall diameter difference despite a 3" difference in rim size.

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