Purchasing Full-size spare ?

OneMnk said:

I plan on purchasing a full size spare for my lifted 05, but had a few questions.

Im running 17x9 Moto Metals with 285/70/17 BFG MT's. Will I need to run another 17x9 rim or will a 17x8 or 16x8 do? with the same size tire? (285/70/17 or 285/75/16).

Im not looking for an easy fix. Mainly that if I get a flat in the desert I will be able to drive a couple hundred miles home without a problem.

Also would it matter much if I used an AT tire? (to save money)

Thanks,
Pat

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you should be fine using the wheel from your spare tire. i'm not sure if a 285 will fit in the spare location though. a 265 will fit with with minor modification.

i say get whatever tire you want/can afford. an AT tire will be fine, it's not like you'll plan on using it.

the spare is a shitty 245 I plan to just mount the full size in the bed whenever I need it. My real question is the size of the rim (16" rim and 16" tire are cheaper then 17")

OneMnk said:

the spare is a shitty 245 I plan to just mount the full size in the bed whenever I need it. My real question is the size of the rim (16" rim and 16" tire are cheaper then 17")

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Because I'm anal about small details like that, I'd get a matching spare tire. I replaced my shitty 34 Dunflop with a Wrangler SA, even though I'll probably never use it. At least I know its there and it'll still look good if I ever have to change a flat

I found a barely used 285-16 BFG A/T off a wreck on Ebay for $30. It is like new. Mounted it to the spare rim and I carry a 1/4" wheel spacer just incase I have to use the spare. I carry it in the bed. And I live less than 1 mile from a brand new Lowes and Wal-mart, so, I can take it out with no worries when I need to haul some stuff.

FWIW- I read somewhere that as long as the two tire diameters on the driven axle are within 1/4" of eachother, it is fine. Again, take that for what it is worth to you. But, it's cool to have a full-sized spare just in caes one of the tires gets a little damage or has to be plugged. You can just rotate the bad/plugged one to the spare position. It never hurts to have a useable/workable/matching tire around.

Ahh so having a 16" rim with a 16" tire would not cut it then? I guess I'll just bite the bullet for a matching!

^ well, not really. A 16" wheel with a 285-75 should be fairly close in diameter to a 265-75-17. Like within the 1/4" I mentioned.

According to the tire calculator, a 285-75-16 is 32.8" dia. A 265-75-17 is 32.6". Just let a little air out of the 285 and you are golden...I would think.

SOmebody check my work, please.

i'm confused now with what you are talking about. you can get a 285/75/16 spare which is 32.8" in diameter. your 285/70/17 tires are about 32.7" in diameter. pretty close numbers. but i don't know how close they need to be to safely operate the vehicle if you have to use the spare. my guess is, that since you have mt's on the regular rims, if you go with an AT for the spare, the diameters will end up being very close to the same.

^ you're right, Tuscon. Thanks. Don't know why I said 265-75. I seem to always forget they make 285-70-17, I guess.

Sorry OneMnk.

Ah another question is. Do you guys know how wide our stock spare tire rim is? I was thinking about using that rim to mount a full size 285-75-16 tire (BFG AT/MT or something cheap) What do you guys think of that idea?

Anyone know how the different weight of the rim + tire compared with the full size (4) would affect driving? Im assuming that if I got a flat in the rear all I would have to do is take a good front tire and move it to the back and place the spare up front. Please help as I need to purchase a spare tommorow.

I believe I also saw a thread before of some guys fitting there spare with a bigger tire back into the stock spot. Is it possible with a 33"?

I have a 285-75-16 on the spare, steel rim. It's fine, balanced up good, too. Liek I said, I carry a 1/4" wheel spacer with the spare (b/c the 285 on the spare rim will rub the UCA's). But, you could do like you are saying and just move the spare to the rear and the good tire to the front every time.

There are 2 legs/stops that hang down from the crossmember where the spare sits. If you cut those out or beat them back/down, you can fit a 285 up under there, but the problem then becomes the heat from the exhaust. You'd need some kind of heat shield.

Ahh ty Bill, you answered my question. Do you think it will matter if I use an AT tire as opposed to a MT?

OneMnk said:

Ahh ty Bill, you answered my question. Do you think it will matter if I use an AT tire as opposed to a MT?

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Do you mean as far as storing it or using it with the other tires?

I'd try to get what you have if you are going as far to get like sizes. The same tire size (285) may have diameters that differ slightly from m/t to a/t. I dunno.

I meant as far as using it with the other tires. Putting it in the front with the other 3 being 17x9 285 MTs. Im assuming it will be fine since it wont be a drive wheel. I'll just have to pick up a 1/4" spacer then as well.

Onemnk the size won't matter as long as the diffs are open diffs. If you were running an LSD then you would want to stay close to the same size tires but with an open diff it doesn't really matter. It's no different then a car putting a little dinky spare on, if the diffs are open you'll be fine.

AN to the rescue again! HAHAHA... that is what I was taught... open diff- it don't matter... just don't engage the locker!