People only buying 4 new tires, what about your spare ?

Just have noticed alot of posts where folks list for sale 4 tires and say something in description like " only drove from lot home " and decided to do a lift and go with bigger tires etc etc .. what do they do, just keep the stock size spare tire under back and use it in case they have a flat .. some guys go with alot bigger tire and i was just curious how the spare tire/wheel would do should they have to use it with 3 other tires that are much bigger. Just a thought

 

You should have a matching sized spare. I would not even run a tire if I could not keep a matching sized spare under the truck. Even when I went 265/75 I made sure I had a matching spare.

 

When I purchased my 17" BBS wheels to replace my 16" steel wheels, I bought a 17" FJ steel wheel to use as the spare. Five new tires all the same size. Should have same size spare so the axle isn't damaged using different sizes.

 

I buy 5 and am told I'm crazy. I rotate my spare in and always have a full size matching spare that I don't need to stress about fixing right away

 

I do the same thing. Only down-side is you have to buy a stock wheel from the dealer (Not always cheap) and start off with a matching OE tire (maybe a few $). To me, the up-side far outweighs the initial buy-in:

1) Read the fine print in most owners manuals and on a BS less than full-size spare. Most say stuff like drive under 55 or 45 mph and no more than 50 miles. Only thing that would be good for is getting to the closest exit or station. I travel a bit, that scenario alone can save or ruin a day. And wait until someone you know drives one a little too fast and a little too long and you have to buy a new one, they aren't cheap (Ask me how I know)
2) Continuing on the fine print, check the load limit on a mini spare, or even a "Full Size" (But not actually the same size/spec spare (like the ones that come on VWs now It may be way less than what you have loaded in the truck.
3) When you inevitably get a flat at say 25-35k miles, you'll get hit with "You need to replace the tires in pairs to keep ride/handling/OD the same and safe..." If you have been doing a 5 tire rotation, you are still good to go. Might be able to plug/patch the flat one and use that as a spare until your ready for a whole new set.
4) If you do not have a lift or want to mess with jack stands, rotating 5 tires is way, way easier; drop the spare, follow the pattern around the vehicle just jacking up one at a time. Also has benefit of helping you keep an eye on the spare, or not been in a situation where you had not actually dropped it for years and when needed, it is freaking rusted/frozen solid (Ask me how I know!)
5) There is the factor of having a spare that is the exact same spec and OD. I think that is why so many cars make you stay under a certain speed and distance with the crap mini ones, no doubt it places stress on the drivetrain. 4x4 would be even worse. My Audi did have a full size spare and stern warnings about not keeping same OD/spec tires all around. My BMW AWD had run-flats, they said to save space and to maintain safety/performance (see #1) and not damage the $$$$$ BMW drivetrain. Those BMW run-flats are cool in concept, perfect traction, even flat you can go hundreds of miles at 55+ but Fffffuuuuukkkk they only last ~ 27-32k, were actually fragile and almost $400 each. I got burned with (#3) twice, then went and bought a 5th wheel.
6) When it's time to say good-by to the car/truck, put the mini one back in and you can sell the OE 5th wheel/tire pretty easy.

YMMV, but 100% chance this will be my SOP until further notice.

 

.

 

I get 4 new all terrains whenever they wear out. I don't rotate my spare in because..while it matches size wise.. I normally get a cheap all terrain or even a highway tire for my spare... honestly if I get a flat on the trail... I'm heading home in the shortest route possible... because I don't have 2 spares....

I can't justify spending another 250 bucks on a matching all terrain. Especially when I still have the stock steel spare.

Usually whatever is on sale or overstock... I don't care if it's 2-3 years old either.. I change my spare every 6-8 years or so..

 

If you plan to keep the factory rims and want to rotate the spare in you can usually pick one up for cheap. A lot of people ditch the factory rims. I paid $125 US delivered for a 17 inch stock Toyota alloy rim.

 

Full size mounted on beadloock ready to go just need my crusin off-road bumper to mount it properly
Rotate 2 times a year

 

I don't rotate the spare in so I just buy a cheaper tire for the spare in a matching size. Currently have a Pathfinder AT as the spare. With open diffs, you aren't going to hurt anything running two different sizes (within reason and for a short time) but if you're on the trail and the need arises to use the locker, things can get bad fast, more so on pavement.

 

I now buy 5 and rotate my spare in. Previously I bought a steelie with the proper backspacing and a same sized brand new Cooper ST that i happened to find at a local tire shop for cheap.

 

I've always just had cheapo spares. Usually a used tire of the same diameter but less wide. Right now I have one the was given to me by a friend it's an old BFG Mud Terrain 235/85/16 making it the same diameter as my 265/75/16 KO2s

 

I got a deal on 4 used wheels and tires, now I need one more tire of the same size to mount up as a spare. I was hoping to find a decent used one to save a few bucks but it looks like I'll just buy new. I agree, your spare should at least match in diameter so it can be rotated in and used as a proper spare.

 

I run 4 33s and have a stock spare, I read somewhere that you can use it in a pinch, it'll just be lopsided. I imagine its like using a donut . I will however be getting a used tire to throw on there soon anyway just to be safe.

 

Used tire places will cut you a deal on singles because they are harder to move than a pair and if your spare is still a good tire they may even give you some cash for it. That's how I've always gotten similar sized spares.

 

Eh. waste imo.

As long as spare is same height as your others you will be ok.

 

If there isn't a huge difference it won't matter. When I upgraded to 265/75/16 from 265/70/16 I didn't worry about the spare. There is about 1" difference and a set of 265/75's with over about 35,000 miles or so is going to be the same size as 265/70's when new. I wouldn't want a spare 2-3 inches different.

 

The spare tire eventually has to be replaced anwyays, so I figure I might as well get my money's worth out of it. I do five tire rotations; I don't want to be the guy that realizes his spare is a street tire that's 13 years old.

 

I don't do much off road so if I'm not close enough to limp to a shop or home on my spare I call AAA

 

I bought all 5 when I went from stock to 255/85/16, but I did chose to swap out the OEM rim with an inexpensive steel one, at the time I got in on the SCS Ray10 group buy and did not even thing about asking for a 5th, but since it's tucked under the truck for now I don't care. I just wanted to be sure I had a matching size spare in case I needed to change on trail. I could have saved $60 but if I flatted a front I would have had to move a rear to the front and the spare to the rear as the backspace on the OEM rims would not clear my JBA UCAs.