Fitting 255/85R16 Spare?? Its Stuck

I thought I read on here that a 255/85R16 would squeeze in the factory spare tire location, 3rd Gen.
I just had 285/75R17s (34s) installed and went with a 255/85R16 (33) for a spare. I did the tire hanger move mod and had to cut about 1" off the trailer hitch sleeve of my RCI rear bumper. I also deflated the tire to 20 psi though I doubt that made much difference. It is getting hung up on the rear leaf spring hangers(brackets).
Thoughts or advice?

 

Is it rubbing on the exhaust? I cut mine off just after the rear axle.

 

It's funny that you're posting this because I just shoved a 285/75/17 spare up there yesterday! I also aired it down to around 20psi and had a similar issue with it getting hung up on that bracket. Basically I just kicked the crap out of it until it went up. It's sitting about 1/4" from the exhaust on the other side right now.

Just to double check, you smashed down/cut off the factory "ears" right?

 

Nope, with moving the tire hanger back and cutting ~1" off my trailer hitch tube the spare tire moved back far enough that there is now some space between the tire and exhaust.

 

No - which ears do I need to remove???

 

I got a 255/85-16 fully inflated in the spare position just by adjusting the ears with a hammer. No relocation, no cutting. Does take a little alignment to get it in position the first time.

 

That is the exact tire I have! I guess there are no excuses to not get it to fit.
Do you have a picture of the ears???

 

nice!

 

Checked and don't have one, but I can get one later. They're the two tabs angled down on the cross-brace or carrier, whatever you want to call it, that locate the spare as it's winched up. Gently hammering them outward from center gives more clearance for the tire, it's kind of a trial and error deal. Hammer some, lift the tire, check the fit, repeat.

 

As requested:




This is a 235/80-17, and you can see where the tabs have been encouraged outward slightly to fit a 255/85.

 

@clip THANK YOU! I see you have extended brake lines too.
I looked at it yesterday after work and see that the tire is hitting one of these ears and the shackle hanger on the driver's side and the exhaust hanger on the passenger side. It looks like if I bend those ears back the tire will squeeze in there. It will be TIGHT.
"This is a 235/80-17, and you can see where the tabs have been encouraged outward slightly to fit a 255/85." - hmmmm, now you have me thinking; I didn't know 235/80R17 size was out there, a narrower 32" inch might have been enough, although with me me running 34's it is probably better that I go with a 33" if I can make it fit

 

I would've kept the 255/85s all around but the wheels weren't quite the right offset - the G003 255s worked great with the SEMA wheels at +4, zero rubbing but I had them remounted on some old Eagle 102s with a -20 offset, which made them just clip the bottom corner of the fender flare on compression. Didn't want to risk it when stuffing a tire on the trail so I dropped back down to an even skinnier 32" KO2.

I think you made the right call with the 255 spare, matching the 34s as close as you can.

 

I took a hammer and knocked the "ears most of the way up and the tire fits, very tight fit but it fits.
Driver side shackle bracket, diff, and exhaust hanger on passenger's side. Nothing larger will fit.