Help me size my spare tire

I have the these TRD wheels on my 2006 4x4 TRD Off Road Double Cab:

Genuine Toyota Tacoma Bronze 16" TRD Bronze Beadlock Style Alloy Wheel (replaces PTR18-35090-BR) PTR56-35220-F5 | Elmhurst Toyota Parts

I believe these are the specs: 16-in. x 7.5-in. x 10-mm. six-spoke low-pressure alloy wheels with 5.5-in. (139.7-mm.) bolt circle and 106-mm. center bore.

I have 285/75/16 tires on them.

My spare tire is the original steel wheel and I want to get tires that will allow me to have minimal difference between the other wheels.

Will I have to get new wheels (matching) to get the same offset etc...? or can I get by with the steels?

 

If you're asking about a single tire to match the 285s then 255/85/16 should get you fairly close (at least 33"). Anything bigger than that likely won't fit under the bed

 

Will I need spacers when putting it on one of the hubs?

 

Buy a Matching Rim and start doing a 5 tire rotations. Your Rim is pretty expensive but knowing that you can just swap them out and be on your way is a nice feeling.

 

^No. 255/85-16 fits on your factory +30mm offset wheels without spacers.

 

I would use the spare steel wheel I have and find a good used 265/75/16 tire for about $30 to use as a spare. That size is close enough for temporary use.

I keep plugs, tools, and a small compressor in all of my vehicles. In the last 20-30 years I've only had to resort to the spare one time. I've used the compressor and occasionally the plugs at least 20 times. Mostly to help other stranded drivers. I can almost always just air up a flat and make it to a tire shop and let them fix the problem. In rare cases I may need to resort to plugging the tire. Depending on where the problem is I may leave it, or I may still take it to a shop for a better repair.

It is a lot simpler, easier, faster, cleaner, and safer to do this than have to put on the spare. I would ALMOST be willing to run without a spare, but I'm not that confident. I did have two incidents where the hole was too big for plugs. Both tires were ruined. One of them took 3 plugs and held air long enough for me to make it a few miles to an exit and a tire shop. They couldn't save the tire, but they put the spare on. The other time I did have to use the spare.