spare tire question ( yes I have researched)

I have 17 inch rims on my truck with 265/70/17 tires. Slightly taller than stock. My spare rim is a 16 inch. Can I put a 265/75/16 tire on the spare? The circumference of the tires is almost the same. Is there an issue with running different rim sizes? Any advice or bump if advice hasn't been given would help. Thank you.

 

What makes a difference is the rolling circumference. That is all that matters. You have according to your chart barely a 1% difference. You can run that as a spare with no problems.

 

That was quick. Thank you.

 

You can have a larger difference as long as you keep it in 2 wheel. It just a spare, so meant for a short term, get ya home sorta deal. Might throw your speedo off micro amounts, but mechanically it would be like your doing a very very very gradual left (or right) turn.

 

Not to sound like a dick, but Toyota wouldn't have put it there if it wasn't okay to use. I'm glad you made the post though. I'm sure there are plenty of people that didn't know. I had to ask my dad (worked a tire shop for years) if the 17" wheels i bought would fit on my truck and he said, " yes but you will have to go with a new tire, one with a shorter sidewall." The 1% you'll never notice. The tires are the same circumference from tread center to tread center. The middle number 265/75R16 is the sidewall height. it is slightly taller sidewall on the smaller wheel to equal the height of the 17" 265/70R17. 17" wheels mean you have one more inch of wheel to damage off road, but 16" wheels means you have slightly more sidewall to damage off road.

Also a good rule of thumb, REPLACE the spare tire if you run it long enough to wear the little rubbers off of it. A lot of people buying used vehicles always check the spare tire to see if it has ever been used. Now, you don't have to replace it, but a replacement spare isn't really too expensive. And it is nice to know, god forbid you ever need it again, that it is brand new. Just my thoughts...Safe Travels!

 

Could I get away with the 265/70/16 tire I have now as a spare? I'm just worried I'll get a flat when I'm wheeling 300 miles from home and I don't want to drive home on a tire that's an inch shorter if it will pull my truck in one direction or make sensors go off.

 

Yes just don't run on it for weeks. use it to get home or to a shop. if it is really bothersome, you can keep a tire repair and plug kit in your truck. that is what guys who run bigger tires than stock do. you just may have to plug it a few times to lug it home...nice and slow.

You'll be fine.

 

I'm doing some research and it says all have trouble in 4 wheel drive with a smaller spare. I'll probably get a flat on the trail. I think I'll get the 265/75/16 unless someone chimes in.

 

You'd be surprised how well modern tires hold up and how far you can take that truck in 2wd. You shouldn't use a smaller spare for 4wd use but if you absolutely had to, you could.

 

Any tire that is 1 inch shorter on one side will tend to want to pull. You can't avoid that. I think your initial tire size of 265/75R16 would be the best spare to have.

 

Dropped off the spare for a 265/75r16 this morning. Thanks for all the help.

 

Picked up the 265/75/16. looks good and is the same brand and model as my 265/70/17s

 

Awesome! I knew I has no real choice on my tires, so I just said screw it and bought a set of 5 tires, and a set of 5 wheels...lol