Did you upgrade your spare when you changed tire size?
 

Just wondering how many of you who tow and have changed tire sizes from stock changed your spare too? Seems like a bad idea to have a smaller spare if you should need it while towing.

Probably wouldn't have thought about it but I'm looking at new tires and was debating about 285/65/18 vs the stock 275/65/18's. The difference in price is minimal and I was leaning toward the larger size until I started thinking about potential issues. Now I'm leaning toward staying stock.

I always upgrade the spare along with the other tires. Even if I stay the same size tire but go to a better (load range E 10 ply vs. P series), more aggressive tire, I will still change out the spare. I live 100 miles from any "good" tire shops so I don't want to get caught without a proper spare. Also, I wouldn't want to have a flat while towing heavy, then have to limp along fighting the truck with a mismatched spare.

I'm also thinking of going with some 285/65/18s. Toyo ATIIs to be exact.

I didn't when I went from 20" P rated to 17" LT rated tires., For one thing I would need a new rim as well: the spare is 18".

Guess I'm just feeling lucky these days ...;)

With so many views and so few responses, I'm going to assume that means that most people did not (but do not want to admit it).

I've pretty much decided that if I do change sizes, I'll be buying 5 tires.

It's something that most folks don't think about. I do, I've been caught without a spare before. It's also the reason I only buy vehicles that can have a fullsize spare stored where the spare goes.

Soo....I upgraded to 33 inch tires and 20 inch rims (originals were the stock Lariat chrome clad 18"s). I'm assuming that if I were to upgrade the spare to match, that I would no longer be able to store it under the truck?

I had a Mazda B4000 4x4 (rebadged Ranger) with bigger tires. I got a flat and put on the spare, and drove about 30 miles with a mismatched tire... When I got to Les Schwab, I got 2 new tires, a take off tire and wheel for the same size spare, then found out why the previous owner had done it that way, the bigger tire wouldn't fit between the frame rails so I had to carry it in the bed....

Possible I suppose but given that stock size is 32", I imagine a 33" would fit (and I would hope it would considering a 33" tire fits under a short bed Nissan Frontier...)

I'm not quite as concerned with the diameter of the tire as much as the width. Guess I'll just have to try it and find out.

What width did you do with for your tires?

It should fit. The Ford Raptor spare fits up under there and that's 34.5" x 12".

Tires are Goodyear Duratracs, 285/60-20, so a smidge over 11 inches wide.

I upgraded to 33s, and figured once I wore out the 33s and got another set, I'd throw one under for the spare. 'Till then I'm living dangerously with an undersized spare :sweatdrop:

Just a little FYI for those that don't know but if you have over sized tires but yours spare is stock size. if you have to change to the spare it will damage your LSD in you rear axle because on tire is spinning faster the the other. if you have a open diff its not a big deal to have two different size tires on one axle. If you do get a flat with different sized spare and you have a LSD rear end you can always swap your front larger tire to the rear and put the spare on the steering wheels because all of the stock 4wd has a open front diff.

Im aware if this but thats good you posted this cuz lot of people dont realize this!
Im 2wd so like you said, throwing the smaller spare up front isnt gonna hurt anything other than my ego ahaha

It seems like 33s would fit in the spare tire location easily, but what about different WHEELS with a different offset/backspace? I want to put DC Torque 17x8.5 with 285/70-17 under there, but not even the tech at Dick Cepek knows if it will fit.

this is a great question and it something that people dont think about untill they are on the side of the road or even worse untill the damage there truck.When you run two different sizes on the same axle your differential has to make up for the differance in hight by constantly spinning the clutches and/or spider gears. You will tear up an axle quick like that. I bought my 04 xlt with 20'' 275 60 20, and it still has the stock 17'' spare under it. I just took a 400mile road trip and I was so worried about it I ended up bringing 2 of my stock 17 wheels with me so I could change both on the same axle if I got a flat. Now im looking for a used full size rim to use as a spare.

So long as the overall diameter of the tire is the same, you should be fine regardless of wheel size.

I just ordered Toyos in the load range 'E' at stock size. Looking forward to seeing how much of a difference there is when towing. I'll find out Friday, tires go on at 1, TT gets hooked up at 4.