Going to bigger tires...can I leave spare???

[larryq]

It looks like my stock Michelins are ready to be put out to pasture.



The truck has almost 60,000 miles now... so nothing to complain about as far as how long OEM tires lasted...



The truck came with 245/75/r16 and I've decided to go to the 265/75/r16's tyhat come on the newer trucks now.



I'd like to go straight to a 285's but that's a No Go... .

The truck just BARELY fits in my garage as it is now with the 245's.



The 245's have a rolling diameter of 30. 5" and the 265's have 31. 7.





the 265's additional 1. 2 inches will only net a lift of . 600... . (Plus or minus the new thread depth)





Right now I've got a 3. 5" headspace between the cab clearance lights and the header of the garage door... . so I should be ok.





The spare tire (which has never been used) will remain the stocker 245.



Should I need to use it when 265's are all around will I have any trouble???



I have an "Open" differential in the back, no L. S. for me thank you.



And the truck is a 4WD... ...



I would think that if I got a flat in the back... No Prob... ...



But it's the front I'm worried about.....



If I get a flat in front, will I have to swap a rear 265 to the front and put the 245 spare only on the rear of the truck???





I'd see the use of the spare was only in an emergency... and would only keep the 245 on long enough to get to a tire shop.







What Say Ye???



Thanks

Larry

 

[Dieselnerd]

I kept my 245 spare when I went to 265's. I have a LS rear end and 4x4 so my concern is putting it on the rear causing LS clutch slippage while driving straight. I doubt it would be a problem unless you had to drive a really long way. I hated to buy another 265 Michelin just to hang underneath. I don't rotate the spare. I'm from the old school where you only rotate tires from front to back keeping their direction of travel the same. I know, they say it's OK to rotate in every direction but when I did that with the original tires, one threw a tread. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. They were Goodyears so who knows...

 

[Oasis-3]

Larry

When you get new tires ask the tire man about a used 265.

When I put my 285's on my tire man wanted to give me 3 used 265's just like I was taking off.

Hope this helps

Cliff

 

[HC]

IMO, you'll be just fine as long as you don't engage 4WD, with the slightly smaller spare in either front or rear positions. You're basically planning to use the spare the same way folks use "space saver" spares, but you've got a real tire so you are in much better shape than those folks. However, if you engage 4WD, then the effect on your drive train would be roughly the same as locking in 4WD and then driving in a big circle on a paved parking lot. In other words, it's OK to use 4WD to get un-stuck or run through a mud-hole, but disengage it as soon as you can. An engineer, or a Liability Lawyer, would point out that handling could be effected, but, I bet you won't be able to tell the difference. ABS brakes might act differently in a panic stop; but that is already an issue if changing tire sizes. If someone gives you a same-size spare, I might take it, but, no need to buy one unless your current spare has age or dry rot issues.