Spare Tire

[BLACKRAM]

Anybody know the largest tire that will fit in the spare tire carrier?

 

[big barney]

2000ney



I run 255 85R 16 Dunlop tires. My spare fits but barely. My tire is right around 33" in diameter.

 

[Dave MacArthur]

big barney-



I have the same size tire and don't have a spare. I am going to go ahead and buy one since they fit. How much pressure do you keep in the spare? Can you put 55 psi in it and still fit it in?



Thanks,



Dave

 

[Skyjacked Ram]

I have 33/12. 5r16. 5 Bfg mudders and my spare fits just snug under the a$$ end. Fully air'd up and ready to go... ... Derek

 

[John]

I have a new BFG 285/75R16 Radial All-Terrain T/A tire mounted on a 16x8 M/T Alcoa Challenger wheel for a spare. The reason I decided to go with the 285 instead of the 295 was because of the spare situation (I wanted a duplicate spare for a multitude of reasons). The 295 will not fit between the frame rails in the spare location whereas the 285 will.



big barney, others have posted here and on other BBs stating 255/85R16 tires mounted on the earlier 16x6. 5 chrome steel wheels will not fit between the frame rails when the tires are new. I know it would be a very close fit... heck, it would have to be as my new 285 is a close fit. I remember a few of the solutions to the 255/85 spare dilema: 1) wear down the tire sufficiently so it can be stored in the stock location or 2) place qty. 2, 2x2s on top of the 255/85 tire to sufficiently space the spare away from the bottom of the frame rails... hey, that wasn't my idea. . don't shoot me I'm just the messenger.

 

[big barney]

Dave



My spare is brand new. It's on the stock rim and filled with 50 lbs of air. I've heard that other brands of tires won't fit, but the Dunlop fits like a glove.

 

[Diesel Dan]

Sorry john you are wrong

I have a 295/75r/16 under the back of my ram. it fits nicely the reason for this is that there is apx 25% tread left on the tire as it is a spare than the remaining tread life is fine. (why waste good money on a new spare as the chance is you will not us it very often)In 10 years running bfg's on my 89CTD i had one flat. This was on my driveway when i sideswiped a newly trimmed bush that had a sharpe pce of a stump sticking out. Changed the tire and then proceded to terminate that bush's exhistance. (it put up a good fight but was no match for the mighty CTD)

 

[John]

Diesel Dan, reread my post and then decide for yourself who is wrong! I stated in the first sentance that I had a NEW 285 spare... it just barely fit between the frame rails. I had a 295 mounted up to check the fit and discovered it would indeed NOT fit! In fact, it wasn't even close! As stated, I was comparing a new 285 tire to a (implied) new 295 tire.



What is your problem?

 

[Roger rodbolt]

wait!!!!

Guys, guys, I've noticed one inch differences in diameters of 285/75R-16 just between brands. BFG tires run larger then many cheaper brands. Also if a wider tire is placed on a stock rim the unloaded center will bulge outward affecting spare fit. Should check the clearance on tailpipe too, some stock systems have a heat shield for the spare and 4" aftermarket systems do not. I have personal experience with a bombed truck melting mud flaps. Nothing like a "flaming spare" to create tire smoke though

 

[Diesel Dan]

John take a chill pill

Relax pal,

all i was doing was stating facts. and first fact is that i have a 295 under my truck. which must be a miracle because "john" says i doesn't fit. the fact that you will not run a different spare size tells me that you dont understand what spider gears were designed to do (if you need an explanation let me know) i fully agree that the spare should be pretty close the the others (one or two sizes max) but i doesn't have to be the same. it is important that if you are running two different sizes on the drive wheels than you should take it easy on the go pedaluntil you get it fixed. And the third fact is that i would not waste $150 on a new tire that probably wont see very much usage when a good used tire works perfectly for a spare. (i can find much better usage for the 110 dollars than to mount it up under the truck) I am not saying that you are wrong to run a new spare but i was just stating to 2000ney that if he found a good used 295 if would fit which it does!!!! so who is wrong. i guess most people can figure that one out. can you?



I am sorry you are so sensitive. But a few more sessions should help.

 

[Cooker]

I like to have 5 tires and wheels (all the same) with one to keep as a spare. This way I have a 5th tire to rotate. I don't have this setup on my Cummins yet, but possibly soon. I know there is more overall cost to begin with, but I seem to get better mileage out of each tire with a rotating spare than I do without (example: 4 tires in rotation = 40,000 miles, 5 tires in rotation = 60,000 miles not 50,000)



Some may set this method as a waste, and others may agree. I do what works for me you do what works for you.



And someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if you have a LSD differential don't you have to run a same size spare (on the diff with the LSD obviously). Otherwise you run the risk of overheating the diff/LSD and buring out the clutches in the LSD?



I'm not trying to step on toes here, just presenting a different point of view.



-Ryan

 

[John]

Re: John take a chill pill

Originally posted by Diesel Dan

the fact that you will not run a different spare size tells me that you dont understand what spider gears were designed to do (if you need an explanation let me know)

Apparently YOU don't have a clue as to what you're talking about. If you did, you'd know that an LSD run with two different size tires on the same axle will destroy the clutches in VERY short order.



Also, YOU are the one that used the mad face in your "post subject" header insinuating that I didn't have a clue when in fact you didn't accurately read and understand my post. I ONLY mentioned NEW tire diameters... He!!, for that matter I suppose you could fit a 38" Monster Mudder between the frame rails if you wore it down enough. If you don't want a new, full size tire for your spare that's your business, I could care less what you do however, others like having a full size, new or relatively new spare they can count on. Additionally, most members want to know what size of new or near new tire WILL fit between the frame rails.



Don't worry about stepping on any toes Cooker, Diesel Dan the differential expert already did so.





Have a nice everyone. . (else).

 

[BLACKRAM]

Gentlemen, gentlemen gentlemen, this was a spare tire question, not a discussion on how best to get bin Laden.



Anyway, I think my question was answered, and I DO appreciate the help. I have Bridgestone 285/75-16's. When new, on stock rims, the tire would not fit in the space provided. Now that the tires are worn down some, I may be able to fit one of my used tires in the carrier, when I replace the others. I guess from the positive comments, that I am very close on tire size, allowing for the size differences between tire brands.

 

[John]

 

[Diesel Dan]

Peace broterin John

I will end this childish bantering apologizing for the mad face on my post subject it was totally out of line. in fact you were not wrong. i just did a poor job of voicing my opinion. a new 295 will not fit between the frame rails a fairly used one will.



Sometimes spirited debates get way out of hand.



Have a great day to all (including you John)

 

[Tomscreek]

I'm putting 285's on pretty soon and was planning on just keeping the factory 265 Michelin spare. I was hoping that a short emergency trip if necessary wouldn't hurt anything. I do not have LSD rear end. What do you guys think?

 

[FDziurda]

Clearance w/Mag Hytec Cover?

Stock tires on my 99 were 245s. When I installed my Mag-Hytec diff cover, I was worried about clearance, so I positioned the spare as far to the rear of the vehicle, as I could. Has anyone had any similar clearance problems with the larger tires?



Frank

 

[John]

~peace Diesel Dan~

Tomscreek, as long as you are not loaded down to the GCVWR (or near it), and do not have an LSD, a 265 spare will work ok. If the 285 is worn down to within 20% of replacement and the 265 is new (or very near new) the diameter will be relatively close.



[I know this because I just compared my near new 265s to my heavily worn 285s... I thought the 265s actually looked larger in diameter when I moved them from one location in the garage to another, so I rolled one up next to a worn 285 on my Ram and was surprised to see how close they really were. I realize that the 285 was at a disadvantage as it was mounted however (i. e. , weighted, or rolling radius -vs- unweighted radius), the two looked pretty close]



Frank is correct... I had to fabricate a custom offset spare tire mounting plate assembly for my spare tire winch which allowed my 285 spare to clear my Mag-Hytec diff. cover under full suspension cycling. The OE ('98/'99) 245 spare will clear the Mag-Hytec diff. cover without any modifications, the 265 will also clear the Mag-Hytec diff. cover under full suspension cycling (when mounted on the '98/'99 OE 16x6. 5 chrome wheel) if it is not biased towards the diff. cover (if that makes any sense to any of you). You see, there is some lattitude to exact spare tire mounting location which is determined while winching the spare up to its stored position... it can be biased left or right, toward or away from the diff. cover. . approx. a couple of inches.