Fit a FULL SIZE SPARE TIRE under the Maverick to replace the pathetic factory bicycle wheel spare!

I figured I post this here to try and help people out. I recently had a flat and was absolutely shocked to see that instead of a reasonable spare, Ford included basically a 1993 Toyota Tercel spare tire with my 100% fully optioned 2022 FX4 Maverick! WTF?!?



"Hey I know that flat has you stressed out, but wait until you see the "spare" we included for ya!"



I had 400 miles to drive with a fully laden truck (dirt bike, full coolers, luggage, etc.) and I wasn't about to do it on a Huffy wheel so I stopped at an Ace Hardware and picked up one of these plug kits, which is a MUST HAVE and you should keep one by your jack - here is the link: https://amzn.to/3zJECtI

Anyway, the moment I got home, and I did make it home on the plugged original tire rather than the pathetic bicycle wheel spare tire that Ford provided, I ordered a steel wheel (17", factory) and of course two new tires - one to replace the plugged one and another to compliment it on the other side, of course. I ordered the OE Pirellis.

Link to factory steel 17x7 wheel, same as the stock wheels on the XL: https://amzn.to/4iK5xb5

Good deal on a new Pirelli Scorpion ATR 225/65R17 tire, and you can get it installed via Amazon for like $15! Link: https://amzn.to/4estVem

So now that the new tires are installed, I had the shop throw the good used tire in the bed so I could make a spare with the rim I ordered. And good news: It fit perfectly! Check it out:






Even still fit with the factory tire popper (in case of accident, crumple zone, blah blah blah) so I didn't have to grind anything. It also didn't bind against any wires:




So now I have an actual, real, full size spare under the truck because I am NEVER going through the extra stress of having to use a 1989 Geo Metro spare ever again! Hope this helps someone out there!

Still trying to figure out if the "Full" size spare tire rim is the same as what comes stock on an XL ? Also wondering if a worn 235 would fit without grinding the sharks teeth ? Seems like a 245 with trailer hitch would not -

The full size spare (as pictured above) that I made is on the same 17" OE steelie wheel that comes on the XL. If you snag that rim and the tire I linked above it will for sure fit and be about 1,000,000 times better than the factory spare. Not sure if you'd get away with a 235 or 245, it's a tight fit with the 225.

Here is the cheapest 225/65R17 ($70 shipped) that I could find on the 'Zon: https://amzn.to/3Y8dzSp

In my opinion this cheap tire would still be a totally viable option as a spare, even if you run higher quality and taller tires on your ride - it is a spare, after all. And you know 100% that it will fit. But that's a real full size spare for right around $200 -which is a dang good deal!

Everyone should do this to their Mavvies, trust me, you don't want to be 400 miles from home with a fricken Fisher Price spare tire. Makes the stress of having a flat a good 8-10 times worse! I wish I had read a thread like this before going on that trip which would have made me upgrade preemptively, BEFORE facing a flat on my vacation. Now I have peace of mind.

TrailMaster said:

I'm also wondering if I could fit a 235 to match the ones I'm running. If so, I'm definitely going to do this as soon as possible!

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read my reply above. I think you posted at almost the exact same time as I replied to the last guy (even though I stupidly didn't use the reply feature so I hope he still sees it!)

After getting my new wheels I replaced the donut with my full size spare. My wife honestly thought I had purchased another tire for my motorcycle when she saw it in the garage

18" Bronco Sport wheel with 235/60/18 Falken no problem with the factory hitch on my XLT.

When I bought mine the only options I checked was for tow hitch and full size spare. IIRC it was $100.

Thanks for this write-up.

Just saw that a 235 might not fit, but like you say even a 225 would be so much better than the factory "full size" spare. Since I pulled my Pirellis right after purchase I'm only going to need the wheel.

SLJ said:

18" Bronco Sport wheel with 235/60/18 Falken no problem with the factory hitch on my XLT.

Click to expand...

Sweet! Looks like a 235 Yokohama won't be a problem.

inline_five said:

When I bought mine the only options I checked was for tow hitch and full size spare. IIRC it was $100.

Click to expand...

the "full size spare" you got is, in fact, not even close to full size. Have a look. You'll see.

Air Shootist said:

The full size spare (as pictured above) that I made is on the same 17" OE steelie wheel that comes on the XL. If you snag that rim and the tire I linked above it will for sure fit and be about 1,000,000 times better than the factory spare. Not sure if you'd get away with a 235 or 245, it's a tight fit with the 225.

Here is the cheapest 225/65R17 ($70 shipped) that I could find on the 'Zon: https://amzn.to/3Y8dzSp

In my opinion this cheap tire would still be a totally viable option as a spare, even if you run higher quality and taller tires on your ride - it is a spare, after all. And you know 100% that it will fit. But that's a real full size spare for right around $200 -which is a dang good deal!

Everyone should do this to their Mavvies, trust me, you don't want to be 400 miles from home with a fricken Fisher Price spare tire. Makes the stress of having a flat a good 8-10 times worse! I wish I had read a thread like this before going on that trip which would have made me upgrade preemptively, BEFORE facing a flat on my vacation. Now I have peace of mind.

Click to expand...

Cool so the full size spare rim is 17x7 just like the XL or no ?

Air Shootist said:

I figured I post this here to try and help people out. I recently had a flat and was absolutely shocked to see that instead of a reasonable spare, Ford included basically a 1993 Toyota Tercel spare tire with my 100% fully optioned 2022 FX4 Maverick! WTF?!?

"Hey I know that flat has you stressed out, but wait until you see the "spare" we included for ya!"

I had 400 miles to drive with a fully laden truck (dirt bike, full coolers, luggage, etc.) and I wasn't about to do it on a Huffy wheel so I stopped at an Ace Hardware and picked up one of these plug kits, which is a MUST HAVE and you should keep one by your jack - here is the link: https://amzn.to/3zJECtI

Anyway, the moment I got home, and I did make it home on the plugged original tire rather than the pathetic bicycle wheel spare tire that Ford provided, I ordered a steel wheel (17", factory) and of course two new tires - one to replace the plugged one and another to compliment it on the other side, of course. I ordered the OE Pirellis.

Link to factory steel wheel: https://amzn.to/3Y4iWlr

Good deal on a new Pirelli Scorpion ATR 225/65R17 tire, and you can get it installed via Amazon for like $15! Link: https://amzn.to/4estVem

So now that the new tires are installed, I had the shop throw the good used tire in the bed so I could make a spare with the rim I ordered. And good news: It fit perfectly! Check it out:

Even still fit with the factory tire popper (in case of accident, crumple zone, blah blah blah) so I didn't have to grind anything. It also didn't bind against any wires:

So now I have an actual, real, full size spare under the truck because I am NEVER going through the extra stress of having to use a 1989 Geo Metro spare ever again! Hope this helps someone out there!

Click to expand...

My 22 XL came with a full size spear. I bought my MAV, Nov. of 21.

Nw_adventure said:

Cool so the full size spare rim is 17x7 just like the XL or no ?

Click to expand...

Yes. It is the actual OE 17x7. Just use the link I posted and you're good to go.

Air Shootist said:

the "full size spare" you got is, in fact, not even close to full size. Have a look. You'll see.

Click to expand...

I've had it off before, I thought it was an XL rim, is it not?

Air Shootist said:

Yes. It is the actual OE 17x7. Just use the link I posted and you're good to go.

Click to expand...

That's not the question. The upgraded full size fake full size rim that came with the smallish tire is that THE SAME as stock XL ?