Maximum Spare Tire Size

[kkreit01]

I don't think I'd feel much safer on that well-used Vee Rubber Taiga H/T (?) tire.

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[Kenny]

Finally got a set of five (5) 245/65R17 Vredestein Pinza ATs mounted. Today I got the spare mounted underneath. First I bent the teeth on the front down with a large crescent wrench. It went in pretty easy and was tight up against the downward facing teeth with room to spare between the tire and cable and tire and tow hitch.

 

[Headcase650]

I know this is an old thread but 235/70r17s are in my future eventually. Couldn't you just crawl under the truck with a die grinder and cut those teeth a half inch shorter? Giving you clearance for a larger spare but still functioning teeth in a collision.

 

[Kenny]

I know this is an old thread but 235/70r17s are in my future eventually. Couldn't you just crawl under the truck with a die grinder and cut those teeth a half inch shorter? Giving you clearance for a larger spare but still functioning teeth in a collision.

That tire size is 30.0 inch diameter. I went with 245/65R70 which is 29.5 inches. I took a hammer and vise grips and bent those teeth out of the way. I'm sure you could easily mount a 30 inch in that space.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

What is the purpose of the teeth?

 

[Kenny]

What is the purpose of the teeth?

From Google AI:

"On a Ford Maverick pickup, that metal bracket with the sharp, jagged teeth sitting right in front of the spare tire is actually a crash safety feature designed to puncture and deflate the spare tire during a severe rear-end collision.
Because the Maverick is a unibody truck rather than a traditional body-on-frame pickup, its rear crash dynamics are highly engineered to manage impact energy safely.

How the "Popping Bracket" Works

• The Problem: Fully inflated spare tires are incredibly dense and act like solid rubber blocks. In a major rear-end crash, if the spare tire stays fully inflated, it can prevent the truck's rear frame and crumple zones from collapsing properly. Instead of absorbing the impact, a solid tire can push the crash forces directly forward into the fuel tank area or the passenger cabin.
• The Solution: The sharp metal teeth point directly at the front sidewall/tread of the spare tire. Upon a high-speed rear impact, the tire is forced forward against the unibody crossmember. The bracket's teeth immediately pierce the rubber, popping the tire.
• The Result: Once deflated, the tire becomes soft and flattens out completely. This allows the truck's rear structure to collapse cleanly and absorb the impact energy exactly the way Ford's safety engineers intended.

Note for Maverick Owners
If you ever try to upgrade your Maverick from the smaller factory spare to a larger, aftermarket "true" full-size tire, you will find that the tire sits tightly up against or even touches those teeth. Community members on the MaverickTruckClub Forum note that if you force an oversized tire into that pocket, you run the risk of the bracket accidentally rubbing a hole into your tire over time from normal road vibrations."

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Thank you for the info.
I actually thought that the air in the tire would be like a shock absorber, adding some cushioning.

 

[Headcase650]

What is the purpose of the teeth?

To puncture the spare in a rear-end collision.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Thank You.
@Kenny, answer my question in much more detail in post #36.

 

[Master Blaster]

The factory 215-width undersized spare fits ok. The factory 225 tires only fit with the tire-ripper teeth inside the tread spaces. Not sure about the Tremor 235 tires, but presumably they would fit the same as the 225s. Maybe 245 low-profile tires with about the same diameter as the factory 225s would also fit, but certainly not a higher-profile tire without torching off the tire-ripper safety device.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

The factory 215-width undersized spare fits ok. The factory 225 tires only fit with the tire-ripper teeth inside the tread spaces. Not sure about the Tremor 235 tires, but presumably they would fit the same as the 225s. Maybe 245 low-profile tires with about the same diameter as the factory 225s would also fit, but certainly not a higher-profile tire without torching off the tire-ripper safety device.

Make me wonder why Ford, after 5 model years, hasn't moved the tire-popper forward an inch, to provide more clearance for larger diameter tires.

HRG

Not my pic, I snagged it from another poster years ago.

 

[Kenny]

I actually thought that the air in the tire would be like a shock absorber, adding some cushioning.

If you carry a 12v inflator under the back seat, you could leave your fullsize spare deflated or very low pressure and just pump it up when you need it.

 

[Kenny]

Here are before and after pictures showing the teeth in front and tow hitch behind the OEM donut, teeth after bending down with crescent wrench and hammer, and my mounted full-size 29.5 inch diameter 245/65R17 spare. I think you can fit up to a 30.5 inch tire.

 

[Master Blaster]

Here are before and after pictures showing the teeth in front and tow hitch behind the OEM donut, teeth after bending down with crescent wrench and hammer, and my mounted full-size 29.5 inch diameter 245/65R17 spare. I think you can fit up to a 30.5 inch tire.

You definitely don't want your insurance company to see those photos, disabling a critical safety item...

 

[Kenny]

You definitely don't want your insurance company to see those photos, disabling a critical safety item...

LOL...critical safety feature not worried in the least. Somehow I made it 70+ years without teeth in front of my spare tire. More worried about exercise and eating a healthy diet. I think I'm gonna die of old age, at least that's the plan

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