Maximum Spare Tire Size

[ksh58]

I put on new tires yesterday and put the best of the OEM 225/65/17 Continentals onto the wheel of the compact spare. It sort of fits - teeth are touching. I also have factory hitch, which limits forward placement. I have snugged up the cable to make sure there is not any back and forth movement while driving.

Is there any reason not to deflate that spare some until I need it? (being sure to keep a portable compressor with me at all times…). I don’t want to cut or bend those teeth in case of actual rear-end incident and insurance concerns.

Rivian keeps a deflated compact spare in the cargo area of its new R2, so seems like it should be OK. As long as you can inflate to correct psi before putting it on the ground.

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[Glen Baker LLC]

I put on new tires yesterday and put the best of the OEM 225/65/17 Continentals onto the wheel of the compact spare. It sort of fits - teeth are touching. I also have factory hitch, which limits forward placement. I have snugged up the cable to make sure there is not any back and forth movement while driving.

Is there any reason not to deflate that spare some until I need it? (being sure to keep a portable compressor with me at all times…). I don’t want to cut or bend those teeth in case of actual rear-end incident and insurance concerns.

Rivian keeps a deflated compact spare in the cargo area of its new R2, so seems like it should be OK. As long as you can inflate to correct psi before putting it on the ground.

Why not?
If you're a belt and suspenders kind of person. How about packing a can of Fix-a-flat along with the compressor just in case?

 

[Kenny]

Is there any reason not to deflate that spare some until I need it? (being sure to keep a portable compressor with me at all times…). I don’t want to cut or bend those teeth in case of actual rear-end incident and insurance concerns.

If you do, make sure you have enough air in the tire so that it does not come off the rim. Your tire will fill with dirt and not seal properly. Also check the tire pressure more often, as tires naturally lose about 1 PSI per month. The teeth will no longer be necessary with the tire deflated, but you wouldn't have to bend them.

 

[ksh58]

If you do, make sure you have enough air in the tire so that it does not come off the rim. Your tire will fill with dirt and not seal properly. Also check the tire pressure more often, as tires naturally lose about 1 PSI per month. The teeth will no longer be necessary with the tire deflated, but you wouldn't have to bend them.

Thanks. Good point about deflating too much.
i was only thinking like down to 26psi. But I know its not like a balloon that might pop. And 26 psi doesn’t make any visible difference in teeth contact.
my main concern is vibration that would gradually wear or cut into the tread at those points. But its a used tire that will rarely - if ever be needed.

I know I am overthinking, probably because of three unrepairable flats in two years on a Tesla with no spare. One on a Sunday in the middle of nowhere that left us stranded near a town with one local tire shop.

 

[Kenny]

I know I am overthinking, probably because of three unrepairable flats in two years on a Tesla with no spare. One on a Sunday in the middle of nowhere that left us stranded near a town with one local tire shop.

Interesting about the flats. The tires that came with my Mav, Pirelli Scorpion ATs, are the worst tires I've owned in my entire life. I had 4 flats in 2 years that were unrepairable. Every time they were punctured (usually from rocks going offroad), the tread would just delaminate into a star shape too big to patch.

As for the spare, I usually overthink things, but in the case of the Maverick, since I went an inch larger diameter on replacement tires (Vredestein Pinza AT 245/65R17), I bent the teeth down and inflate my spare the full amount.

 

[Carlitos_92]

Interesting about the flats. The tires that came with my Mav, Pirelli Scorpion ATs, are the worst tires I've owned in my entire life. I had 4 flats in 2 years that were unrepairable. Every time they were punctured (usually from rocks going offroad), the tread would just delaminate into a star shape too big to patch.

As for the spare, I usually overthink things, but in the case of the Maverick, since I went an inch larger diameter on replacement tires (Vredestein Pinza AT 245/65R17), I bent the teeth down and inflate my spare the full amount.

I only had one flat on my Scorpions in 30,000 miles, but I can 100% agree that they sucked. Wet weather traction was a particular deficiency. So far I am super happy with my Wildpeak A/T3Ws (235/65s here) that replaced them.

And yeah, my spare is another Scorpion in the OEM 225 size, and my popper teeth are blunted accordingly. The whole reason I am in a Maverick is because my previous vehicle was rear-ended and totaled, and I am still not worried about it.

 

[Headcase650]

I think you guys are overthinking the teeth. Every rear end collision I've seen posted that is hard enough to puncture the spare tire has resulted in a totaled vehicle. Bend them down or cut them off with an angle grinder.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I think you guys are overthinking the teeth. Every rear end collision I've seen posted that is hard enough to puncture the spare tire has resulted in a totaled vehicle. Bend them down or cut them off with an angle grinder.

It's not about totaling the vehicle.
It's about occupant safety.

Reposted @Kenny
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."

For some folks having a larger spare tire that may or may not get used is more important

It's my opinion.
The probability of being injured by somebody, running into the back of my Maverick, while they're using their cell phone or otherwise distracted including bad weather.
Than there is the probability of me being injured from using a spare tire that's marginally smaller until I can get the main tire fixed or replaced.

 

[Kenny]

It's not about totaling the vehicle.
It's about occupant safety.

Yes it's to help the frame crumple, but the main risk everyone fails to note (although it may have been mentioned previously) is the Maverick fuel tank sits right in front of the spare tire. If that ruptures and ignites, you will have a way worse situation than merely a totaled vehicle. I carry a fire extinguisher, but don't think it would help in that situation. I'm rethinking how to mount my tire.

 

[Tom 71 Maverick 24]

Interesting about the flats. The tires that came with my Mav, Pirelli Scorpion ATs, are the worst tires I've owned in my entire life. I had 4 flats in 2 years that were unrepairable. Every time they were punctured (usually from rocks going offroad), the tread would just delaminate into a star shape too big to patch.

As for the spare, I usually overthink things, but in the case of the Maverick, since I went an inch larger diameter on replacement tires (Vredestein Pinza AT 245/65R17), I bent the teeth down and inflate my spare the full amount.

My experience has been different. They've generally been very good on wet and dry pavement, mediocre on grass, dirt and gravel (which I seldom drive on), but not very good in the snow. They have almost 30,000 on them and are about due for replacement. And since i moved into snow country, I know that I'll have some 3-peak tires going on this fall.

I don't know how they call the Perellis "all terrain" because they're basically a summer street tire with a nice looking tread pattern.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Yes it's to help the frame crumple, but the main risk everyone fails to note (although it may have been mentioned previously) is the Maverick fuel tank sits right in front of the spare tire. If that ruptures and ignites, you will have a way worse situation than merely a totaled vehicle. I carry a fire extinguisher, but don't think it would help in that situation. I'm rethinking how to mount my tire.

Imagine the situation in which the Ford Motor Co gets involved in a rear-impact liability claim, and the corporate lawyers/engineering staff are smart enough to look at whether an as-designed safety element has been modified or deleted,,,,,

HRG

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Imagine the situation in which the Ford Motor Co gets involved in a rear-impact liability claim, and the corporate lawyers/engineering staff are smart enough to look at whether an as-designed safety element has been modified or deleted,,,,,

HRG

For some folks having a larger spare tire that may or may not get used is more important

It's my opinion.
The probability of being injured by somebody, running into the back of my Maverick, while they're using their cell phone or otherwise distracted including bad weather.
Than there is the probability of me being injured from using a spare tire that's marginally smaller until I can get the main tire fixed or replaced.

 

[Kenny]

Imagine the situation in which the Ford Motor Co gets involved in a rear-impact liability claim, and the corporate lawyers/engineering staff are smart enough to look at whether an as-designed safety element has been modified or deleted....

Imagine being scared of everything and letting insurance and lawyers control everything you do.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Imagine owning your house and driving a vehicle without insurance and getting into an accident.
And having those pesky lawyers take your house away.
Then imagine being thrown in jail for having an accident and not having insurance. Then you have to get one of those pesky lawyers to get you out. Go to court....etc.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Imagine being scared of everything and letting insurance and lawyers control everything you do.

Far from it. But, based on my age and financial position, risk management considerations DO play a part in my decision making.
Besides, the last time I had a flat tire, and needed to use the spare, the years started with 19.......

HRG

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