Maximum Spare Tire Size

[Lynyrd Skynyrd]

Maybe it's a tow hitch thing? Does the 4k tow package have a more beefy hitch? Maybe the larger spare tires fit without the tow hitch in the way?

Yeah, without a hitch would be room to spare

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[Hardening2753]

One of the first upgrades that I did to my Maverick was a 2in level/lift and put larger tires on. The tires I put on are 245/70/R17 BFG KO2s.

As part of that upgrade, I wanted to add a spare that is the same size as the rest of the tires. When I measured the spare tire well, It was going to be close, so I took a chance. I ordered a steel wheel off ebay that was 6.5 in wide and the correct lug pattern (roughly $85). I then went to a local used tire shop and found a used 245/70/R17 ($45 installed and balanced on the rim).

Then the moment of truth. . . IT FITS . . . Well, sorta. I did have to re-locate some wires that were getting pinched towards the front of the vehicle. I think it is safe to say that this is the largest tire size you can fit in the spare tire well. And it would probably be close if you had a new AT tire with more tread.

Hopefully this info and the attached pictures will help answer some questions out there. I tried to document the sizes, tolerances, and the wires that needed re-locating.

Go dawgs

 

[FischAutoTechGarten]

yeah, I'd be thinking 255/60 18 w/ a 1" front lift and 3/4" rear lift (kind of an equalizing a bit) so I'd have no rubbing issues.... but a matching diameter full size spare could in fact be an issue...

225/65 17 (standard size XL/XLT) has a diamter of 28.5"
225/60 18 (standard lariat size) has a diamter of 28.6"
235/65 17 (max diameter for optional stock tire) has a diameter of 29"
245/65 17 (mentioned by a poster) has a diameter of 29.5"
255/60 18 (mentioned by me) has a diameter of 30"
245/70 17 (mentioned by OP) has a diameter of 30.5"

OP mentions AWD and 4K tow... so more going on underneath than some other trucks. however freebird has the same stuff going on underneath and he couldn't make larger tires fit. Interesting!

Interesting... like finding out how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop... World may never know....

 

[jspa]

Can you take another pic showing the clearance between those teeth and the tire?

I guess this is causing some confusion. I did not get the tire to fit so that the teeth would do their job in case of a rear end collision. This tire is "on top" of them when pulled up under the car. The tire fits between the rear axel and the hitch.

Hopefully that helps.

 

[FromAway]

My first ever car ride home from the hospital as a baby was a Ford Pinto, so exploding gas tanks from rear end collisions don't phase me. I put my full size 245/65R17 full size spare up in there just fine. YOLO!

 

[MakinDoForNow]

I need to sort this out- Will measure things out tomorrow- Would like a 245/65/17 spare to match-

IF you find it is close to fitting be sure to adjust for the different diameter of the exact tire you intend to use. Also you can buy a used tire at UTIRES.com choosing one that has less tread if 1/3 +/- inch is all you need. Think twice or more times before modifying the tire collision ripper teeth as your heirs insurance settlement could be severely reduced if discovered.

 

[Nw_adventure]

IF you find it is close to fitting be sure to adjust for the different diameter of the exact tire you intend to use. Also you can buy a used tire at UTIRES.com choosing one that has less tread if 1/3 +/- inch is all you need. Think twice or more times before modifying the tire collision ripper teeth as your heirs insurance settlement could be severely reduced if discovered.

With all the rear ending incidents that have been happening. I am not going to mess with the shark teeth.

 

[Xbbqpitmaster]

I do believe there is a difference between the EB and the hybrid…. I see both in the discussion. Can anybody clarify this for sure?

 

[NoVaJimmy]

With all the rear ending incidents that have been happening. I am not going to mess with the shark teeth.

Same, Ford engineers put it there for a reason, I'm wondering if to help mitigate the spare tire/RDU compromising the fuel tank in a rear end impact. I'm not about to bypass it just to fit a larger spare tire and risk compromising the fuel tank the way people drive around distracted these days. Here in VA it's really bad, most vehicles I pass have a driver on their phone or actively using their phone while driving.

 

[Xbbqpitmaster]

Same, Ford engineers put it there for a reason, I'm wondering if to help mitigate the spare tire/RDU compromising the fuel tank in a rear end impact. I'm not about to bypass it just to fit a larger spare tire and risk compromising the fuel tank the way people drive around distracted these days. Here in VA it's really bad, most vehicles I pass have a driver on their phone or actively using their phone while driving.

Not just VA… it is everywhere. I have been in 19 states in 8 months and it is getting horrible on the roads.

 

[FromAway]

Same, Ford engineers put it there for a reason, I'm wondering if to help mitigate the spare tire/RDU compromising the fuel tank in a rear end impact. I'm not about to bypass it just to fit a larger spare tire and risk compromising the fuel tank the way people drive around distracted these days. Here in VA it's really bad, most vehicles I pass have a driver on their phone or actively using their phone while driving.

Ford engineers also created start/stop which hesitates when making left turns and creates a safety issue, but I disabled that too.

 

[Automate]

For those that keep an inflator in the truck and trust it. You could let some air out of the spare to make it fit.

 

[NoVaJimmy]

Ford engineers also created start/stop which hesitates when making left turns and creates a safety issue, but I disabled that too.

Ridiculous comparison and I never have a problem with start stop so maybe it's an issue with your vehicle. Start stop was also implemented for emissions reasons, not engineered in for safety like the spare tire part. It's your life though, do as you please, I'm just not looking to die in a fiery wreck personally speaking.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

For those that keep an inflator in the truck and trust it. You could let some air out of the spare to make it fit.

Amen, been thinking about possibilities. Perhaps someone (FORD?) could develope a self inflating universal spare that could be 20-22" deflated but would inflate to diameter of what the chip in the flat tire reports it's diameter is.

 

[Rivers90]

IF you find it is close to fitting be sure to adjust for the different diameter of the exact tire you intend to use. Also you can buy a used tire at UTIRES.com choosing one that has less tread if 1/3 +/- inch is all you need. Think twice or more times before modifying the tire collision ripper teeth as your heirs insurance settlement could be severely reduced if discovered.

With the rim not matching and not planning to use the spare, getting a used one makes a lot of since, better option then the mismatched tire.

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