Spare Tire Wisdom

[Nw_adventure]

So what's the actual size of the rim that comes with the fake full size tire ? I'm looking to mount a 245/65 on it. Thx

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[fossil]

we are going to have to start calling you Dexter.

your not guilty of a serious crime are you?

 

[Deweyordeweynot]

Good call out @MetalsGeek , also good to pull it down and check the pressure, and clean / lube the cable.

Side of road changes suck bad enough without also finding either your spare is too low on pressure, or you can't get the cable to lower or raise due to corrosion etc.

ALSO, if you haven't tried to break your lugs loose with the stamped steel garbage wrench that fomoco provided with the truck you are in for a treat - highly recommend you carry something more substantial in your kit..that jack handle wrench is piss poor.

The Dodge Promaster jack handle is a joke. No way to get enough torque on it to bust lugnuts loose at all. I'm ordering this to store with the OEM jack kit; seems like it should work and I can't beat the price...

 

[First Sergeant]

More great advice especially about having a breaker bar for the lug nuts. Easy to forget that most shops use an air impact wrench on those lug nuts and they can be hard to loosen with a conventional lug nut wrench.

I still use the old larger "4 way" chrome! Has the four different sizes for when I need to help someone else. Kind of big, but I wrap it in a old clean towel that I can use to sit on or clean up with afterward. Fits fine behind the back seat, standing up against the back wall using a couple small bungee's. I still like these as it keeps me centered on the lug and using both arms is not to hard for this old guy to break them loose.

 

[Tom 71 Maverick 24]

Spare tire trick from the old off road folks - if you're going to be driving on rough terrain, it might be wise to secure your spare tire up in the bed instead of under the truck - much easier to get to it if you're in a location where you can't get under the vehicle.

 

[rclee]

The Dodge Promaster jack handle is a joke. No way to get enough torque on it to bust lugnuts loose at all. I'm ordering this to store with the OEM jack kit; seems like it should work and I can't beat the price...

do you have a link for this?

 

[rclee]

So what's the actual size of the rim that comes with the fake full size tire ? I'm looking to mount a 245/65 on it. Thx

I am pretty sure it is 17" like the Steelies but the tire is not the same size as the stock XLT. It is a T55/70D17 110m tire.

 

[tired comet]

I find some of this tread odd. Probably just me though. I just don't see changing a flat as overly burdensome or something to freak out about. Maybe because I've changed some many tires on the side of the road over the years.
I did have to change the tire on my Mav a while ago. Had to read the owners manual to figure out the jack and hole thing but once I read the manual it was fine. I thought Fords set up was rather ingenious.
I've owned somewhere around 80 cars so my view on getting my hands dirty is probably skewed.

 

[MetalsGeek]

I find some of this tread odd. Probably just me though. I just don't see changing a flat as overly burdensome or something to freak out about. Maybe because I've changed some many tires on the side of the road over the years.
I did have to change the tire on my Mav a while ago. Had to read the owners manual to figure out the jack and hole thing but once I read the manual it was fine. I thought Fords set up was rather ingenious.
I've owned somewhere around 80 cars so my view on getting my hands dirty is probably skewed.

The Mav is my first pickup. This thread was intended for others like me, to encourage experience accessing the spare. I was quite surprised to discover interference between the cable drive extension tube and tailgate, and how access to the spare becomes impossible if your tailgate is held down by a load like plywood or drywall.. One hater called me names and said this was normal, and not a problem. Perhaps I doth expect too much?

 

[Blinky]

I know this will generate lots of grief, but AAA is your best friend. Especially if you're the other side of 70. I've had multiple flats repaired by AAA, both at home and on the road. Usually pretty quick, pretty friendly, and free with a very affordable membership.

To kneecap the inevitable know-it-all, snarky troll responses. Yea, I know how to change a flat tire and have done it many times over the years (including Army Jeeps and other military vehicles). Doesn't mean I want to when I don't have to. And yea, there are locations where AAA won't reach you or you can't reach them.

The first thing I did when I picked up my Mav was go home and grab a "wheel protector" lug nut socket and 24" breaker bar out of the tool box and tossed them in the under seat storage.
The second thing I did was to move my AMA (Canadian AAA) membership card to the center console.

Just because I CAN change a tire doesn't mean I particularly want to, especially at night or in a rain or snow storm, plus my membership gets me 3 free tow trips up to 100 miles. Great for buying a used car outside of town if you don't have someone to help drive it home haha

 

[Carlitos_92]

I am pretty sure it is 17" like the Steelies but the tire is not the same size as the stock XLT. It is a T55/70D17 110m tire.

Not sure that is the “fake full size” he’s talking about; that looks like the temporary spare.

The 17” diameter rim is probably consistent across all truck spares, but the rim for the T155 spare on your image is significantly skinnier than the usual stock rim width. Likewise, that T155 tire is nearly 3” skinnier than the OEM front/rear tires shown.

 

[Nw_adventure]

Not sure that is the “fake full size” he’s talking about; that looks like the temporary spare.

The 17” diameter rim is probably consistent across all truck spares, but the rim for the T155 spare on your image is significantly skinnier than the usual stock rim width. Likewise, that T155 tire is nearly 3” skinnier than the OEM front/rear tires shown.

Curious if a 245/65 can be mounted on that skinny spare rim ?

 

[Carlitos_92]

Curious if a 245/65 can be mounted on that skinny spare rim ?

It is probably physically possible to mount it, but it is absolutely not advisable. The T155 spare like in rclee's pic is probably a 5" or 5.5" rim. It's a full 2 inches shy of the OEM rim width that 225s are on, much less 245s.

 

[Bilbo_B]

......

I'm sure other members will chime in and share the wisdom. Please do!

Edit: Thanks everyone so much for all the really good suggestions on lighting (flashlights, magnetic 12V LED work lights), better tooling (compressor, plug kit, socket & ratchet), and hygiene (disposable attire, large trash bags to cover failed tire, etc).

Rotate your wheels regularly and use a light sanding around the hub, otherwise you run the risk of having the wheel become tight and impossible to remove when out on the road. No amount of cussing and kicking will solve that issue.

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