So for those who upgraded your wheel size, did you buy a new spare?

So I recently got new wheels and tires, and today when talking to my Dad he asked if I got the spare replaced too. I didn't even think of that when I got them, since it's been a while since I had a vehicle with a full-size spare tire. I'm wondering if I can just buy a cheap 265/75/16 tire, which would give me the same size as the 265/70/17 tires I upgraded to, or if I should buy a whole new wheel and tire for the spare. I don't off-road a whole lot, but sometimes I do, so roadside assistance isn't always an option.

Thanks

 

So long as the tire diameter is the same, it won’t matter.

 

Good deal, that's what I thought. Looks like the revs per mile and diameter would be the same. I guess wheel size wouldn't matter. Should I get the same tire I have, just in a 16" 265/75, or can I just get whatever's cheapest since it'll just be a spare anyway? My tires are $270 a pop lol. I know on my other vehicle (Subaru WRX Sti) you shouldn't run different tires or tire tread depths due to the AWD system, but my truck is base model rwd so I don't think it really matters, right?

 

It’s entirely up to you. I do five-tire rotations on my trucks, so my recommendation will always be to have 5 identical wheels & tires.

My 135 is also RWD, and I wouldn’t think about mounting a non-matching tire on it.

But if you’re just looking for someone to say you can get away with having a non-matching spare (outside of size). Yes you can.

 

Yeah, the non-matching tire would be used for a day to drive myself from where I got the flat, to my tire shop - so if I can save myself $150 by going with a cheap tire just to get rolling back into town, that's fine. Just wanted to know if it would matter or fuck anything up.

I have E load tires, hopefully, they'll give me no issues up to 100k on this 4 banger, it's so light I'll likely wear them very little, but hoping they do come in handy for the sketchy back roads of Michigan's forests over the summer. Thanks for the help.

 

I just run the stock spare tire that came with my Tacoma, I have new 4R SEMA's with 285s. I don't drive that far and if I had a flat the spare in 265 vs 285 isn't going to hurt anything for a short time. I may get a new matching 285 but leave it on the spare's wheel.

 

If you do need to run a different sized spare put the smaller one up front. Might have to do two tire changes if a rear one goes. That will mimimize any potential damage since it is just free wheeling. Assuming you are not in 4WD.

 

There’s a link in my signature with a lot of good information

 

I purchased a cheap steel rim and a barely used tire for the spare setup. Was a little cheaper to do this than buy a new tire.

 

I went up 1 size to 265/75/16.
Had to buy a 5th OR wheel because the steel spare won't fit on wheel spacers.
I put a cheap/used mismatched tire on it of the same size.

 

Is the current tire on your spare in good shape? I have never used my spare so except for age its tread is in new condition.

If its in good shape i would just leave it as is. As mentioned its the same diameter so no issues at all running it as a spare. And your rear diff want care either since it will see both as same diameter

 

I would personally want a full spare with the same new wheel because with the aftermarket rims having a different width and much different offset than stock, the stock spare will handle a bit weird if it’s put it on the front end in turns and such. But you don’t necessarily have to, that’s just ideal to me.

 

Thank you for this. The question has been chewing on my mind as I get closer and closer to a tire replacement for the new truck.

 

And for the single day use of the spare to repair and replace the actual tire there is no reason to pay extra for a tire/rim you may use once/twice.

 

In 9 years I have never used my spare. I did have a flat once (nail) but it went flat overnight so I saw it in the morning. Since I have separate winter tire/rims I just swapped over one of them, tossed the flat in the back, had it repaired and swapped it back on when i got home. My regular tire is a 265/65R17 but my winters are 245/70R17. Being the same diameter there was no issue at all.

One thing i recommend is that you check the inflation on your spare once a year or so. A lady friend called when she had a flat and asked if i could help. Lo and behold on her 8 year old corolla the compact spare was flat as well. So i took it home , pumped it up, brought it back and did the swap. Would have been a major bother if it had happened in a more rural area. Of course if you a road side assistance plan they can pump it up for you but your in bad shape if you dont.

 

A lady I know has a new mustang. They dont even give you a spare tire (although you can buy an optional package that has a tire/jack/wrench)

All they give you is a tiny compressor and a can of tire sealant. If its a small puncture in the tread its probably adequate but if its a slash in sidewall or the tire becomes unseated on the rim your SOL.

 

I just run the stock spare tire that came with my Tacoma

 

Still the original tire under the truck, 285 on all 4, like someone mentioned, I'll plug it, or use that spare to get me off the Mt. to
Discount tire

 

No. Have the stock spare, plug kit, and on board air.

 

I bought an identical spare. I’ll be putting in rotation when I get my tires rotated.