Can the spare tire housing accept an 18" wheel?

[Mr.Handsome]

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[DbMojave21]

Here is my 35x12.5x20 with 12" wide rim . Fits just fine without any problems. I think 37 will fit as well. I could move the tire around for sure. I don't see why not.

 

[Zilla]

The wheel size is irrelevant. It's the TIRE size that determines the fit.

 

[Mr.Handsome]

The wheel size is irrelevant. It's the TIRE size that determines the fit.

thanks that’s what I’m going with. Match the spare 255/70/18 and go with a 5 tire rotation.

 

[Freebooter]

Erik.....the wheel size should not matter. If you want to do a 5 tire rotation, you will need to get a matching wheel and tire. A i7" or 18" wheel will not matter. Like Dino above, I have 35x12.5x17 and they fit fine in the spare tire well. I see your post with the cover and shield. You can do that but I have not noticed any damage on my spare when I did my 5 tire rotation a few months ago.

Good luck and enjoy your Jeep!

 

[Kevin_D]

Here is my 35x12.5x20 with 12" wide rim . Fits just fine without any problems. I think 37 will fit as well. I could move the tire around for sure. I don't see why not.

I'm diggin' the big rubber skid plate...

Kevin

 

[Kevin_D]

To me, that looks like a waste of money.
The spare is tucked up in under the bed, out of the sun and most of the weather, why would you need to cover it up?
I've not had a spare on a truck, that's up under the bed, go bad due to weathering. And the JT is far from my first truck.

Kevin

 

[TheSolarWizard]

It doesn’t extend the life of the tires 20% it extended the amount of time between buying a new set of tires by that amount of time but you’re buying 4 instead of 5. Just do 4 that spare will last 8-10 years as an emergency tire

 

[Sunset 2025]

I know it's been a while for this thread - but I need a different perspective on this. 20 Overland 18 inch wheels. I changed the Tires to 35s and kept the OEM wheel. I purchased 5 35in wheels and picked up an additional alloy OEM 18 inch rim for the spare. The guys doing the work said the spare holder won't take the rim and I needed to get a steel 18 inch rim. Has anyone found another option to mount an 18in alloy OEM wheel for the spare (preferably under the bed)? THX!

 

[kevman65]

I know it's been a while for this thread - but I need a different perspective on this. 20 Overland 18 inch wheels. I changed the Tires to 35s and kept the OEM wheel. I purchased 5 35in wheels and picked up an additional alloy OEM 18 inch rim for the spare. The guys doing the work said the spare holder won't take the rim and I needed to get a steel 18 inch rim. Has anyone found another option to mount an 18in alloy OEM wheel for the spare (preferably under the bed)? THX!

If the steel piece at the end of the cable will fit through the hub, then the new wheel will fit in the spare location.

Since you are using an alloy OEM wheel in the spare location, the hub opening on said wheel is the same as the hub opening on the steel wheel and will fit.

 

[Sunset 2025]

If the steel piece at the end of the cable will fit through the hub, then the new wheel will fit in the spare location.

Since you are using an alloy OEM wheel in the spare location, the hub opening on said wheel is the same as the hub opening on the steel wheel and will fit.

Yea, it makes sense. Just taking the word of the guys doing the work. I'll get under it tomorrow and see what is what. Thx!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Personally, I have never found a five tire rotation to be worth the extra effort. My spare is for emergency use, and doesn't need to look the same as the others. I drive until the tires are worn, and then put on high quality replacements. I drove my last truck fourteen years, and never dropped the spare once. The original spare was still under there when I traded it in for the Gladiator.

It's recommended in other Jeep owner manuals, it's recommended on tire sites.
If you have ever had a situation like we have had - twice - you'd appreciate a matching spare. Run a screw into the tire just far enough out on the tread that many tire shops refuse to even touch it and you are screwed - pun intended. 13 or 14 thousand miles on the tires and one is to the point that 3 tire shops refuse to even deal with it. Too close to the sidewall.

I've had great luck with tires and wheels and the local Chevy dealer, so took my wife's WK2 to them with the screw in the tire - and made a deal with them - if they fixed it, I'd put it in the back as the spare and run the spare on the Jeep. Fine, that was ok, if it was used as a spare. Grand Cherokees with the tow package come with a matching wheel and tire.
That is not the only time we were saved from buying a new tire. It keeps them more evenly worn, you get more life out of the set and if one can't be repaired, you have another tire with matching wear that's just like what's on your car or truck and don't have to try to match your existing tires - sometimes they are discontinued or the tread pattern is different or you messed up a tire and your others are 2/3 through life and you can't see buying a new tire at that point.

I have 5 matching tires and wheels and yes I have the 18" Overland wheel up under my truck as the spare. When things are rotated, it's minutes to add that 5th tire into the rotation. Besides, like I said, JEEP recommends it in their owner manuals, so do the tires sites I've checked into.
Now if I ruin a tire at 30,000 miles I'm not screwed trying to match one.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I know it's been a while for this thread - but I need a different perspective on this. 20 Overland 18 inch wheels. I changed the Tires to 35s and kept the OEM wheel. I purchased 5 35in wheels and picked up an additional alloy OEM 18 inch rim for the spare. The guys doing the work said the spare holder won't take the rim and I needed to get a steel 18 inch rim. Has anyone found another option to mount an 18in alloy OEM wheel for the spare (preferably under the bed)? THX!

I have a 5th identical matching Overland wheel as a spare.
I bought a wheel from a guy putting different wheels on his Overland. I bought 5 new General A/TX tires. It fits with ease. No problem, the dealer didn't even balk (I bought the tires from my dealer because they matched internet pricing and were cheaper on the installation, etc.)

The thing for me is that if I ruin a tire, I have one to put on. I don't have to worry about trying to find something down the road that isn't an exact match for looks or tread.
If Jeep says do it, and the tire makers and dealers say do it - why not? Don't they know more than armchair experts LOL

Here's the thing - after 7 years no ethical dealer will touch your 7 year old spare. I have experience with that, too. They will check the date code on the sidewall and tell you to take it back home. I had 2 dealerships refuse to even BREAK DOWN tires that were over 7 years old. And - they weather. The spare under my Silverado was actually showing age even though it had never been on the truck (non-matching) so after 8 years, the tires were not new any more and some if not many will not work with them and would you trust an OLD tire that's been up under a truck for 7, 8, or 9 years? I wouldn't. Neither will tire shops.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I found a solution that is easier for me. I bought a set of Overland wheels and tires from another member. I'm getting close to 22K miles and will eventually swap them out. That will give me four spares in good shape. One will go in the bed and three into storage. I'll be set for whatever may happen, and hopefully will never have to drop the spare from underneath. Overland take-offs are much cheaper than a trip to Discount Tire.

 

[Sunset 2025]

I have a 5th identical matching Overland wheel as a spare.
I bought a wheel from a guy putting different wheels on his Overland. I bought 5 new General A/TX tires. It fits with ease. No problem, the dealer didn't even balk (I bought the tires from my dealer because they matched internet pricing and were cheaper on the installation, etc.)

The thing for me is that if I ruin a tire, I have one to put on. I don't have to worry about trying to find something down the road that isn't an exact match for looks or tread.
If Jeep says do it, and the tire makers and dealers say do it - why not? Don't they know more than armchair experts LOL

Here's the thing - after 7 years no ethical dealer will touch your 7 year old spare. I have experience with that, too. They will check the date code on the sidewall and tell you to take it back home. I had 2 dealerships refuse to even BREAK DOWN tires that were over 7 years old. And - they weather. The spare under my Silverado was actually showing age even though it had never been on the truck (non-matching) so after 8 years, the tires were not new any more and some if not many will not work with them and would you trust an OLD tire that's been up under a truck for 7, 8, or 9 years? I wouldn't. Neither will tire shops.

Yea, it makes sense. Just taking the word of the guys doing the work. I'll get under it tomorrow and see what is what. Thx!

Here are my results: Dropped the spare - measured the center hole on the Overland rim used for the spare.

Measured the wing that has to go through the hole:

So the wing is smaller than the rim hole. Sounds good so far. Dropped the assembly through the hole (good side up) and after a bit of wiggling, success! The challenge wasn't the wing, it was the spring assembly on the spare cabling was putting pressure on the wing - so after using the mark 1 'bang it a few times with my hand' method it passed through.

Cranked her back up and fit fine. And these 35's seem really big, but room to spare.

Hope this helps out anyone with an 18inch OEM Overland wheel looking to go bigger on the tires! And thanks to respondents who got me off my butt and in the garage (It's always best to try it yourself!)

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