What's everyone doing with their spare tire?

[Chief_jeep]

I’m in the process of getting a mount/bracket to relocate the stock spare tire mount underneath my half height bed rack. It’ll allow me to raise and lower a 40 easily. The mount will tie into all three cross members so that it properly supported. I can post photos when it’s finished if anyone is interested.

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[Sbro2021]

No spare... Plug kit and power tank on board.

 

[sharpsicle]

It is a different rim. I bought 5 aftermarket wheels. But you could just buy one matching wheel if you are staying with factory wheels.

There's no advantage to doing that. What you gain in "life" vs what you lose in added cost wash out.

There's nothing wrong with doing that either, just to be clear. It comes down to preference.

 

[HooliganActual]

It's there for exactly when don't expect to need it, for that 'rainy day' situation you didn't plan for. And boy, when you need it, you're really SOL without it.

Amen brother!

The rest of this post is just meant as an “aside” to anyone and everyone thinking of ditching the spare: I was musing today that in my 59 years, have been driving since I was 14 and have personally only owned 11 vehicles in my life (50% have been Jeeps), I have only ever had 2 flats and both have been while off-roading and both times were rocks that bent the lip of the wheel breaking the bead. Of course I’ve had a lot of nails and screws that were plugged and such, but only two flats that could not be driven on.

You could sure make an argument from my life’s experience that you could get away without carrying a spare; but I have to say that the 2 times I have needed that spare, it far outweighed the “burden” of carrying one that was never going to be used for 45 years.

AND…in both those cases I was absolutely grateful that it was a proper, full-size, matching spare. That literally becomes the difference maker between ruining my trip and limping out or continuing on my merry way.

 

[56cbr600rr]

My spare is a 35 inch Duratrac. Same as the other 4. Also, I only do a 5 tire rotation. That gives me tires that are the same circumference as they wear, and 20% more wear on the set.

Factory wheels.

 

[loganjeeps]

I like having all 5 match. 2k miles after purchase I dropped all 5 Falkens for 5 Mickey Thompsons. 500 miles after putting on Mickeys I picked up a nail that required patching one tire . I don't like running trails on patched tires so the patched one became the spare and since the spare was the same as the other four all was well.

 

[Just Mark]

I'm actually thinking of looking for a spare carrier to mount on the tailgate to where the spare tire swings out and then the tailgate pulls down. I saw a Willie's that had it and i thought it was the coolest s***

https://www.jcroffroad.com/product/JTRV.html

These guys do quality work.

 

[JTGuy]

If you put it in 4WD then you could possibly have some issue, in 2wd just put the spare on the front axle, the passenger front being the best.

I now have 37s and my spare is a 315. My 37s are really 36.5. If I get a flat I could put the smaller spare on passenger front as the CAD isolates it. But the ABS sensors are going to catch the difference. Will it matter?

 

[bleda2002]

I now have 37s and my spare is a 315. My 37s are really 36.5. If I get a flat I could put the smaller spare on passenger front as the CAD isolates it. But the ABS sensors are going to catch the difference. Will it matter?

You might get the abs light from the wheel speed sensor, but that would be it.

 

[Zachanadandy]

It’s my understanding that your spare should be the same diameter as your tires. You may do some drivetrain damage driving on different size tires. It’s worth an extra 100 bucks to find a tire on eBay and you can still use the spare steel wheel. Of course this is simply my opinion which I’m sure many won’t agree with.

Only potential for drivetrain damage would be if you ran lockers on dry pavement with mismatched tires. Otherwise the spider gears are designed to allow tires to spin at different speeds, as they do in every corner you ever drive around. If you're really worried about it you could put the mismatched tire on the front passenger side and the fad removes it from any connection to the drivetrain in 2wd. Most every car on the road runs a donut spare these days. It's not an issue.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I had the dealer install the Mopar lift kit and 35's before taking delivery. They told me to change the spare because a different size tire was going to tear up the drivetrain. So I have now changed the spare tire twice going from stock to 35's and now to 37's. Daily driver so it's an easy decision for me.

The guy seeking you tires told you you "had" to buy a 5th...I wonder why?

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