You Guys With 33s & 34s--Where Are Your Spares?

[Expedition Dave]

Title says all... where are you guys putting your spares?

Please mention your tire size and fitment experience if stock placement.

Be safe--

 

[Calidad]

The stock 22’s are 285’s ie 34inch tires, spare is in the factory spot. I guess the question is whats wrong with the factory spot?

 

[bill_b]

I think OEM metric is more like a 32x11 tire and I presume he's talking about a 34x12.5.

 

[Expedition Dave]

The stock 22’s are 285’s ie 34inch tires, spare is in the factory spot. I guess the question is whats wrong with the factory spot?

The stock 285/45-22s are almost exactly the same height as the 275/65-18s which is 32.1-32.2 inches tall--nowhere near 34 inches.

I have checked the spare tire well and it is tire height that will cause the problem, not width. It looks like you might be able to squeeze 33s w/o a problem before it hits the tow bar hitch, but since so many here are already running 33s and 34s, I wanted to get their answer. I know one has a rear hitch rack for his spare with matching custom rim.

 

[Expedition Dave]

TTT...

 

[Lou Hamilton]

My spare (275/65 R18) is still the stock one and is ~32”.

Not sure if I plan on swapping it out for something different. I feel that IF and when I might need it, the temporary duration should not harm my vehicle.

Looking briefly looks like a 33” will fit without issue. A 34” may fit when deflated and some compression could occur.


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[Calidad]

Temporary solution I bought a wilco hitch rack years ago for my Landcruiser. I only carried a spare on road trips local stuff I left it home.
Its a 90lb piece of steel swing out tire carrier that goes into your hitch. Works great but costs $. I kept it given I can’t get what I bought it for and might use it some day. Its about the easiest temporary big tire carrier option that leaves your car in civilian mode around town and puts it in off road adventure rig mode during trips

 

[Fozzy]

Off road it’s a power tank and plug kit. On road ,it’s roadside assistance. I already have to much weight on my roof rack. Swing out hitch carrier would be cool if you’re not using a trailer.


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[Calidad]

Off road it’s a power tank and plug kit. On road ,it’s roadside assistance. I already have to much weight on my roof rack. Swing out hitch carrier would be cool if you’re not using a trailer.

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No doubt the tire carrier with tire is HEAVY!!! The weight loss err too heavy trend is becoming a constant discussion on every forum these days. There is so much stuff you can buy that gets packed into, on or bolted to vehicles weight should be the first thing people consider before doing the jumbo tires, bumpers, racks etc. The old timers dragging around the stripped down 2door jeeps behind their giant diesel RVs figured it out. LOL

 

[Expedition Dave]

One tire hitch company comes with an extension rated to 10K. I would not push it, but for light trailers I would trust it. Still, would love to stick a 34 inch tire partially deflated in the well for more discreet travel and access to the back...

 

[Fozzy]

One tire hitch company comes with an extension rated to 10K. I would not push it, but for light trailers I would trust it. Still, would love to stick a 34 inch tire partially deflated in the well for more discreet travel and access to the back...

If you could find a 34” tall skinny tire on a 18” wheel that would be pretty cool. Then have a little compressor or a couple quick shot power tanks. It would be like an adult sized donut.


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[Calidad]

If you could find a 34” tall skinny tire on a 18” wheel that would be pretty cool. Then have a little compressor or a couple quick shot power tanks. It would be like an adult sized donut.


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No joke my Mercedes SLK 350 2 seater that cant fit my 3 iron in the trunk has a spare tire thats about 80% the rear tire width and a pump, under the trunk floor. I’m sure it cost MB a pretty penny for that one use spare. I carry tire plugs and will use those before messing with a spare

 

[Expedition Dave]

Still no pictures. Maybe I will poke around it today...

 

[Expedition Dave]

Got under her and poked around.
It is a 17 inch spare, a Good year 265/70R17--which is weak-tea to me being we have 18 inch tires.

There is some space, but you would have to put the spare in a bit "****-eyed" and 33s look to be not much of a problem, but 34s will require some boogeying around to get it to fit--if it fits at all w/o losing a lot of ground clearance.

Back of hitch:





Side:



Passenger Side (next to exhaust on right of pic)

 

[darmahsd]

Keep the oversize tire and deflate it to clear the hitch.
The reason I need to always carry a spare in ALL my vehicles is not an old school thing. It's simply that almost every time I needed my spare was because the sidewall was destroyed. For regular flats, I always carry some sort of inflator and plugs. Most of the time. I never jacked a car up, just rolling the car to expose the puncture, inflating the tire and poking it with a rope plug. That'll get me home to where I could have a proper inside patch to the tire installed or replace it. In the old days, I would use the "Fix-A-Flat", but even though it now says it's compatible with TPM's, I wouldn't trust it. So, unless you want to be hanging out waiting for roadside and hoping they bring along a proper wheel/tire combo for your vehicle, keep the inflator, plug kit in your car and still carry a spare, deflating the oversize one to clear the trailer hitch. You can't fix a tire with plug or patch if the sidewall was damaged, despite YouTubes I've seen.
Not seeing a spare in a NEWER car is a cost cutting thing.

 

[WEDGE]

In my 2010 I've got a 305/55/20 spare underneath. It fits, with not a lot of room to spare. I've stepped up to 275/65/20 and will try and squeeze one of those under there!