Expedition Dave
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The Nitto 295/70-18 (34.3x11.7) Fits in the Factory Spare Tire Well!
BACKGROUND:
My very willing local, intrepid, fearless 'mech signed on for the experiment.
Just prior to my project, I procured an additional factory FX4 rim to fit Nitto #5. I wanted to have a full size-spare with me at all times when driving any substantial distance. Plugging is easy, but I have had catastrophic tire failures in the past making the tire repair impossible. I wanted a real option that would do more than allow me to "limp home" when home for me may be hours or days away. Remember your spare only matches factory height, is not the same width or rim diameter--so you can forget about a clean swap even at a tire place. This problem compounds when you have 35, 34s and 33s and your spare is a 17 inch 265/70-17 32 inches tall. YMMV.
Besides, during a Zombie Apoc, when they see you on your little donut rim, by default you are now the slowest gazelle ;-)
INSTALL:
At first blush, the tire would only fit slanted nose down at the kind of angle where it would catch on nearly everything it tried to crawl over like a snowplow. That was a 'no go' so I asked about deflating it which was tried, buying more room. While it was even now, it still hung too low.
My 'mech finally got the idea to un-clip the electric brake module and this freed up enough room to get it wedged snugly up into the frame (pics below).
At this point, it is not necessary to do anything else with it as it is well secured at other points and resting on part of the tire and not at risk of rubbing on a sharp corner and shorting. This will be a point to keep and eye on, just in case. A few lashes of electrical tape maybe as needed, if needed.
AS FITTED:
OLD Factory Goodyear 265/70-17 Spare:
NEW Nitto 295/70-18 Spare:
Tow Hitch:
Frame Side:
Cross member, facing front by diff:
Heat Shield:
Heat Shield:
Heat Shield:
I have only a slight concern for the bead on the deflated spare--I would of like a few pounds of air in their but considering (if you review my measurements when the tire is off the rim and un-inflated, you can see an aired tire grows almost .70 taller and wider). The 'mech thinks it will hold for many years w/o drying out. Besides, I know a few tricks ways to make a field expedient bead if necessary. At worst, I will always have a 100% matching tire to remount if necessary at the local "mule and fuel" even if far away from home.
Still, at next visit, I will engage him in a reattempt to fit it with maybe 5 PSI just for my peace of mind and some strips of electrical tape.
Adding the bigger spare does look like a slight bit of departure angle was lost--as the factory spare tucks better b/c it is thinner (10.5 inches) than even the already too thin stock tires (11 inches). So the fatter Nitto, even un-inflated is still a bit thicker.
Before:
After:
So yes, it appears the spare sits maybe a half/to full inch lower than the factory spare? (the spare seems to sit a lot lower when you actually get under the truck, as seen in the first pic)
Still, I'd rather have the spare rim and tire smack an object before the edge of the factory bumper--which would just rip off. Further, I have no fear of the internal, factory spare tire winch failing, because the steel rim spare and tire is very HEAVY. The aluminum FX4 rim (31lbs). with Nitto (50.6 lbs) should weigh approximately 82lbs--probably about equal. I would of weighed these myself, but my fancy-pants scale is glass and don't want it cracking just for you bums
Final thoughts? It worked for me. Anything you do to these vehicles comes with risk, and if you are running any other tire than mine--chances are good it may not fit especially if you are wider (12.5s come to mind), on wider rims (mine are still 8.5 inch) or if your tire is more square shouldered (Nittos on the smaller rim are pretty rounded), or in the LT category (maybe harder to squish, even deflated). Further, the extra weight (some tires alone weigh as much as my rim and tire combined) could potentially cause failure of the cable and mechanism. Size could force the tire too low to the ground as well. To have that fail and drop at highway speeds--or dislodge during an accident--would be catastrophic.
All things to consider whenever you choose to mod these things, on any level. Justy some lawyerly advice
Stay safe!
BACKGROUND:
My very willing local, intrepid, fearless 'mech signed on for the experiment.
Just prior to my project, I procured an additional factory FX4 rim to fit Nitto #5. I wanted to have a full size-spare with me at all times when driving any substantial distance. Plugging is easy, but I have had catastrophic tire failures in the past making the tire repair impossible. I wanted a real option that would do more than allow me to "limp home" when home for me may be hours or days away. Remember your spare only matches factory height, is not the same width or rim diameter--so you can forget about a clean swap even at a tire place. This problem compounds when you have 35, 34s and 33s and your spare is a 17 inch 265/70-17 32 inches tall. YMMV.
Besides, during a Zombie Apoc, when they see you on your little donut rim, by default you are now the slowest gazelle ;-)
INSTALL:
At first blush, the tire would only fit slanted nose down at the kind of angle where it would catch on nearly everything it tried to crawl over like a snowplow. That was a 'no go' so I asked about deflating it which was tried, buying more room. While it was even now, it still hung too low.
My 'mech finally got the idea to un-clip the electric brake module and this freed up enough room to get it wedged snugly up into the frame (pics below).
At this point, it is not necessary to do anything else with it as it is well secured at other points and resting on part of the tire and not at risk of rubbing on a sharp corner and shorting. This will be a point to keep and eye on, just in case. A few lashes of electrical tape maybe as needed, if needed.
AS FITTED:
OLD Factory Goodyear 265/70-17 Spare:
NEW Nitto 295/70-18 Spare:
Tow Hitch:
Frame Side:
Cross member, facing front by diff:
Heat Shield:
Heat Shield:
Heat Shield:
I have only a slight concern for the bead on the deflated spare--I would of like a few pounds of air in their but considering (if you review my measurements when the tire is off the rim and un-inflated, you can see an aired tire grows almost .70 taller and wider). The 'mech thinks it will hold for many years w/o drying out. Besides, I know a few tricks ways to make a field expedient bead if necessary. At worst, I will always have a 100% matching tire to remount if necessary at the local "mule and fuel" even if far away from home.
Still, at next visit, I will engage him in a reattempt to fit it with maybe 5 PSI just for my peace of mind and some strips of electrical tape.
Adding the bigger spare does look like a slight bit of departure angle was lost--as the factory spare tucks better b/c it is thinner (10.5 inches) than even the already too thin stock tires (11 inches). So the fatter Nitto, even un-inflated is still a bit thicker.
Before:
After:
So yes, it appears the spare sits maybe a half/to full inch lower than the factory spare? (the spare seems to sit a lot lower when you actually get under the truck, as seen in the first pic)
Still, I'd rather have the spare rim and tire smack an object before the edge of the factory bumper--which would just rip off. Further, I have no fear of the internal, factory spare tire winch failing, because the steel rim spare and tire is very HEAVY. The aluminum FX4 rim (31lbs). with Nitto (50.6 lbs) should weigh approximately 82lbs--probably about equal. I would of weighed these myself, but my fancy-pants scale is glass and don't want it cracking just for you bums
Final thoughts? It worked for me. Anything you do to these vehicles comes with risk, and if you are running any other tire than mine--chances are good it may not fit especially if you are wider (12.5s come to mind), on wider rims (mine are still 8.5 inch) or if your tire is more square shouldered (Nittos on the smaller rim are pretty rounded), or in the LT category (maybe harder to squish, even deflated). Further, the extra weight (some tires alone weigh as much as my rim and tire combined) could potentially cause failure of the cable and mechanism. Size could force the tire too low to the ground as well. To have that fail and drop at highway speeds--or dislodge during an accident--would be catastrophic.
All things to consider whenever you choose to mod these things, on any level. Justy some lawyerly advice
Stay safe!
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