Do you have to have the same size tire as a spare?

scoobysnax · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:04 am

I’m looking to order 4 new tires that will be 1 size up from my current stock tires. I don’t plan on getting a new spare. If I get a flat and have to swap in the spare am I going to risk any driveline risk? I don’t have a limited slip rear so I think as long as I’m in 2wd I’d be fine unless I’m on slipper roads (like snow/mud and not just wet roads from rain) in which case 4x4 would be fine b/c the wheels could slip. The tire place I went to said I could do either but they would recommend buying 5, I think they are just trying to get the extra money but I wanted to be certain and ask you guys first.

I currently have 235/70/16 and I’m going to go to 245/70/16. Also, my spare has not been used so it has its full tread on it.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:08 am

I think you should stay with the same diameter tire as a spare. You could always go to a junk yard and pick up a cheap spare that is the same size. Someone with more tire knowledge than me will chime in soon. :lol:

Terry

DryBones · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:52 am

I just put bigger tires on mine and went with the 5. Besides doing a 5 tire rotation to stretch out the life of the tires its just "looks" better when they all are the same!

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:03 am

DryBones wrote:

I just put bigger tires on mine and went with the 5. Besides doing a 5 tire rotation to stretch out the life of the tires its just "looks" better when they all are the same!

I agree w/ above. In a pinch the size smaller will work ok but best for long term use to get the same size. Besides, if you have a blow out and destroy one tire you will at least be ready to go w/ that 5th one being the same size. Picking up a 5th of the same size used form a tire dealer will work fine too and be cheaper for sure.

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:36 am

That change in tire size wont' be too bad. But its not the best ride with different size tires, and it may negatively affect your alignment.

couple years ago i just got 31's on my TJ, still had the 215 whatever spare. Got dropped off at my Jeep morning after my 21st b-day....man that was a horrible ride home then to then to sears. Made sure I got 2 new ones.

Albert · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:56 am

DryBones wrote:

I just put bigger tires on mine and went with the 5. Besides doing a 5 tire rotation to stretch out the life of the tires its just "looks" better when they all are the same!

I agree as long as you're changing tire sizes.

scoobysnax · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:01 am

I guess I’m looking at is as lots of cars come with donut size spares. Even Jeep with sell their vehicles with a smaller (not a donut but smaller) size spare. I don’t know what the option was on the liberty but I remember a while back building a spec jeep Cherokee and you could get 225/65/15 tires but the spare was a 215/70/15 or 205/65/15 and was much smaller. Unless you got the Limited, Upcountry suspension, skid plates or some other package you didn’t get a matching spare. So if I got a flat the most I would need to drive is about 300 miles give or go which is the furthest I’ll drive on a ski trip. After that I’ll be abel to bring it to my local tire shop to fix.

If it was a rear tire that went flat I could always rotate in the odd the size spare with a front tire and then take the used same size front wheel and use that to change the front. That way the wheels that are getting power (rear) are the same size and the front wheels are just spinning freely. Sure it would be a pain but it’ll work right?

I’ve never rotated in my spare tire before, I’ll rotate the 4 on the ground but not the spare. Do most people rotate in the spare? I’d rather have 4 wheels that wear evenly rather than 3 that are even and one that not. Also I think I would need to get a new tire cover for the larger spare right? Unless I had a bada$$ tire/wheel combo I’d rather have the cover on it to keep it clean especially during winter months with all the road salt so that would be another cost.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:17 am

You can,a same size spare is better though.I run on the ground 4 Trxus 265/75's(31.9" tall),my spare is still a brand new 265/75 MT/R(31.5" tall),they are slightly different heights,I do have the TT and ARB also.If I get a flat and have to mount the spare I will have to place it on the rear axle(unlock the ARB) and lower the PSI in the others a little to match the MT/R's height.

dloc_jeep_KJ · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:56 am

scoobysnax wrote:

I guess I’m looking at is as lots of cars come with donut size spares. Even Jeep with sell their vehicles with a smaller (not a donut but smaller) size spare. I don’t know what the option was on the liberty but I remember a while back building a spec jeep Cherokee and you could get 225/65/15 tires but the spare was a 215/70/15 or 205/65/15 and was much smaller. Unless you got the Limited, Upcountry suspension, skid plates or some other package you didn’t get a matching spare. So if I got a flat the most I would need to drive is about 300 miles give or go which is the furthest I’ll drive on a ski trip. After that I’ll be abel to bring it to my local tire shop to fix.

If it was a rear tire that went flat I could always rotate in the odd the size spare with a front tire and then take the used same size front wheel and use that to change the front. That way the wheels that are getting power (rear) are the same size and the front wheels are just spinning freely. Sure it would be a pain but it’ll work right?

I’ve never rotated in my spare tire before, I’ll rotate the 4 on the ground but not the spare. Do most people rotate in the spare? I’d rather have 4 wheels that wear evenly rather than 3 that are even and one that not. Also I think I would need to get a new tire cover for the larger spare right? Unless I had a bada$$ tire/wheel combo I’d rather have the cover on it to keep it clean especially during winter months with all the road salt so that would be another cost.

yes in an emergency you can run a spare that size. there isnt much difference in the 2 really. you are right about putting it in the front. i wouldnt do it unless i had to though and only enough to get it fixed. ur wrong about having 4 tires wear even and having 3 wear even though. the way u are doing (not rotating in the spare) u have 4 tires that are even and 1 that is not so then even if u have the same size spare u dont if u have a flat :idea:

if you do rotate it in then u have 5 that are the same. think about it each will go on the back in time for the same amount of time. so then all your tires are even. heck if your that worried about ur spare being the same why would u not rotate it in? plus your tires will last longer :idea:

im not trying to be a jerk about it and if i came off that way im really sorry. im just trying to get you to see it that way. if it were me i would get a full size spare. even if u have to get a used one and dont rotate it in. hope this helped you make up your mind sorry if i offended you in any way.

oh and if you have a locker (like Troy was talking about above) then it is a bigger deal than if u have open diffs. just so people know :wink:

not sure he made that so clear but glad he brought it up.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:24 pm

scoobysnax wrote:

I’m looking to order 4 new tires that will be 1 size up from my current stock tires. I don’t plan on getting a new spare. If I get a flat and have to swap in the spare am I going to risk any driveline risk? I don’t have a limited slip rear so I think as long as I’m in 2wd I’d be fine unless I’m on slipper roads (like snow/mud and not just wet roads from rain) in which case 4x4 would be fine b/c the wheels could slip. The tire place I went to said I could do either but they would recommend buying 5, I think they are just trying to get the extra money but I wanted to be certain and ask you guys first.

I currently have 235/70/16 and I’m going to go to 245/70/16. Also, my spare has not been used so it has its full tread on it.

Its probably worth it to get 5 tires if you can afford the extra $100 or so. It is very nice to have a tire that is a full size to rotate out and get 100k miles out of a set of tires rather than 80k miles.

Many people will buy a full size matching spare and never put it on the ground. What you wind up with is a never driven on 10 year old tire that fails when you finally do have a flat because it has been sun damaged and dry rotted.

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:51 pm

Yea I would get all 5 tires. Tou don't want to run with 3 same size tires and need to use the spare that is differant. You could damage your drivetrain system if in 4wd.

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:57 pm

I think it's silly to do anything but 5...

scoobysnax · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:24 pm

dloc - no worries at all! Thanks for the input, different opnions don't mean F-u statements.

Still, I think I might save the money and just get 4. The extra tire, mounting and all that plus the new spare tire cover will add up. But, it is food for thought, I might keep an eye open for a cheeper tire of the same size and see about a sale on tire covers. Mine receintly got two small rips in it

I don't think anyone was trying to steel it, maybe just walking past it or something with a bag (that's city living for ya.)

Guest · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:45 pm

I think it looks dumb to have a different sized spare on the back of a vehicle with an outside-mounted spare. Look at all the older Astros running around with a donut spare. YUCK.

CD · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:02 pm

I have 5 tyres and rims all the same, I rotate every 5000 k's. This way my spare is a working tyre and will always be the same size as the rest of them.

scoobysnax · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:37 pm

agree that it doesn't look good if they all don't match, however, unless you got really close I don't think you would be able to tell the difference with the tire cover on. If you can maybe that will be the tipping point for me and I'll get the 5th? Who knows.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:39 pm

I have the stock 235/65/17 spare and 245/70/16 tires on the ground.

My problem is I bought 4 moabs. No worries, all I have to do it put it on the front(locker on rear).

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:12 pm

scoobysnax wrote:

dloc - no worries at all! Thanks for the input, different opnions don't mean F-u statements.

Still, I think I might save the money and just get 4. The extra tire, mounting and all that plus the new spare tire cover will add up. But, it is food for thought, I might keep an eye open for a cheeper tire of the same size and see about a sale on tire covers. Mine receintly got two small rips in it

I don't think anyone was trying to steel it, maybe just walking past it or something with a bag (that's city living for ya.)

Dont run a spare tire cover.

Personally I like to see the mechanical things in my vehicle, which is why I remove engine covers.

mi1bql · **Posted:** Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:38 pm

I did buy five tires all the same for one reason; I was having a darn hard time finding General Grabber tires here in Southern Ontario and had to order them. Tires took almost a week to come in and if I had a flat and needed to order a replacement I would be stuck running on a mismatched set of tires for a week.

Must say though I did consider only ordering four tires.

Josh.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:32 pm

buy 4 but get one used the same size as the 4 on the ground
Jeep Jamboree requires a "full size spare"
all of the local clubs require a full size matching spare

I will not run on any trail with out 5 tires all the same
get a flat our on the trail and have a tire that is 1 or 2 inches smaller than the 4 on the ground then you can not use 4wd
which means you are using 2wd and getting drug down the trail ,not smart
at least with a spare the same OD you can limp home and get a new tire
if you get 5 new and keep up a 5 tire rotation then if or when you get a flat no big deal swap on the spare and get it fixed
then simply keep it as the spare until you rotate again
if you get a blow out ,most trail damage, then you can get a new tire keep it as the spare and go to a 4 tire rotation

I am in a bad situation with tires right now
I have or will have 2 new Super swamper LTB's on the front and 2 that are 1/2 used on the rear and a 1/2 used spare
bought 4 used and 1 new ,spare
blew out one on a trail now buying a matching new and trashing 1
tough on my TJ if it is in 4wd I am on loose dirt and in 4wd low so I should be fine

Do you have to have the same size tire as a spare?

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