Spare tire question

[mustangaustin34]

About a year ago I switched to the 17 inch Sequoia rims and installed 265/70/17 tires. If I ever get a flat, are there any safety concerns with driving on the 16 inch spare tire when the other three tires are 17 inches? Also if the front tire is the one that is flat, would it be safest to throw the spare tire on one of the rear wheels and put the 17 incher on the front in case I am on the highway? Probably will never happen but I have always wondered about this. Thanks for the input.

 

[ARC]

About a year ago I switched to the 17 inch Sequoia rims and installed 265/70/17 tires. If I ever get a flat, are there any safety concerns with driving on the 16 inch spare tire when the other three tires are 17 inches? Also if the front tire is the one that is flat, would it be safest to throw the spare tire on one of the rear wheels and put the 17 incher on the front in case I am on the highway? Probably will never happen but I have always wondered about this. Thanks for the input.

Wheel diameter shouldn't matter at all. Outside diameter (Tire size) does. What size is your spare?

 

[mustangaustin34]

The factory spare I believe is the 265/70/16 size. Thanks.

 

[Atrox Caeda]

The factory spare I believe is the 265/70/16 size. Thanks.

If thats the case.

265/70-R17 vs 265/70-R16 Tire Comparison - Tire Size Calculator

You should be fine. Donuts are way smaller than that. I would try to fix it as soon as you can, but still. If it's a 265/75/R16 then it's almost identical.

 

[98OzarksRunner]

As long as you don't put it in 4WD or engage the locker it will be fine (ever seen a car going down road with a tiny spare on one wheel?). Engage the 4WD or locker and it will come to a screeching (and probably clanging) halt since the different wheel/tire sizes will be like having 4.10 gears in back and 4.30s in front - not good.

 

[Atrox Caeda]

As long as you don't put it in 4WD or engage the locker it will be fine (ever seen a car going down road with a tiny spare on one wheel?). Engage the 4WD or locker and it will come to a screeching (and probably clanging) halt since the different wheel/tire sizes will be like having 4.10 gears in back and 4.30s in front - not good.

Thats not true. The locker part is sorta true... but why would you engage it on the road? If it's on dirt it will just skip a little... if your tire is a different diameter the diff will take up the difference, esp with how marginally different they are. It is not the same as putting different gears in.

 

[98OzarksRunner]

Thats not true. The locker part is sorta true... but why would you engage it on the road? If it's on dirt it will just skip a little... if your tire is a different diameter the diff will take up the difference, esp with how marginally different they are. It is not the same as putting different gears in.

That's correct. If you engage the locker (with different tires on the same axle) or the locker AND 4WD it will create problems. Having 2 tires on the same axle that are different from the tires on the other axle will create problems since the transfer case/center diff won't like it. I'd avoid it even on dirt though.

 

[ARC]

In other words if you use it as a temp spare you will be fine. Treating it as a full size spare will cause problems.

 

[piecesparts]

There are numerous ways to get around this issue. First of all, you could drive it as a temp spare and it will suffice. Second, you could get a taller 16" tire for your spare rim, there is some room under the truck. Or Third, you could put the spare on the front and move the front tire to the rear axle and keep the sizes matched on the driver axle, while taking the flat tire off and putting back under the truck.