Max Spare size on '97 EB

[Pritch]

Hi all,

I know that ths has been asked previously, (as I dutifully performed a search prior to starting this thread), but most of the posts wer inconclusive and several months old.

Ford is being nice enough to reimburse me for the BFG AT KOs (265/75/R16) that I bought back in February after input from this forum.

Now I need to take care of the spare. The stock one is a 225/75/R15! Can I fit the 265/75/R16 in the space provided? If so, I'll gladly shell out the $40 bucks for a new rim.

I'm guessing that by now, lots of you guys have had Ford replace your spare so you may already know the answer to this.

Thanks.

 

[soupbone]

Air it down to a few PSI and see if it will fit. mount it on your old spare wheel... Or just strap it down tight int he read cargo area.

 

[CougarX]

The 255/60 16 spare on mine is a tight fit, especially with a tube hitch. If it does fit it will be very close.

 

[Robert]

Your '98 has more room underneith than the '97s do. On the '97, IF you don't have a hitch, you might get it under there if you let most of the air out. I tried putting my 265 75R16 under my '97. I let it out to 5psi, but no amount of wedging would get it past my round tube hidden hitch. Yours is a 4-door, and mine is a 2-door, but I believe the spare tire room is the same. Try putting one of your tires on it now and see if will fit. If it does, then go ahead and purchase one.

 

[Pritch]

It Fits! (But not dancin' yet!)

Went to Big O today and they took off one of my tires and tried it. The kid said it was tight, but it managed to fit the space.

But then the manager tells me that plain steel wheels are not available in 16" with the 5-lug pattern!!!

Great! Looks like I'll be skulking around junk yards trying to find a 16" rim off a wrecked Explorer.

 

[CougarX]

My 98 has a plain 16" steel wheel for the spare. Maybe you could get one from Ford.