Running without a full size spare

[Paraphoe]

What do you guys think about running without a full size spare? I was all along planning on buying a whole set of 5 33s so I'd have a full size spare, but what is everyones opinion on going with 4 33s and a stock size spare? In the event of a flat, could a lot of harm be done to the truck driving for a long distance with 3 33s and a stocker?

 

[aeaglenfitch]

where are you gona keep a spare 33? i was BARELY able to stuff my 31' spare up into the stock location after taking a cutting wheel to the little flip down thinger that helped hold the stock spare in place. i really mean it's stuffed up there and it's like twice as heavy, i can feel the difference. it will mess with your auto 4x4 so unless you do the brown wire mod (pretty simple and a lot of fun), if u run a smaller spare it will think it is slipping probably then just be wierd idk...

 

[Blee1099]

Definately not recommended.. a stock tire is essentially 28-29" and you have a 33".. In the rear with a locker or limited slip will cause damage. The front I suspect as well.. Just find a cheap used 33 on a forum and mount it to a stock rim and be done with it.. You can keep it inside the rear compartment or on the roof your rig. Its better and safer to have a full size spare than a stock spare in my opinion. I've been on a few runs where someone didn't have a full size spare and they had to borrow a spare to get out of the park.

 

[Paraphoe]

Thanks Blee, that's what I was looking for. I'll try to pick up a cheap 33.


aeagle, I'm not sure where I'd keep the spare. I might try to cram it underneath, I know someone has figured out a way to do it and posted a thread somewhere on here. I'm not too comfortable with it on the roof further raising the COG, and I need every spare ounch of space inside my cargo area when I'm moving in and out of college.

 

[CDW6212R]

If you don't blow tires, but only the occasional nail/screw, why not carry a tire repair kit, and the stock spare. If you go somewhere like a trip or offroading take an air pump as well. I have only had to change one tire since carrying a tire repair kit in 1991. That was a large hole from a large stone, two plugs wouldn't stop the leak.

Decide based on your kind of trips and driving, tire reliability. Good luck,

 

[colindo94]

With a sidewall tear you would be screwed. If your wheeling and don't have a spare its really a big bummer. Like mentioned before 4 wheel doesn't like a smaller spare and same with lockers.

 

[ld50]

When I ran my 33`s I had a 31 spare, I was locked front and rear, but in the event of a rear flat I would have moved a front tire to the rear. i banked on the idea that I wouldn`t have to wheel hard to get it home tho`


-Then of course I found out I drove around with that spare for three years, and it was the wrong rim! Don`t take a tire shops word for it if they give you a spare that "should fit"

 

[Paraphoe]

Yea, I really don't want to put myself in a situation where I'm going to be risking harm to my truck, or be hard pressed to get off a trail with an undersized tire. I'll get a full size.

Thanks for all of the input guys.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I have a 285 / 75 16 ~ a 33" tire under my truck where the factory spare was. I just bent the bracket forward that cradles the spare to make more room.

 

[Paraphoe]

Evan, how does the truck feel with 33s and 4.10s? I think I have 3.73s, and I'm curious if I don't like the ride if I should move to 4.10s or 4.56s.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

IMO, 33's and 4.10's is perfect. According to the gear ratio calculators, it is equal to stock tires and 3.73's. I get decent fuel economy, and for a lifted truck on bigger tires, it moves on pretty good. Regearing is one of the best things I have done on my truck.

 

[GJarrett]

I ran 33's with 4.10 for a very long time. I agree that the match is very good if you have a SOHC or 5.0 and it worked perfectly with my SOHC. Many of the guys with first gen models and the lesser powered OHV went to 4.56 gears when they went to 33" tires but it's not needed with the better power of the other engines.

As to the original question, I agree that you really need to figure out a way to deal with a full size spare, however....
When I first went up to 33" tires (285/75r16) I did have the original spare (255/70r16) for awhile until I acquired a larger spare. On a fourwheeling trip 120 miles from home, I blew a rear tire. I had a limited slip and knew I couldn't get away with that, so I swapped a front to the rear and put the small spare on my front. I did drive home on that spare but kept it at 50mph with no apparent damage to my differential. (Disclaimer: your results may vary if you try it )

As a bandaid fix until you get the fullsize, you could get a Saftety Seal plug kit and a 12v air compressor which will fix 95% of the flats you'll ever encounter and thus you won't need to put the spare on in the first place. The Safety Seal plug kit is expensive ($50 or so), hard to find, and you may have to order online; but it will plug just about any hole a tire can get. In Moab in 2000, Ray Lobato ripped a sidewall on the Steelbender trail. It was a tear not a hole. Rick had a Safety Seal kit and I watched him insert a string of about a halfdozen Safety Seal plugs into that tear, then air the tire up, and Ray drove it the rest of the trail and back into town later that day with no leakage whatsoever.

After witnessing that, I ordered a Safety Seal online the day I got back home, and it's been an essential part of my trail kit ever since. I keep a fullsize spare now of course (35") but [knock on wood] I've never had to use my spare on the trail. Keep in mind that I am still suggesting that you get a fullsize just like everyone else (even a Safety Seal won't fix a bent rim or blown bead) but as a bandaid you can at least get off the trail and to a service station on your original spare if you absolutely had to.

 

[CDW6212R]

Ditto Gerald, I've been using the Safety Seal plug kits since 1992. I bought some Autozone cheap kit, then a replcement tool because the first bent. I then found the SS kits, $20 locally then, and bought them for my two work vehicles.

FYI, their tire plugs are the only plug which does not require glue. Their secret is that the plugs have a patented construction which makes them self vulcanizing. The plugs heat up and seal themselves, basically if they hold air initially, they will never leak. I have never had to add air to any tire which I've plugged with the Safety Seal plugs.
The two tools which come in the kit are almost unbreakable, you won't break one unless you are trying to. Regards,

 

[Paraphoe]

Awesome information guys. As always, thanks again. Gotta love this site.