Full size spare

[Blk Mamba]

I hadn't paid to much attention to my full size spare till two days ago, the cover is on with about half the tread showing, I was going to straighten it out, and then re-tighten the spare down. I'm not even able to get my hand in there, let alone be able to turn the round black plastic nut. I give up, how do you do it? I'm afraid if I get a flat I won't be able to change it.

:mad2:

[MO Merc]

The spare black plastic nut can be turned by reaching up under the tire. Rhe tire being on the shelf some of it hangs over making the bottom of the tire open. Tighten or loosen by turning the entire black retainer.

[Blk Mamba]

The spare black plastic nut can be turned by reaching up under the tire. Rhe tire being on the shelf some of it hangs over making the bottom of the tire open. Tighten or loosen by turning the entire black retainer.

Thanks, I would never have figured that out. Works good, and is very solid, and noise free. Thanks again.

[Aren Jay]

Do I need two Full sized spares?

Not a front and a rear, but two rears. I have WInter tires that are 28.4" and am getting summer tires that are 29" in diameter. Would the 28.4 or the 29 work with the other size or would it cause problems if used more than the recommended 50 miles.

[TAKEDOWN]

I had to put myself inside the trunk!

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Not a front and a rear, but two rears. I have WInter tires that are 28.4" and am getting summer tires that are 29" in diameter. Would the 28.4 or the 29 work with the other size or would it cause problems if used more than the recommended 50 miles.

Ummm,,,no. Think about it. The full size spare is already the FRONT height, from the factory. There is a huge difference in height when you put that on one rear wheel. That's where the "50 miles" comes into play.

Your stock full size spare is not 28.4" tall, it is 27.3" tall. So now you will be running a 27.3" spare with a 29" tall rear tire, instead of a 28.4" rear tire. Stock rear tires are 28.6 (unloaded)

SO you are only making the mismatch 0.4" worse than factory. It's still going to be slipping your trac loc clutches and making the spiders work hard. But I would not get 2 spares over 0.4". Once you start factoring in tread wear, etc. that difference may end up being larger or smaller. I would not drive the whole 50 miles even w/ the stock full size spare on the rear. But you really shouldn't have to drive that far to get to a garage unless you are in the desert.

[Joe Walsh]

Ummm,,,no. Think about it. The full size spare is already the FRONT height, from the factory. There is a huge difference in height when you put that on one rear wheel. That's where the "50 miles" comes into play.

Your stock full size spare is not 28.4" tall, it is 27.3" tall. So now you will be running a 27.3" spare with a 29" tall rear tire, instead of a 28.4" rear tire. Stock rear tires are 28.6 (unloaded)

SO you are only making the mismatch 0.4" worse than factory. It's still going to be slipping your trac loc clutches and making the spiders work hard. But I would not get 2 spares over 0.4". Once you start factoring in tread wear, etc. that difference may end up being larger or smaller. I would not drive the whole 50 miles even w/ the stock full size spare on the rear. But you really shouldn't have to drive that far to get to a garage unless you are in the desert.


I've know some knuckleheads who slapped the small spare on their Mustang's rear when they had a flat tire....and kept driving for many, many days on it.

Then they got pissed because their OEM traction-lok was smoked!

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

The stock 8.8 trac locs suck so bad they will get smoked from regular driving. The trac loc does not need any help getting any worse.

[Aren Jay]

It is 0.6" not 0.4".

hmm. 230's don't exist.