So, you could go with something close to the front tire size, and that would be great if you have a flat in the front, but if you need to put it on the back it could be troublesome for the diff. So you could instead go with a size to match the rears, but if you needed to use it on the front it may have clearance issues with the front fender, and it would cause some strange handling issues. Which is worse, little tire on the rear, or big tire on the front?
Since , mostly be a temporary situation I would think the best option would be a smaller tire for a spare. Additional positive would be taking up less room for storage in your vehicle.
The only thing certain is whichever you choose to match, front or rear, it's the other that will go flat.
Haha, I just used that last Sunday. HEnce the reason for my question, I'm now considering adding a spare to the trunk.
Narrow up front, wider in back for the "big" factor and average the height to within a few inches circumference of each other. Then a front spare and maybe a can of slime type tire sealant.
Open diff or limited slip? With open diff, you can run a smaller spare on the back. LSD, not a good idea to mismatch the sizes from side to side. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Spare? What’s a spare ? With my RPU the only way I could have a spare would be if it would fit in my pocket Auto club membership it will be
Just don't cut any tight u turns with the mismatched tires on the rear. Sent from my LG-TP450 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I matched the front tire size with a dual bolt pattern for wheel interchange. I have Chevy front BC, Ford Rear. Never had to change one yet. Knock on wood!
On my 36willys I had a cragar super trick 4-1/2" wide rim with a tall 6-7" Wide tire it was a multi patern and fit under the original spare tire cover.Never had to use it though and I carried a jack also That was 40 years ago now I carry AAA 100 mile towing plan Pat
I'm with Jim. I have a tire that falls in between the two. For me I see it this way. I have an open diff and it'll only think I'm turning left or right all the time. Drive according to the situation.
I'd go for one about halfway between, doesn't really matter as long as you have a spare you will never need it. Then five years from now when you get a flat the spare will also be flat or you will have loaned it to a friend the week before.
Big & littles on my F100. (radials, cuz it's my daily) Carried an in-between size for a spare, (how far are you gonna drive on a spare???) Sound logic...But one day the spare was flat (been in my pickup bed for years, never checked it. The mfr. date was 9 years old... But better judgement overcame me, and the AAA deal was too good to pass up. My previous ins. co. had towing, but a Cali-loophole allowed them to raise everybody's insurance rate. So, I took the spare out, inflated it to 30 PSI, and put it inside the side gate. Couple days later, I was working in the garage, heard a loud explosion. (BOOM! It echoed, neighbors came out, didn't know what caused it...no smoke, nothing. I opened the side gate sometime later, and the spare was opened up at the tread, right down the middle, 14". Tread had blown off completely, violently! If it would have blown when inflating it, I'd be deaf. Wait...I think my wife's calling me...maybe not...What?
No beuno with a traction device. In a straight line the tires are spinning at different speeds. With a limited slip your clutches would always be slipping. Not so good for them. With a locker it will likely be doing some funky huck and jive engaging and disengaging. Now you could drive in a slow circle the whole time...
I've traveled thousands of miles without a spare and never had a problem until last years,fortunately I was traveling with a friend that had a tire plug kit with him and we were back on the road within a hour. I carry a kit now with small compressor that plugs into the cigarette lighter. HRP
even with a spare, the biggest challenge is having a jack that will fit under the car. then be able to raise the car high enough to remove flat & install spare - have correct lug nuts & jack stand. if you have to do this stuff close to road you were on think about you being visible enough so that someone does not hit you. AAA or a service truck may be well worth the money in the long run Sent from my SM-G930V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Thanks for all the responses. Good stuff! The reason for my question, which I mentioned above, was we picked up a nail in the right rear tire on the 47 coupe on our way to church last Sunday. As I got out of the car and walked around the back to the passenger side I saw the tire was half way flat. No spare, no jack, no tools, but I do have AAA and a cel phone. They sent a flat bed and we loaded it up and he hauled me to a tire store. They plugged it for me, and then the other day I took it to another store closer to me and had them patch it from the inside, as I don't really trust plugs too much. Now I'm thinking of adding a spare, but I'm liking the idea of carrying a plug kit and a compressor, that would sure be easier to pack inside the trunk.
20+ years/30,000 miles carrying a spacesaver spare in my coupe. Never needed it yet! I'd put it on long enough to get home, or get to a tire shop if needed. After reading Atwater Mike's story, I'm kind of afraid to check the air in it though!!
The Jalopy Journal
