Another Spare Question

[Mrtin]

I know talk of fitting full-size spares gets covered a lot on TRS, but I have not found this particular question addressed. I apologize in advance if this is well worn territory.

My stock tire size is 265/75 15. I bought the truck used and it was running 31X10.5 and did not have a spare. I went to put a 31 underneath and could not fit it. This is a 1995 with the hinged swing-down style carrier under the bed.

I understand that 31's are slightly larger than my stock tire, but I wonder if that whole 4/10 of an inch in diameter and 1/10 of an inch section width is really the difference between a full spare fitting or not. My question is this; are there Rangers out there that come from the factory unable to carry their own stock tire as a spare? This would seem weird to me. Or is that spare carrier designed to fit like a glove, and that 4/10 of an inch is really too much for it? Again, that would seem a bit odd.

Thanks for any info. I'd like to carry a full size spare without using the inside of my bed. This doesn't seem like too much to ask while running a stock tire. Again, I know I'm a little larger than stock, but in trying twice it did not feel like I was even close to getting that spare to fit.

Thanks

 

[adsm08]

The fit on those swing carriers is TIGHT. I was barely able to get my 215/75/15 in mine before I tweaked it just a bit, then I was only able to get the spare in if I deflated it.

Also, on the vehicles that have the biggest factory tires Ford doesn't always use a truly full-size spare. A lot of them come with the next stock size down as the spare.

 

[Captain Ledd]

I managed to stuff a fully inflated 225/75R15 on a Jeep Rim in my carrier. I might be able to slip in a 235/75R15, but it'd be reaaaaally close.

 

[Mrtin]

I was barely able to get my 215/75/15 in mine before I tweaked it just a bit, then I was only able to get the spare in if I deflated it.

A lot of them come with the next stock size down as the spare.

Very interesting. Upon even closer inspection it does look like I might possibly get it to fit with some slight tweaking. I'm not sure though. What kind of tweaking did you do, if you remember? It looks to me like the hinge on the rear side, where the two pieces bolt together, is what is most in the way. I'm wondering if you put a different hinge on that, or moved it out somehow.

I may get a smaller tire for it. Between the two of you it sure does sound like 31s, or 265/75 15 might be pushing it for that stock carrier. For the time being I'll just be without a spare, as I need every inch of cargo space when I move tomorrow. Thanks for the info