Oddball size spare to match aftermarket rims

[Fordblue213]

I am running 225/70R16 tires on my truck on aftermarket rims.

I dropped my spare today just to check it and it was low on air. I checked the date code which is "319" which means 31st week of 1999. so the spare is 20 years old.

After looking around, the comparable 15" rim tire size is 225/75R15 which is a really common trailer tire size, but not too common of a passenger car tire size.

I know they say to never run regular tires on a trailer, but can a trailer tire be used as a spare that is going to spend 99% of its life hanging up under the bed?

Or is the easiest route to just get a 16" steel spare rim and an exact size spare as what is on the rest of the truck?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

For my own personal use i would use a trailer tire.
Damn the torpedoes ( safety nazis), full speed ahead.

 

[sgtsandman]

I wouldn’t. The tire isn’t designed for the load forces of a drive axle. But that is just me.

 

[91stranger]

Trailer tires just have harder sidewalls to reduce trailer sway. It's not going to affect you much since it is just a spare. I knew a guy who had 4 trailer tires on his chevy astro for years until the motor blew. He said he never noticed a difference at all. Just don't go Tokyo drifting and you'll be fine.

 

[09fx4guy]

A 225/70R16 is about a 28.4, while a 235/75r15 is about 28.8, which isnt much of a difference. You can pick up a goodyear wrangler radial at walmart for about 70 bucks and should probably work just fine for a spare, or maybe even look for a place that sells used tires (quality ones, not the junk that is out there).

Also, i think firestone destination at and goodyear wrangler trailrunner are also available in a 225/75r15, which you may be able to find.

 

[Biggfoot44]

*IF* you consider a spare to be for temporary use in case of actual flat tire , then flip a coin between a 235/75-15 and a 215/75-15 . Either one will be close enough, just drive stupid on your way to the tire store .

*IF* , you do 5 tire rotations, or drive on your spare for 6 months after you catch a bad nail , then get a perfect match for the other 4.