Check your spare

[cpaharley2008]

on your tow vehicle. Come to find out that my Ram 1500 has 20' wheels and tires but a 17" temporary spare??
I know that Jeep provides 5 full sized tires and wheels and assumed a truck with a towing package would also, my mistake. Now to find a 20x9 wheel and spend money for a tire that hopefully I will never need.

[Iowa Dave]

Hey Jim, you could put the new spare in rotation and get some wear out of it, or wait till you trade for another Dodge and put the 17 back in the spare rack, and insist on the full spare for
The new one. Then you'd have a spare pair and only have to buy two new ones when the originals wear out. Oh wait, you've never worn a set for out have you?
Dave

[Ron in BC]

I was absolutely disgusted when I checked my spare after owning my Ford Ranger for a while. All my previous Mazda trucks had regular tires the same as the rest. T

I had asked the salesman if the the truck came with a "full size" spare. Imagine my disgust when it turned out to be "not to be used for towing" on a truck with a tow package and it was a different circumference. I went to an auto wrecker and got a matching wheel and tire. Thanks, Ford.

Ron

[advenas]

When I bought my truck a few years ago I realized the original spare tire was now about 18 years old (1997 F250). So I pulled it and got a new spare tire since tires age out after awhile. Also, the prior owner had changed the tire size on the truck to give it a wider tread for hauling. I also bought a tire plug kit and a tire compressor. Figured flats never happen in a good place. Would be better to plug it, air up and get to a comfortable spot to handle a 10 ply tire 80lb tire if I can.

[elongest]

Jim
The Ram 1500's come with either 17" or 20" wheels. The sidewall on the 17 is taller and a lot of people swap out their 20's for 17's for a better ride and tire selection. If you have a 17" spare on a steel wheel the OD maybe the same as your 20" tires. Worth checking before spending a lot of money.
Eddie

[caddoster]

my little jeep (renegade) has no spare

(but it also doesn't tow)

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by elongest

Jim
The Ram 1500's come with either 17" or 20" wheels. The sidewall on the 17 is taller and a lot of people swap out their 20's for 17's for a better ride and tire selection. If you have a 17" spare on a steel wheel the OD maybe the same as your 20" tires. Worth checking before spending a lot of money.
Eddie

I do not understand, yes the temporary spare is 17 and yes it may have the same OD but I can not tow while using a temporary spare, so I need to replace it with a full sized spare, correct?

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I do not understand, yes the temporary spare is 17 and yes it may have the same OD but I can not tow while using a temporary spare, so I need to replace it with a full sized spare, correct?

Why would the spare not work for towing? I know my spare does not have the same rim size, but the diameter is the same, and can be used for towing, no problem.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Why would the spare not work for towing? I know my spare does not have the same rim size, but the diameter is the same, and can be used for towing, no problem.

The manual for at least some vehicles with donut spares state "Do not tow with the spare".

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

The manual for at least some vehicles with donut spares state "Do not tow with the spare".

I realize that, but I understood Jim to say the tire was full sized, just not the same tire, as mine is.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Why would the spare not work for towing? I know my spare does not have the same rim size, but the diameter is the same, and can be used for towing, no problem.

If you saw my original spare tire, Continental brand, you wouldn't dream that it wasn't suitable for towing. It looks large and robust. 1" difference in rim size but overall diameter is pretty close. But then you see the sticker, "not to be used for towing" and a speed limitation.

Ron

[Brian B-P]

Lightweight, temporary-use spares for all-wheel-drive vehicles are usually close to the standard tire in overall outside diameter (regardless of wheel diameter) to avoid drivetrain damage. That does not mean that they have the same load capacity or speed rating.

If the spare is the "T" (Temporary) or "S" (Spare) type - rather than "P", "LT", or Euro-metric or commercial (no letter in front) - then it is not constructed to handle sustained high speeds. If it is narrow enough, it will need high pressure just to hold up the load, and will not be suitable for use with a fully-loaded vehicle.

Some of the "temporary use" designations and speed restrictions may simply be related to the mismatch of tire sizes with the normal tires, and resulting potential problems in handling. I think it is understandable that a vehicle manufacturer would prohibit towing with a mismatched tire, regardless of that tire's speed or load index.

If you're sure that the spare is the original, you don't even need to look at it to determine the size and type, since the loading and tire information sticker will show the tire specification. Of course we all should look at the spare occasionally, just to check the condition and inflation pressure; I don't do that very often.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I know my spare does not have the same rim size, but the diameter is the same, and can be used for towing, no problem.

Sure, but your manual says to tow with caution, because it is a dissimilar size tire.

[MyronL]

Speaking of spares, when it comes to the factory supplied jack, do not spare your attention and concern. My Silverado factory jack is such a lightweight toy piece of junk I would hesitate to trust it without using jack-stands on a concrete garage floor. In the out-back? Forgetta-bout-it.

[cpaharley2008]

I contacted the dealership and they said they were not aware that it was not a regular tire and they were going to contact the regional director as well as tell new owners with the tow package that a spare tire will be needed. The weight capacity of the spare is the issue, not the same as the full sized tire. So the hunt is on for a 9" steel wheel and used p275/60R20 LT tire. Sometimes I wish I never find out about these things as I blissfully thought it was a regular spare for 3 years now and close to 30K miles towing.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Why would the spare not work for towing? I know my spare does not have the same rim size, but the diameter is the same, and can be used for towing, no problem.

Are you sure of this Jim? Mine has "Temporary use only" in big letters and I checked the capacity and it is lower than my tires as well as speed. Yes same diameter but that where the similarity ends.

[Marry]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I know that Jeep provides 5 full sized tires

Sooo happy someone gives a thumbs up for Jeep!!! Yeah!!! Love my Rubicon!!

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I contacted the dealership and they said they were not aware that it was not a regular tire and they were going to contact the regional director as well as tell new owners with the tow package that a spare tire will be needed. The weight capacity of the spare is the issue, not the same as the full sized tire. So the hunt is on for a 9" steel wheel and used p275/60R20 LT tire. Sometimes I wish I never find out about these
things as I blissfully thought it was a regular spare for 3 years now and close to 30K miles towing.

Supposedly the higher end Ram Trucks ( Ram Limited) come with a full size spare that is identical to the tires on the vehicle.
You and I evidently bought the stripped down , low end version of the Ram 1500 so we got the limited usage spare tire.
I knew there had to be a good reason why my salesperson tried to push me into buying the Limited Edition and now I know.

[cpaharley2008]

The Ram Sport was supposed to be their 2nd from top of the line model and my sales person who was Ram mechanic for 15 years before becoming sales thought it was full size, we were all wrong and I'd be surprised any Ram has the full sized spare. He is trying to get one for me because of my past 10 year business with him both as sales and for service.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

The Ram Sport was supposed to be their 2nd from top of the line model and my sales person who was Ram mechanic for 15 years before becoming sales thought it was full size, we were all wrong and I'd be surprised any Ram has the full sized spare. He is trying to get one for me because of my past 10 year business with him both as sales and for service.

I wish you the best of luck and hope this problem is rectified to your satisfaction.