Hello everyone,

I have 32x11.5 BFG A/T's right now, I need to purchase a spare tire, since my next set of tires will be 33x12.5, is it okay to use this 32" spare when I have 33's. I heard it's not good to use different size tires, but the guy at 4Wheelparts said it was okay to reuse the 32", cause it is only 1/2 inch difference??? TIA

i've had to use undersized spares - if a rear tire goes flat move a full size to the back and put the smaller spare up front.

Hopefully you'll never have to use it. I use what ever it takes to get me out of the situation and fix it as soon as possible. I'm not going to change two tires on the side of the rode or trail. If there's not much difference I wouldn't worry with it. A worn 33 versus a new one is usually an inch. If it bothers you you can always pick up a used tire of the same size somewhere. my 2 cents

Everything I've read (or heard on click and clack) says:

For short term, lower speed use, it's ok. Don't take any 1000 mile trips on the highway doing it. That's why many cars with the mini-spare have a big warning on them that says 45mph max speed. You just spin the spider gears more, like when you're going around a corner and the outer wheel has to travel farther than the inner wheel.

Caveat: Don't do with locked axles. Think of taking a corner on dry pavement with locked axles--chirp, chirp, chirp! as the inner wheel tries to catch up with the outer wheel.

It shouldn't make a difference for a spare. All the above advice is excellent. Be aware, however, that some off road clubs require a "same size" spare for trail rides.

Pete

Thanks for the responses. I just did not want to buy a cheap 32" spare and then have to buy another 33" spare when I move up an inch in size. I will probably juss get the 32" spare tire for now, because I still have about 80% tread left on my BFG ATs to run down. Should last at least another year...

Sometime you can find a shop that will sell you a used tire.

I did this recently on my wifes mazda 3s that had a nail sticking out the side wall on a tire with 12k. Cost 40 bucks for a used tire mounted that has 25k or so left on it.

That's what I was talking about a used tire we have a place here that sells used tires for $25 mounted. You can't always find the size you need but if they get one in they will call you. I run 315's on mine locked front and rear and carry a 285 spare. It has got me home a couple of times until I could fix the other tire. I didn't run 85 on the way or keep it on there for weeks. It can be very twitchy in the curves when in the wet. IMO

There is some danger you could fry a limited slip diff running different size tires on the rear axle, if this applies to your rig. And I wouldn't run it in 4WD that way, either, due to driveline binding. So if you are willing to swap the tire to the front (in the instant of a rear flat), and are in a position to get moving again in 2WD, then yes you can run a different size spare.

Not sure I'd bother carrying a spare at all that wasn't a size match, but YMMV...and there is always AAA or Fix-A-Flat.

I think you have to ask yourself what scenerio's you're depending on the spare for? Almost anything thats round can aid in getting you off the trail in a pinch... which is better than leaving your junk in the woods overnight. but you wouldn't want to zip around town at 75mph on your odd size spare for months while you "decide" to purchase a new one.

get my drift?

-Rob