Odd Tire situation...

[Jet-Jock]

Decided I probably should check the air pressure in the spare. When I slipped under to examine the tire I noticed it's not a Goodyear but a Continental Contitrac and it's 235-70-16, my tires are the 235-75-15 with Goodyear Wranglers.

Stopped by the dealer and I believe that have ordered the correct full size spare.

Anyone experience this on a new truck?

[Stinkbaitj]

Usually spare tires are smaller than the others due to the rim being smaller.

--1993 ford ranger ext cab 3.0 v6--

[Jet-Jock]

True on those with the "donut" spare, but I would have expected with a "full size" spare it would at least match, not be larger. LOL

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Yeah something is odd, I just looked on the 2011 Brochure and for my model it is: Full-size spare tire: P235/75R15 all-terrain (4x2)

[Muscleford]

The difference in the height of those two tires are .08". The size of the 235 70 16 is 28.952" -- the 235 75 15 is 28.879" My son's 09 Ranger XLT 4X4 has the same situation. Ford only had to buy / stock one size spare wheel. Reduces inventory investment.

[OhioMike]

Reduces inventory investment.

+1, and therefore more cost effective for Ford.

Stopped by the dealer and I believe that have ordered the correct full size spare. Anyone experience this on a new truck?

I experienced this same thing with my 02' 4*2 Ranger, and I found out a couple months later when I got a flat. Naturally, it was at a place in the tire where it could be patched, yet the shop didn't feel comfortable with the tire on my vehicle. I told them to swap out the spare, and they didn't say anything about the size being different. I found out on my own.

[sgtsandman]

Originally Posted by Jet-Jock

Decided I probably should check the air pressure in the spare. When I slipped under to examine the tire I noticed it's not a Goodyear but a Continental Contitrac and it's 235-70-16, my tires are the 235-75-15 with Goodyear Wranglers.

Stopped by the dealer and I believe that have ordered the correct full size spare.

Anyone experience this on a new truck?

Ford did that to save money. It's close enough to the 15" and 16" size tires to not burn out or damage anything in the drivetrain. It ticked me off too though.

When I get the money, I'll get a matching rim from the junkyard but they aren't cheap. Just the rim is $225.

[Jet-Jock]

Yes I've since found out a lot about this, amazingly the dealer nor Ford knows much about it. Seems that since 2003 and up, Ford cost reduced by using one spare as mentioned above, it's a 16"x7" 18-hole spare wheel. It's normal for the 4x4 with 16" wheels but becomes a "full size dissimilar spare" in the owner's manual. Even the all other mentions like in the brochure they specifically state full size spare P235/75-15. (They just left the word "dissimilar" out, why be completely honest with customers.)

Here's the kicker, when the vehicle has a dissimilar spare, it has several usage restrictions, like limited to 50 mph, no trailering, etc.. I presume they are labelled on the wheel mine must be installed with that info facing up.

So that's a new one on me; a full-size dissimilar spare.

The only way for 4x2 owners to have a normal size spare without having all these operational warnings, you'll need to buy a new wheel and tire so that's like $185 and $140 for the wheel and tire.

Amazing since 2003 and barely a mention of it, but leave one word out in the brochures, instead of full-size spare it changes to full-size dissimilar spare.

Ford considers it a temporary emergency spare, even though they say only that it's a full size spare 235/75-15, that's not what you get.

[nicksranger01]

My ranger had a 235/75r15 as a spare for the longest time till my dad needed it for his jeep, it would have fucked my truck up,it's had 265/75R16s since the i bought it, 5 years ago

Sent from my SCH-I500 using FRF App

[ricochet]

I have 255/70-16s and I swapped my original 235/70-16 spare with a cheap 255/70-16 just for peace of mind. Re-sold the 235/70-16 Continental on kijiji.

A side question - my spare is mounted with the outside face upwards, hence I have to drop the tire to check the pressure. Lani, you mentioned slipping under the truck to check the pressure - is your spare mounted the other way around? I drop the spare to check the pressure and lube the cable every 8,000km when I rotate the main tires... Probably get a lot more road salt up here in the winter than you do in FL...

[ob269]

Originally Posted by sgtsandman

Ford did that to save money. It's close enough to the 15" and 16" size tires to not burn out or damage anything in the drivetrain. It ticked me off too though.

When I get the money, I'll get a matching rim from the junkyard but they aren't cheap. Just the rim is $225.

I can get you stock ranger rims from my jy for $35.. IDK where exactly in PA you are but I'm central-ish..

[Twin City Ranger]

Originally Posted by Jet-Jock

Yes I've since found out a lot about this, amazingly the dealer nor Ford knows much about it. Seems that since 2003 and up, Ford cost reduced by using one spare as mentioned above, it's a 16"x7" 18-hole spare wheel. It's normal for the 4x4 with 16" wheels but becomes a "full size dissimilar spare" in the owner's manual. Even the all other mentions like in the brochure they specifically state full size spare P235/75-15. (They just left the word "dissimilar" out, why be completely honest with customers.)

Here's the kicker, when the vehicle has a dissimilar spare, it has several usage restrictions, like limited to 50 mph, no trailering, etc.. I presume they are labelled on the wheel mine must be installed with that info facing up.

So that's a new one on me; a full-size dissimilar spare.

The only way for 4x2 owners to have a normal size spare without having all these operational warnings, you'll need to buy a new wheel and tire so that's like $185 and $140 for the wheel and tire.

Amazing since 2003 and barely a mention of it, but leave one word out in the brochures, instead of full-size spare it changes to full-size dissimilar spare.

Ford considers it a temporary emergency spare, even though they say only that it's a full size spare 235/75-15, that's not what you get.

Hmmm....
Now I'm going to have to check that out on my '03 4x2.
After I purchased it last year, I dropped the spare to make sure it was inflated, and didn't notice whether or not it was a 15" or 16". Never would occur to me though to think it would be a different size.
I do recall it was the same brand (Continental) & model of tire as the other 4 on the truck, and had clearly never been used. Which led me to believe all 5 were original to the truck.

In either case, I am just happy not to have a doughnut spare.
Some vehicles don't even come with spares anymore!

[sgtsandman]

Originally Posted by ob269

I can get you stock ranger rims from my jy for $35.. IDK where exactly in PA you are but I'm central-ish..

Steel, yes. I have a set for winter tires and I paid about that. This is an aluminum, tear drop, rim. Apparently, they are not common in JY according to the one I was talking to.

EDIT: Actually, I have two sets of steel rims. I got some for the '98 for the same reason. I think those were $25 each though...

[Jet-Jock]

Richard, the spare from the factory is mounted outside facing up. I had slid under to see if it was going to be easy or a PITA, that's when I discovered the different tire and size. According to the OM, it says there should be warning labels on it. I'll pull it down this weekend to find out if that's true.

I was thinking if the 16" Y wheels would fit, I'll buy a set of them and put Wrangler Silent Armor on them, then sell the 15" with the Wrangler SRAs on. Then my 16" spare becomes a normal spare. Seems kind of silly on a brand new truck but on the other hand with my wheels and tires in new condition they'll be worth more.

I guess the issue is whether the front's will fit. I looked at one of the "Y" wheels but I need to get the center opening measurement to verify it will fit. Offset and diameter should not matter.

And for those who live beachside they deal more seriously with salt spray, it's not as bad here in the central part but still I wash my truck weekly and keep high quality polish on it to keep it preserved. (as long as possible LOL) And keep the underside rinsed off.