Just bought a new 2004 SD Crew 4x4 6.0L with the FX4 option. Noticed recently while rotating the tires and checking the undercarriage that the spare tire is a 16" wheel and tire while the tires on the truck are 18".

Is this common? I think the tire size difference could cause problems if I had to drive for a ways before fixing a flat. Dealer doesn't seem to think it is a big deal.

What spare tire size is mounted on other trucks with 18" tires?

drhuntr

 

you must have either a "Harley Davidson" or King Ranch" edition truck because i believe those are the only trucks that come from the factory with 18' wheels in '04. if the spare is not the same size as the rest of the tires i would get the dealer to get you the same size for your spare. your fx4 package gives you the LS rear end and if you run different sized on it you can burn it out in no time

 

I guess I should have mentioned I have the Lariat. The package came with the 18" tire combo. Of course, the tires are those worthless Goodyear Wrangler AT/S but otherwise it's a great truck with no problems so far.

 

i do not know how you got 18' wheels on your truck, according to fords website you can not get 18" wheels on an '04 lariat.you should still get the dealer to give you the same size spare

 

Before freaking out, measure both tires and see if they are the same height. 16" or 18" wheel shouldn't matter as long as the tire is the same diameter.

 

I did just that. The Spare tire height is 29.5" and the 18" tire height on the ground is 34.5". That is a 5" difference in height.

The dealer said that since the tires and spare are OEM, shouldn't matter. I am just a bit leary of driving for any distance with a 5" differnce in tire height. Of course, the only flats I have had in the last several years were in the woods or on the deer lease in the mud.

Just wondering if others with the 18" OEM wheels have the same combo. I don't think its safe with a 5" difference but convincing the dealer is a chore.

 

your factory tires are 34.5" tall???!??!??! are you sure? what is the size of the tire ... xxx xx 18 ? spare should be a 235 85 16 i imagine, which is 31 and change. might want to double check these measurements. also, any pictures?

 

According to the Goodyear Website, the 275/65/18 has a diameter of 32".

The 235/85/16 has a diameter of 31.9".

The 265/75/16 has a diameter of 31.8"

Your spare is perfectly ok.

 

My 2004 F-250 Harley Edition has 18" wheels and a 16" spare, which is marked "temporary use".