Seventeens
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 402
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Spare change
Updated my spare wheel solution.
Background, 1) my Explorer brakes up front don't allow the use of the 14" spare and furthermore, and 2) my 17" tires are a substantially larger diameter than stock.
The work-around for the brake clearance and outer diameter, was to carry a 16" spare (145/80).
This is still adequate for in town, but a liability when venturing into the outback or snow.
A separate problem is that my 245 rear tires are not snow compatible...so wide that they lack chain clearance at the shock and sheetmetal.
Nor can the 245's be mounted up front.
The narrow fronts are more versatile since, at 225, can mount in the rear and are chain compatible there.
A third concern is that the Cobra reps are not a standard item easily replaced, especially in my mod'd form.
If my existing were damaged, I might find them NLA or the mod shop out of business.
Then I would then have to immediately scrap the set, start over with lengthy R&D.
To mitigate all these problems, I procured a third pair of Cobra's, again sent them through Weldcraft Wheels to bring them down to a 7.5" width required for chains or for front placement.
These were shod with 225 Vredestein HiTrac, heavily siped for competence in the deep shoulder season.
2 out of 3 outback situations defended...
I can now carry a full size spare for outback ventures and, for snow ventures, can swap out the snow-incompatible rears for narrows.
The one undefended situation is if I've mounted a square set of narrows for known snow conditions and then get a flat.
In this case my options are the snow-incompatible wide (that I packed for some reason?), or the skinny spare.
Project cost: $1300
Background, 1) my Explorer brakes up front don't allow the use of the 14" spare and furthermore, and 2) my 17" tires are a substantially larger diameter than stock.
The work-around for the brake clearance and outer diameter, was to carry a 16" spare (145/80).
This is still adequate for in town, but a liability when venturing into the outback or snow.
A separate problem is that my 245 rear tires are not snow compatible...so wide that they lack chain clearance at the shock and sheetmetal.
Nor can the 245's be mounted up front.
The narrow fronts are more versatile since, at 225, can mount in the rear and are chain compatible there.
A third concern is that the Cobra reps are not a standard item easily replaced, especially in my mod'd form.
If my existing were damaged, I might find them NLA or the mod shop out of business.
Then I would then have to immediately scrap the set, start over with lengthy R&D.
To mitigate all these problems, I procured a third pair of Cobra's, again sent them through Weldcraft Wheels to bring them down to a 7.5" width required for chains or for front placement.
These were shod with 225 Vredestein HiTrac, heavily siped for competence in the deep shoulder season.
2 out of 3 outback situations defended...
I can now carry a full size spare for outback ventures and, for snow ventures, can swap out the snow-incompatible rears for narrows.
The one undefended situation is if I've mounted a square set of narrows for known snow conditions and then get a flat.
In this case my options are the snow-incompatible wide (that I packed for some reason?), or the skinny spare.
Project cost: $1300
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cartmanea
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
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Jun 26, 2010 09:43 AM
