Spare Tires
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Lakewood, Ca.
Spare Tires
I haven't been over here in the O/R - 4X4 neighborhood before, but I hope to get a little advice if I can.
I'll be taking a trip that requires quite a bit of rocky & gravelly road. I'm running 315/70r 17's on a '06 F-250 6.0. Obviously, the stock spare tire is useless. Carrying 2 spares is my plan, but i'd like to save as much space as possible. Both my diff's as 3.73 ls. I'm aware that it's not a very good idea to run unmatched tires on the same axle, but would it be close enough to carry something like a couple of 285/75r 16's on a 7" wheel ? If i made it back to the pavement, i could swap to get matching tires on the drive axle, or would i be better off changing both tires on the axle with the flat?
I'll be taking a trip that requires quite a bit of rocky & gravelly road. I'm running 315/70r 17's on a '06 F-250 6.0. Obviously, the stock spare tire is useless. Carrying 2 spares is my plan, but i'd like to save as much space as possible. Both my diff's as 3.73 ls. I'm aware that it's not a very good idea to run unmatched tires on the same axle, but would it be close enough to carry something like a couple of 285/75r 16's on a 7" wheel ? If i made it back to the pavement, i could swap to get matching tires on the drive axle, or would i be better off changing both tires on the axle with the flat?
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Elkhart IN
Running a smaller tire on a vehicle only keeps you from using 4wd. If you used 4wd with a smaller tire on, you would have binding, pontentially breaking u joints, t case ect. If you "had" to use a smaller tire in 4wd, (not recomending at all) you could put a matching smaller tire front and rear.
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
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From: Lakewood, Ca.
Thanks for the comeback. That's kinda what I figured as far as back/front goes. But in 2wd say, on the rear axle, that much of a difference in tire size probably wouldn't kill my diff if it was only run that way for a short time, huh?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Elkhart IN
No, it wont kill it. When you run 2 different size tires, it just works the spider gears a little bit more. If you go TOO far either dirrection, and drive it for a long time it can cause alot of heat and cook the spider gears.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Atlanta GA
> Both my diff's as 3.73 ls
I didn't know Ford started putting L/S in the front axles again or did you upgrade?
Having a slightly mismatched tire on a L/S will do no harm off road and little wear on road unless you are towing at high speed for miles on end.
If you get a flat and have a mismatched tire, put the smaller odd ball on the driver's front and put that tire on the rear flat.
The worse possible position for the odd ball is the right rear.
I didn't know Ford started putting L/S in the front axles again or did you upgrade?
Having a slightly mismatched tire on a L/S will do no harm off road and little wear on road unless you are towing at high speed for miles on end.
If you get a flat and have a mismatched tire, put the smaller odd ball on the driver's front and put that tire on the rear flat.
The worse possible position for the odd ball is the right rear.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Louisiana
Some Limited slips don't have spider gears, and it is not good to run different size tires on a limited slip or locker, but if you put the spare on for a few miles, there won't be much of any damage if any.
Like rebocardo said, if you have time, and you'll be driveing a long distance, it'd be a good idea to take a front tire and put it on the back and put the spare up front, and just drive in 2wd, but I wouldn't worry about it if you went less than 5 miles.
Like rebocardo said, if you have time, and you'll be driveing a long distance, it'd be a good idea to take a front tire and put it on the back and put the spare up front, and just drive in 2wd, but I wouldn't worry about it if you went less than 5 miles.
Last edited by MBBFord; Sep 30, 2007 at 12:06 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: SW VA
Originally Posted by MBBFord
Limited slips don't have spider gears
Uhhh...yeah they do. How else are the tires going to vary in speed while turning, spinning, etc...?
Don't know about you, but my LS has spider gears.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Louisiana
You're right, I wasn't thinking, but basically what I was trying to get at was... When there are different size tires the clutches will be actuating constanly creating a problem there, not necciessarly spider gears.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Prince George
I would never run different sized tires on the rear with my l/s. It doesn't take too much more effort to just swap the spare on the front. I've had to do it before and I'm sure I'll be doing it again.
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