Spare Tire
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Junior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 64
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From: Lake Stevens, WA
Spare Tire
So, the other day when my brother was in town we were comparing trucks. He has an '06 F150 FX4 SCAB. We even got down and looked at my spare tire. My FX4 came with the 20" rims with the Spirelli tires, but the spare tire is an 17" or 18" rim with a higher profile tire. 
I've always been told that you don't run different rim/tire sizes on 4x4s because it will mess up your transfer case, not to mention it would just look FUGLY!!!. Is this not true? Why would FORD have a stock vehicle come with 20" rims and a spare a different size?
I've always been told that you don't run different rim/tire sizes on 4x4s because it will mess up your transfer case, not to mention it would just look FUGLY!!!. Is this not true? Why would FORD have a stock vehicle come with 20" rims and a spare a different size?
Senior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 138
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From: McAlester, OK
This is an issue with many vehicles, not just your Ford.
The best approach is to get a rim and tire the same as your other four, rotate all, and you will get 25 % more life on your tires. Remember, spares deteriorate when not in use.
Your right though, if this is the case, your spare sucks.
The best approach is to get a rim and tire the same as your other four, rotate all, and you will get 25 % more life on your tires. Remember, spares deteriorate when not in use.
Your right though, if this is the case, your spare sucks.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,269
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
the spare is 18" and the tire size is 275/65/18, the same tire size shared by other F150 4x4 models. The overall tire diameter (32") is the approximately the same for that 18" tire and the standard 20" tires, so you have nothing to worry about.
It's been like that for several years now since the 20's came out on the last gen F150. It's probably alot cheaper for them to put on a spare 18" than 20".
It's been like that for several years now since the 20's came out on the last gen F150. It's probably alot cheaper for them to put on a spare 18" than 20".
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,512
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From: Detroit
Keep the spare aired up, and you're golden if ever you need to use it.
George
Cross-Country
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 60
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Running different size tires doesn't only apply to 4x4's, it is really any car or truck with a traction loc rear. Driving with 2 different size tires puts more stress on the clutch pack causing it to slip and thus wear out faster. (thats why with the space saver spares on regular cars you need to get the tire fixed quick if it has a locking rear) But like other posters said it is the overall tire size that matters, and usuallly when the rim size gets bigger the sidewall on the tire gets smaller so you will be fine. I'm just glad they still give us a real spare tire, and not some dumb inflation kit like most manufacturs are going to!
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