I was. I'm on 35s now, because I've regeared and despite what the ladies say to my face size does matter, as Top of the World proved. I'd go to 37s if it didn't involve cutting fenders.
35s in stock spare location
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A deflated 35 will fit after you put a little over 5k miles on it.
The math (I think):
You’ll run through about 16/32nds (0.5”) of rubber on each side of a tire during its 50k mile life…meaning it will start at 34.5” and end at 33.5”
50k miles divided by 16/32nds means about 3,125 miles per 1/32nds of rubber burned on each side…for a total tire shrink of 2/32nds (since you’re burning rubber on each side of the tire) of an inch (0.0625”) per 3,125 miles.
To get to 34.3”, which will fit in the spare location, you need 0.2” of rubber burned…or 0.1” from each side…I think it works out to 5k miles or so.
Or you could buy a slightly worn spare (missing 3-4/32nds or 0.1”), put it under the car…and just start rotating it after the other tires get to its wear level (hoping you don’t get a bad flat in the first 5k miles and need to store a near new 35 down there)
I’ve got a kenda 35x10.5r17 under my car in the spare location after approximately 5k miles…it, when initially hoisted, didn’t touch the panhard at all…after driving for a while it settled and does touch…but not enough to bother me.
I had a 35 on a swing away for a few thousand miles, then I ran a 275 65 20 spare until I hit 5k miles, then put the most worn 35 (from the front) in the spare location.
When these tires wear out, I don’t plan to mess w 35s again…33’s or 34’s probably.
If I had to have the biggest that would fit, there are inexpensive light weight 28 lb 18’s on 25 offset that could couple with relatively lightweight 295 70 17’s (34.3’s).
The math (I think):
You’ll run through about 16/32nds (0.5”) of rubber on each side of a tire during its 50k mile life…meaning it will start at 34.5” and end at 33.5”
50k miles divided by 16/32nds means about 3,125 miles per 1/32nds of rubber burned on each side…for a total tire shrink of 2/32nds (since you’re burning rubber on each side of the tire) of an inch (0.0625”) per 3,125 miles.
To get to 34.3”, which will fit in the spare location, you need 0.2” of rubber burned…or 0.1” from each side…I think it works out to 5k miles or so.
Or you could buy a slightly worn spare (missing 3-4/32nds or 0.1”), put it under the car…and just start rotating it after the other tires get to its wear level (hoping you don’t get a bad flat in the first 5k miles and need to store a near new 35 down there)
I’ve got a kenda 35x10.5r17 under my car in the spare location after approximately 5k miles…it, when initially hoisted, didn’t touch the panhard at all…after driving for a while it settled and does touch…but not enough to bother me.
I had a 35 on a swing away for a few thousand miles, then I ran a 275 65 20 spare until I hit 5k miles, then put the most worn 35 (from the front) in the spare location.
When these tires wear out, I don’t plan to mess w 35s again…33’s or 34’s probably.
If I had to have the biggest that would fit, there are inexpensive light weight 28 lb 18’s on 25 offset that could couple with relatively lightweight 295 70 17’s (34.3’s).
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The Wrangler Territory MT 315/70R17's are super light weight, I think like 53 lbs or something. They also run narrow compared to most 315/70's. I picked up a set for my F150 after I had run 315/70R17 KO2 Raptor takeoffs for a few years and the truck was noticeably happier, more spunky and picked up 1 mpg with Territorys. They are more like running a 285/80R17 if that was a thing.
While I never weighted the Mounted Territory MT, my KO2's with the 17" wheels were 93 lbs. The territory's were supposedly 9 or 10 lbs lighter, so I figured they were around 83 lbs mounted on the wheels.
These pics are the Bronco Territory MT's vs the KO2's i had on my truck. The last pic is a 285/70R17 KO2 I had on my Lexus GX tread to tread with the Territory.
While I never weighted the Mounted Territory MT, my KO2's with the 17" wheels were 93 lbs. The territory's were supposedly 9 or 10 lbs lighter, so I figured they were around 83 lbs mounted on the wheels.
These pics are the Bronco Territory MT's vs the KO2's i had on my truck. The last pic is a 285/70R17 KO2 I had on my Lexus GX tread to tread with the Territory.
I have RT Trail LT295/70R18's. The inflated spare fits like a glove.
Too much hassle w the spare…plus I figure I won’t lose much with a 33/34 Offroad…but I’ll gain a little in highway handling/torque.
No mods, full pressure. Brand new KM3. Never measured it for actual OD though.
Oops. I am on 17 inch wheels, not 18
I keep my spare underneath as well and just put 5 new Toyo RT Trail 285/75r17 (33.9") tires on this week. If I had 18" wheels I certainly would have gone to the 295/70r18 (34.3") and even with a pan hard correction bracket I'm convinced I would have cleared everything.
I do like the 17" wheel size and so exchanged emails with Toyo asking for more sizing choices especially tall/skinny, they were nice enough to thank me for the input and said more options were in the pipeline.
I do like the 17" wheel size and so exchanged emails with Toyo asking for more sizing choices especially tall/skinny, they were nice enough to thank me for the input and said more options were in the pipeline.
I'm planning on getting a 275/65r20 (34.1") for my spare. I run 35x12.5x17 and have no interest in a swing-out carrier. Should be close enough to get me safely home or to the tire shop. I also keep a plug kit and compressor in the truck at all times.
One that is 1-2/32nds worn will put you at 34” even…which is right in the middle of the 35” tire’s life (33.5”-34.5”)…that’s what I did…until my 35’s wore down enough to fit under the car.
In hindsight, had I been able to find a used 35, I would have just bought a matching 35 with a slightly worn tread and put that down there.
