Spare Tire / Off Roading

Hi All,

I hope you all are enjoying the holidays!

Have a TRD ORP on 285/70/17's but am still running the original spare tire, which is a 265/70/17. I do go off roading once a month or so, and am planning a 300 mile overlanding trip with my friends in Feb..... need a "full size" spare.

Options, as I am aware, are a 255/80/17, or another 285/70/17. I am concerned about departure angle/ground clearance if I go with the 285's, as they are a wide tire and I have read they will hang down. Also, I am concerned about the 255 as they are about 33.3" vs my 285's which are about 32.8".... don't want to damage differentials if I had to run the spare for a couple hundred miles (worst case).

Would appreciate thoughts from anyone that has dealt with this before !

Thanks!

 

Since I don't like Load E tire on road feel 255/80R17 is out of my choice. 255/80R17 only got Load E options as far as I've seen vs 285s got so many options from standard load - C -D - E Load.


Off-roading with 285/70R17 I have not hit the spare tire but have hit the bottom of the rear bumper.


Different tire brands have slightly different diameter GY Wrangler Duratrac 285/70R17 having 33in diameter vs Cooper Discover ST Maxx 255/80R17 having 32.8in diameter.

 

I’m in the same boat, running 285’s with a stock spare. I would like to have a 285 spare but haven’t addressed it yet.

Something else to consider is that that factory jack won’t work, at least for me. I tried it out and it’s too short.

So if I get a flat, I’m screwed.

 

iGood point on the jack, have to figure that out as well!
Thinking maybe a 285 spare is best, maybe keep it aired down a bit and perhaps it won’t stick down as much.

 

No I keep at regular pressure 33-34psi on BFG KO2 285/70R17 Load C.

 

If you get a high lift you'll need jack points, like a front bumper or sliders. Also please practice and watch some safety videos on those farm jacks, they can be super dangerous. They are heavy, hard to carry with (unless you have a mount for it), and can slip while lifted.

However, they work great for tall items and have saved us a few times.

 

285 fits fine on the spare carrier, and I've never hit mine. It doesn't protrude like you think it will. You will drag the hitch before you touch the tire. Airing it down will do nothing for the width.

For the jack I keep a 4"x4"x4" cube of wood to add height. Works fine.

 

Also more compact than a farm jack too.

 

Stock jack is ok with the cube?

I watched a video awhile back and the guy demonstrated that with the right bottle jack, it’s actually safer and more efficient than a bumper jack.

 

I used the stock jack in garage while I was test fitting 285 after lift. Rear is not a problem because you place it under axle right? Front I place it on the frame closest to the control arm and it lifted the tire just enough to remove. This was on my Limited with stock UCA so not having much travel. Haven't tried stock jack on TRD ORP with SPC.

 

Thanks for the insight on the 285, makes sense that airing down wouldn't do anything for width, and also great info on hitting the hitch before the spare tire. Genius on the 4x4x4 wood block ! I've watched the videos on the high lift jacks and well, they seem like an un-fun way to die

 

My highlift jack just collects dust in the garage. I use two after market bottle jacks in my recovery gear box, a large 12 ton jack and a smaller 6 ton double ram jack.

 

Since I don't have a winch hi-lift jack lives in my cargo area ready to be used as a winch as well 'just in case'..

 

I’ll have to take another look at my stock jack and see about getting some kind of block.

I also would like to get a better socket/breaker bar for the lug nuts. A torque wrench would be nice too. Torque wrenches I have do not go high enough for the lugs.

 

All I used testing fitment

 

For reference, here's a 285/70/17 in the spare location.



I've grazed it in the rocks a few times, but not enough to damage it.

 

If you’re not packing much for your road trip, just throw it in throw it in the back. I tied it so it wouldn’t move much, and it works well until I can get a tire carrier. This is a 295 as well.

 

Yeah

 

If you're throwing a hilift out the window as an option but still on board with bottle jacks, could try this too: https://safejacks.com/products/basic-bottle-jack-kit
They make a kit that is just the attachments and you buy your own bottle jack.

 

I have a similar setup. I'm using a ratchet strap to keep it in place, but I want to figure out a better solution eventually.

 

As far as Hi-Lift jacks-

It's nobody's favorite tool. It's pretty much always a last resort. But, I'll never go off-roading without it.