Right now I have 32 inch tires on my jeep and would eventually like to step it up to a 33 inch. Also I have the smittybilt tire carrier and I have a 32 with a junkyard wheel so it will work on the jeep. But the problem is that it is pretty heavy and blocks seeing out of the rear of the jeep. Would it be a bad idea to carrier around a 225 that originally came on the jeep as a spare tire. I know you wouldn't want to use 4wd drive with that spare on but would it still be good enough to drive home if I got a flat.

 

1) What if you get a flat where 4x is needed
2) Why put a small spare on a carrier which still blocks vision when you can put it in the stock location?
3) You don't list the aspect ratio, but it would be 4-5" overall smaller, if you got a flat on the rear you should transfer a good front to the rear, then put the small spare on the front.
4) If you have an auto locker or LSD on the rear then #3 becomes a must.
5) Why are you even considering getting even bigger tires if you are decreasing the spare size?
Honest question and not trying to offend, but is this strictly used as a mall crawler, or are you actually going off road? Think about it, if you're on a trail, or off the trail even, and you are in a place that pops a 32, what would it do to a street tire? I wouldn't, but others do. Your call.
There was a recent thread that asked the similar question. The poster of that thread stated that he would air down the other tire to offset the size difference, FWIW.

 

...just checked out your build thread (lookin good BTW) and I can see why you can't run the spare inside. What about that roof rack you made? It's even got a wind deflector so a wheel up top shouldn't make a huge difference. And I see that you do go offroad, I'd try to stick with as close to a full size spare as I could. If you insist on using the carrier, and going smaller than the 32, have you considered maybe a 265 or something? Something bigger than 225?

 

You really need to run the same size spare tire for all the above reasons. Unless your tire sits off to the side you can see the sides around it with the rear view it on the side then you have a blind spot. But that is the reason they provide side mirrors on the doors are to see behind you, guess I drove trucks with trailers for to long and only had side mirrors to use.


If you still have a problem I guess you could mount a camera on your rack with a small monitor like I have on my Motor Home to see the car I'm towing behind me. They are cheap anymore and then you can really see, I have no problems though with a 33x12:50x15 on mine with seeing.

 

I was wanting to mainly run a smaller spare to decrease the weight. My jeep sits a bit unlevel and wanted to drop some weight on that side due to the tire carrier. I would rather not put it on top due to being a challenge to get up and take down and it would look funny with a tire carrier and no tire. Visibility is not a big issue rear view mirror and I do have a back up camera on a garmin.
And as of now it is a mall crawler because of not having time to use it. But if I were to go trailing I would put the full size spare back on.

 

I know a guy that carries the stock full size spare and is on 35s, sounds dangerous to me but his choice. Then again car donuts are significantly smaller to their full size counterparts.

 

This is a buddy of mine - Check out HIS spare -




He calls it his "NASA dehydrated spare" - Those are 42's he's running. I think the spare is off a wheelbarrow!

Of course, he NEVER heads out without a full repair kit, and he's used it a number of times, too! He's also the guy with the welder and full air-impact setup, so for him, no real spare is a non-issue.

 

I would leave the spare on it and get a shackle relocation kit to raise the rear up a lil bit.Once you lift so high you will always have a blind spot in the front and rear you get use to it.

 

Fix the suspension.

 

My 2cents, not that I've been jeeping for 27 years I just read a lot on Wikipedia...

Your spare is for emergency...

Carry a good plug kit, try to repair your tire first. If that doesn't work...then..

It's doesn't matter if you are a 4x4 what matters is what carrier you have, in other works are you locked or lsd, if you are then rolling size matters, open diff you are fine, that's why you see so many pizza cutter spares on cars...

If you are lsd / locked rear only then rotate the spare to the front

If you are lsd / locked both air down your normal tire to match the rolling height of your spare

A 225 is between 26-27", so about a 2.5 " rolling diameter difference compared with a 32, air down the 32 make sure the spare is full and roll out.

I run dual arb's in my Cherokee and carry a smaller spare, saved me weight, room, and $...

This is just my thoughts...and how I've done it in the past...

Btw if you go to 33's or a full size spare, remember your spare doesn't have to be the same width, I know many jeepers that carry a 33x9.50 or 33x10.50 as a spare for their 33x12.50

Even if you run a 31 spare, air your 33 down an inch to get off the trail if you have a traction aid...

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I run a swing out tire carrier and a smaller spare...

So in the quest of the build as a stock looking very capable XJ (sleeper ) I decided to find a stock 9011 snowflake rim for the /spare tire, which I also went down to a 205/70/15 in size.

Reasoning for the smaller spare is that I am guilty of not rotating my spare in to the mix when I rotate the tires, I wanted to save some weight off the rear, it helped keep my license plate more visible,cheaper, and also since Im running a selectable it operates like an open diff when not engaged so the diameter being the same as with a full locker or posi has to be to prevent binding.

Also if need I can always just air down the opposite side by 1.29" of an inch and be the same diameter if in an emergency situation that I still need to be locked.

205 70 15 26.30 diameter
235 75 15 28.88 diameter

so 28.88 - 26.30 = 2.58 overall height / 2 = 1.29" height difference


Here is a few pics

 

So I have 33x12.50 tires right now, my friend has two sets of tires/wheels and said he would give me the spare off one set for my spare..(confusing i know) His wheels are completely different and the tire he is giving me is 33x10.50. Is this going to be a problem? I could buy a spare tire/wheel to match but it would be atleast another $250 and I would rather just use his.

 

Should be fine.