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Maximum Tire/wheel Size And Still Use Side Spare

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by Matthew Monahan, Apr 25, 2020.

  1. Apr 25, 2020
    Matthew Monahan

    Matthew Monahan New Member

    Chattanooga, TN
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
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    3
    I have a 1972 CJ5 that currently has 32 by 12.5 tires. I would like to go back to something smaller to where I can restore the side-mounted spare. I'm not a stickler for original size etc, but I'd like to know something like the maximum size tire/wheel that I can use and still use the side spare.

    I'd love to post photos but it seems like this forum does not reduce their size and I get the rejection because they are too big.
    Thanks,

    Matt
     
  2. Apr 25, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I use PixResizer. Don't know the maximum size, but 640x400 or 800x600 will be accepted. These are plenty big for posting.

    Kinda think you will have to measure. Put the spare on, absent the wheel at that position and measure how much clearance you have. Remove spare, measure existing tire, and determine the interference. Downsize the tire and wheel combo accordingly. Note that the backspacing has a 1:1 correspondence with how much the tire sticks out. Cross-section (section width) and back spacing are relevant. Tire Rack has lots of tires of many sizes with section width specification. Note that a wide tire on a narrow rim will bulge out a lot.
     
    Lockman likes this.
  3. Apr 25, 2020
    Beach66Bum

    Beach66Bum 1966 Tuxedo Park Mark IV 2024 Sponsor

    Big Island on...
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    Earlier Jeep but keeping with all stock, rims are 5.5x15. Tires on the Jeep are 235 75R15, closest to the original L-78’s (or H-78’s)
    For the spare I went one size down, to a 225 75R15. I didn’t like the look of the 235 on the side, to big, but that’s just my opinion.
     
  4. Apr 26, 2020
    Ol Fogie

    Ol Fogie 74 cj5 304, 1943 mb

    Southern...
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    Nov 24, 2019
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    If I remember correctly when I first bought my new 74 cj5 I tried changing my factory wheels to a 8 inch wheel while still keeping my factory H-78 X15 goodyear suburbanite tires. They rubbed the spare tire. wound up installing a rear mounted tire carrier.
     
    Matthew Monahan likes this.
  5. Apr 26, 2020
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Aug 3, 2003
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    31x10.5 tires rub on my OEM spare, so I used a spacer behind the spare.
     
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  6. Apr 26, 2020
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    I ran 32x9.50 Swampers on my last 5 and it looked like it would clear, but it would rub around right-hand turns. Kept smelling rubber when I turned right.
     
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  7. Apr 26, 2020
    Matthew Monahan

    Matthew Monahan New Member

    Chattanooga, TN
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    Apr 15, 2020
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    I think I see what you're saying about wanting to downsize the size of the spare. It's hard to tell exactly by the angle of the picture but it seems like if you go too big on your tires and keep the side spare it can appear disproportionately large, even though it technically fits.

    I would love to see a picture of your CJ5 from a couple different picture vantage points, especially straight from behind.

    It seems like there is a point at which the tires and spare are large enough that it makes more sense to put it behind the Jeep.

     
  8. Apr 26, 2020
    Matthew Monahan

    Matthew Monahan New Member

    Chattanooga, TN
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
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    I just realized that what I thought was one image is actually a portfolio of 90+ photos. What a beautiful Jeep! An awesome documentation! Can you tell me about the wooden shim between the tire and the body? I'm also curious what you used for tailgate chain covers.
     
    Beach66Bum likes this.
  9. Apr 26, 2020
    Beach66Bum

    Beach66Bum 1966 Tuxedo Park Mark IV 2024 Sponsor

    Big Island on...
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    Thank you very much! The wooden block is what they used as an dampener for vibration of the spare tire against the Jeep body. The tailgate chains are brand new which I bought from Walck’s (very nice parts for our vintage jeeps)
     
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