Tundra factory steel 17" spare wheel as "secondary spare" for Baja?

[SBSYNCRO]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to figure out the best way to have a "backup spare" for extended trips to Baja. As you can see below, I'm running 16x8 wheels and 285 series tires. I have a 5th ATX wheel and tire combo in the original spare location (it fits perfectly). I'm trying to figure out the most cost-effective solution for another "backup" spare (a 6th tire/wheel). It will ONLY be used on trips to Baja and it will be carried in a Tiregate Adventure Series carrier (along with jerry cans and hi-lift jack). For 8-10 months out of the year it will live in a shed, and I don't want to worry about rotating it with the other tires. I'd also prefer that it didn't cost $400 like the ATX & Revo combo.

So, I'm wondering if I can repurpose the existing 265 spare mounted on a factory 17" steel wheel.

Tire rack does not offer a 16 x 8 steelie with 4.5" backspace (the B/S of the ATX wheels I'm using). I don't know the backspace on the factory steelie. Wondering if anyone has experience with this sort of situation and has any experience they can share with the 1Gen Tundra (or anything relevant)?

I'm figuring WORST CASE I can use the existing steel wheel with an inexpensive 285 series tire. If I get a flat up front and it won't clear the front suspension because of the backspacing, I can mount it on the rear and move the rear up to the front. I'm assuming that because I have an LSD rear diff, I shouldn't run a 265 spare back there while the other tires is a 285.

Best case, I find a 16 x 8 steel wheel with the correct backspacing and then throw an inexpensive 285 series or 33" tire there (if such a thing exists).

Any comments or suggestions?

 

[tarditi]

Ideally, the "spare-spare," along with the primary spare, is a complete match and you have a rotation schedule in your maintenance plan. Now that the academic dreamworld has been recognized, we can talk reality: Since this is really for a case of "2 flat tires" as long as it's the same OD and fits you should be OK in a pinch.

Correct, you want your drive axle to be matching wheel/tire set if possible when you have a LSD or locker (you would move a mismatch spare to the front)
Also plan to have some way of repairing an unseated bead, plugging/patching a tire or even stitching a sidewall - while not recommended to drive far on a bad sidewall, if it means the difference between getting home and not, you will make do with what you have!

 

[SBSYNCRO]

Thanks. The big question in my mind is whether the oem steel spare will work on the fronts given the lift and oversize tire. I'd like to avoid trial-and-error which gets expensive (and costly).

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

With proper airing down the chance of you needing two spares are slim anywhere in Baja. Bring an exact matching spare would be my choice. Your tire size is not that uncommon and if you happen to even use one spare I dont see a replacement as a problem. There are a lot of other things I would carry before a spare to a spare.

Think about this the winner in most all Baja 500 and 1000 classes never change a spare the entire race and most are running over the counter tires. Now think about the terrain they go on with speed compared to you.

 

[SBSYNCRO]

Ah, but I have to put this fancy tire mount to good use! Seriously though, you do raise good points. And it's one of the reasons I got the adventure series tiregate instead of the regular one (this has a cradle that could be used to carry a cooler, firewood, etc in lieu of a tire).

 

[JCMatthews]

We really need pictures of your truck. You could put them here. Just saying.

 

[SBSYNCRO]

We really need pictures of your truck. You could put them here. Just saying.

Absolutely. Planning on lots of gratuitous Baja pix within a month. Hopefully featuring plenty of 40+ pound yellowtail and 100+ pound grouper in the background.

 

[Berne]

With proper airing down the chance of you needing two spares are slim anywhere in Baja. Bring an exact matching spare would be my choice. Your tire size is not that uncommon and if you happen to even use one spare I dont see a replacement as a problem. There are a lot of other things I would carry before a spare to a spare.

I think this depends on where you're going, what your doing, what tires you're running, and how fast you're trying to get there.
My last 2 trips to Baja, I lost a Duratrac on each trip.
Once tearing down a rough dirt/gravel/baby's heads section of race course (tire DESTROYED)
Once crawling around in low range going about 0.5 mph through the scrub and got a stick in the sidewall (pluggable, but, in the sidewall, so, not going to hiway home 1k miles on that)

Think about this the winner in most all Baja 500 and 1000 classes never change a spare the entire race and most are running over the counter tires. Now think about the terrain they go on with speed compared to you.

I"m not sure about that statement.


--B

 

[chet6.7]

I lost 2 new tires going to Death Valley,I hadn't even been off-road.