The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline side mount spare tire

Ran into a problem with my 53 3100 side mount spare today. The truck has 215-85-16 with original rims as alot of you are using. Went to put my spare on the side today and the tire is to big. What are my options. Thanks.

I will probably have the same problem.

Will spacers move the tire away from the fender?

If you deflate the tire, will that help?

Maybe you will have to use a smaller diameter tire that fits the wheel and mounts properly?

One of my trucks with a side carrier came with a different size/brand used spare tire. I thought it was cost-saving measure - maybe it was a necessary measure in order to solve the problem you are observing?

I just measured and if i'm correct it has a 4.75" bolt pattern. A donut spare would even work as i plan to put a tire cover over it. But, finding a 16 or even 15" donut spare with 6 lug i'm sure will be tuff.

So you are saying the standard radial 6 lug is too tall to clear the stock fender cutout? Or is the thickness the problem? Back in the day, these 16" tires were TALL. Really? (I'm in denial since I will have the same problem?)

yes, 215-85-16 tires hit the fender cutout and the cab. Measures about 30 inches across the tire. My neighbor has a 41 pickup and i went over and measured his original spare and it is about 28.5. Just trying tdo figure out what to do. I don't have a problem going to a 15 spare as long as it will fit assuming that a 15 will fit with a little smaller tire. Just need a functioning spare.

My 215/85/16 LT radials are about 31.5" loaded diameter. The original 15" and 16" were about 28".

a 28" radial will fit. Now i need a rim and tire.

How could we re-engineer that bracket to fit a standard tire?

Even money says you'll have one within a week, Denney. That's how it works. Like talking about how you hope we don't get another snow.
I'm with you on the correct sized tire. I have one on mine all prettied up with a CHEVROLET hubcap and a ribbed beauty ring (wish I had 4 more of those).
Carl

Might look a little odd having a smaller spare tire on there when running a taller tire IMHO. a 650-16 spare fits my 53 factory sidemount and it a tinge over 29" unloaded diameter.

I would be inclined to move the mount studs up on the spare mount. You just might get enough to clear the fender and with a little luck the cab as well? Or make a new plate to replace the stud plate you have and mount it up and back just a bit? You won't need a spare very often..but when you do it ain't got a substitute. You can do the 5 tire rotation every so many miles. Makes the tires last about 20% longer.

How bout making a stud plate that bolts to the existing stud plate that moves it up and out a bit to fit that 215/85 tire so you don't have to fab up the original piece?

Or a spare wheel with a little more offset to the front?

What about a 195-80-16 tire. anyone know how big across it would be. I think they are on mini vans, maybe.

I had the same issue with my '65. I simply used a stock wheel and the correct factory size 4-ply tire that I bought from Coker Tire.

Looks pretty cool, the factory size spare vs the newer rolling stock

Here's my '65:
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/...Status%20Photos/GEDC1242_zpse55aed88.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/...Status%20Photos/GEDC0535_zpsc951c34d.jpg

And as Denny stated previously:

I think a person would be happier knowing any tire they have on the truck can go on the mount. That's just me.

I have found that a 195-80-16 is just over 28 inches. Just a little smaller than the factory size. Should fit just fine. I think this will serve my purpose. May never have a flat but if i do this should get me home where i have an extra that matches the rest of my tires.

Hot Rod John, that spare looks perfectly in place! Nice call.

My 1973 Gremlin HAS a space-saver spare in the back hatch area. Years ago when it had the bias ply tires, I actually had to use it once. ONCE. I wobbled into the gas station. You cant get more ridiculous and be serious at the same time as the AMC Space Saver Spare. Nevermind the air bottle that came with it.

Denny is right about the "last few decades" thing..but I only got 1 "new" vehicle and it is now 8 years old. Next newer? 52, oldest?37 so tire rotation comes easily to my mind. To be honest the oldest two only have 2 wheels so they are sorta simple. And yes I do rotate them motorcycle tires. They wear very different front to back and if you stay on top of them they will last a good long time. And them suckers are as expensive as real truck tires.

I do the 4 tire rotation and always seem to get the max life out of these gold plated tires......
The spare on my 98 F150 is still the original, same for my Mrs, 06 Rav 4.
Now that I think about it, the spare on my 49 is the original size (600x16), I guess a spare is a "set it and forget it" to me

re. flats, I haven't had a flat in quite awhile but I had a wheel to start to break apart on the 49 last summer when out on a nice cruise. That spare got me home safe and sound evn though it was shorter than the 225-R75-16's I run....

I really don't want to fab or change anything. A smaller spare will fit and do the job if nessesary. My plans are to someday to convert to coil springs, disc brakes and go to 5 lug with 15" wheels. I'll try the truck a few yrs this way first.

This might sound crazy but what about a donut spare on my original rim. A 155-90-16. 26 inches across. would fill the void and be usable. Just a thought. Probably a bad thought.

What would that donut spare cost?

a 6.50x16 bias ply blackwall (28.5") can be bought for about $160 including tax/shipping.

probably free. buddy runs a service center. But i guess a bias ply would be better than nothing. I'll check into it.

The bias ply is considerably "better than nothing" especially when compared to a space saver. Most of them have written right on the side of them they are only for temporary use with a limited amount of miles.

You should also be concerned about the weight of your truck, vs. the weight the space saver was designed for.

Why re-engineer what your truck was originally engineered for

Whenever these issues come up, I start thinking about fabrication solutions. This one could be pretty simple.

A plate that is fastened on to the current lug studs with another plate that is offset and has new lug studs on it. Someone should sell such a solution. Since the plate is behind the wheel, nobody would ever see it.

Deve,

The issue, as I understand it, is the tire hits the cut-out in the fender and the cab, due to the diameter. If you move the tire up and back with an offset mount then the cut-out will not match the contour in the fender.

GM addressed this on the 55 through 66 fenders, the long bed and the short bed fender cut-outs were located differently.

John

I haven't looked into it, so that's probably right, although would a few inches change it enough to be noticeable? I will be facing the problem myself in the near future, so it just interests me.

Yep, it will be noticeable. It's one of those things that becomes clear once you set the tire up there.

http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/lakeroadster/Generic/sparetire_zpsdb7f06a5.png

My '65: http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/...1530103882008S600x600Q85_zps7ef52950.jpg

Interesting article related to fender mount spares; http://oldchevytrucks.net/Articles/1953-1955-Side-Mount-Spare.php

As stated in the article:

The indention on the 1/2 ton left fender was made no larger than necessary to allow for the mounting of the 6.00 x 16" original tire. This spacing is so close that the current replacement 6.50 x 16" replacement tire will sometimes not fit without touching either the cab or fender indention. This contact of the tire against the metal body and fender is not acceptable. The rubbing of a larger tire against the body or fender results in a squeaking noise and finally will wear through the paint. To prevent this, using a 6.00x16 tire may be necessary.

Been there, done that, as they say

can someone give me an outside measurement of a 6.00x16 tire

Perhaps we'll have to put up with a 6.00x16" (28" diameter) bias ply as a spare (and, save $7)?

6.00x16"
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cok-643530/overview/

6.50x16"
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cok-663495/overview/

If you mean, the tire not matching the contour of the fender cutout and the tire touching the back of the cab, then yes it would be noticeable.

What I may have to do is modify my fender, possibly the bracket so that the modifications aren't noticeable. I enjoy these kinds of challenges. For me, that is not the 'spare tire' mount, rather the trucks tire mount. I should be able to put any tire there I choose. But to each their own. I still hold out hope there is a way to make it easier so others can benefit.

Yikes... seems more than a bit condescending?

Everything will fit just fine, as is, if you are in fact doing a "restoration".

Changing tire types and sizes and then changing sheet metal to accommodate those changes... that's great. When that happens personal preferences come into play.

So to judge someone by saying they are "taking the easy way out", well, that sure sounds elitist, especially seeing how you just posted "although would a few inches change it enough to be noticeable?"

I could be wrong though... make any sense to ya Deve?

yeah, what John says .... Deve, you aren't doing a "restoration" in any sense, nor are you making your truck "as they intended", you're doing a resto rod using as much spendy modern off the shelf stuff as you can because you think that makes it better than "they intended" .... and that'd be gall, Gaul was a country

Bill

I appreciate everyones input on this. I think what i'll do is just buy smaller tire that will fit and be of service if i need it.

I too have been wanting to put a side mount spare on my 54 1/2 ton. I have not been able to find either a side mount bracket kit or an indented left fender in the parts catalogs. Does anyone sell these or do I need to have them made?

I run coker 550r16's on my 40 special deluxe and intend on running the same size on my 54 chevy 5 window 1/2 ton, got them at performance plus and they measure just under 27", so no worries for me and my side mount spare tire carrier.
thanks guys for all the info, great post. Peace