Do NOT Buy a Spare Tire || Watch First

Do you really need a spare tire? Do not buy one until watching the entire video. Josh breaks down to pros and cons of having one and why they may not be as important as you might think. Let us know in the comments if you guys rock a spare tire or not.

0:00 - Do You Need a Spare?
0:22 - Spare Tires
2:46 - Carrier Options
4:37 - Delete Kits
6:43 - Summary

#offroadtires #sparetire #trailbuilt

[ksb]

As a newbie who likes to head into the mountains solo (not on difficult trails) I like the security blanket feeling I get from having that spare back there.

[benniesalinas]

It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it

[Verb]

This is anecdotal, but 6 years ago in the deserts trails of West Texas I lost two tires in one day to shale that ripped through the sidewalls on some very expensive 35" AT tires. I got out by cutting one sidewall for a patch on the lesser damaged tire and using some machine screws I had, plus the rubber cement from my plug kit and had a temporary patch that got me to a highway, where I call for roadside assistance from my insurance plan.
I carry heavy duty large patches now to temp fix a slashed tire sidewall.

[UT]

Grew up on a ranch and my dad rarely had a spare in his pickups. 90% of the time it wasn't a big deal, even before the age of cell phone coverage. But the 10% lead me to ALWAYS have a full size spare in my vehicles with the tools to change a tire.

[jonbrandt]

Bottom line: you ARE less prepared without a spare. It is a choice. It is a compromise. Know what you are compromising, what ever you choose. Driving a trail repaired tire on the highway is not recommendable. IMHO a spare delete is usually due to the previous choice of enormous tires, which are a choice more than a necessity. It is a choice to specialize, opposed to generalize. It may be "better" for a few things, but generally less broadly useful. Again, "a choice."

[Escape.Idiocracy]

Having cut 6”+ holes in more side walls than I would like to think about…. I would never not carry a spare. Another perspective for those who run 37”+ tires, the more you get away from large cities, the fewer tire shops are going to have a tire in stock for you to get home. Spare tire, patch kit, and bailing wire on every trip….

[brian]

I've known over a dozen guys who used their spare to get them out of being stuck. Keep your spare !

[FuriousFilipino]

I’m a firm believer in having a spare tire, if for no other reason than the expediency and confidence of knowing I have another “out.” I had an ‘88 Subaru wagon in the early 2000’s that had narrow 185 section all seasons that I tore on a “mild” high clearance road to see the racetrack rocks in Death Valley. I’m sure glad I had the even narrower 165 section spare stored *in the engine bay.* As heat soaked and dry that thing was, it got me back out to the pavement for AAA. I’ve had probably another 3-4 incidents involving tires in remote situations since then, but the longest repair was finding a flat tire in on the hybrid we have parked on the driveway—with no spare.

[rilopez]

No way I would go without a spare. I tried it once and we didn't like not having it. Having the spare doesn't bother us at all. I have the smittybilt tub mounted for my 35. it sits really low on there and close to the body of the Jeep. The 35 is no higher than the oringal tire. I also removed the rear tail light and added a rugged ridge bracket to my spare to hold the backup camera and 3rd brake light.

[bobnoblesjr.]

At 62 years old, I grew up with the rule of:
"It's better to have it, and not need it, than to need it, and not have it." I have a 2018 jl unlimited sport s. I've built it up over the years and have always carried a spare. Yes, tire technology has grown considerably, and there are numerous tire repair kits out there as well, but nothing can replace the security of knowing you have a full- size spare when you really need one.

[BadlandIndustries]

Tires are at the top of our list of equipment failures that would prohibit getting off trail. Secondly, having just purchased 5 40s, we now have increased the potential service life of the tires by ~25% by rotating them regularly.

[Mkbary]

I've had fix a flat work once when it was my only option. Out of town and after hours at any tire shop I picked up a inch and a half self tapper. Actually pulled the screw and installed a plug which made it worse. Then went back and bought the gew and a 12v charger. Used the whole bottle and filled it up. Leaving it parked with the hole on the bottom over night. Was good in the morning and actually lasted about 6 months before starting to leak again.
I'd never travel without a spare, its way more than just a tire as a tool, or any of my other tools I carry. Definitely saved thousands in towing and I can help others in need.

[randerson]

I like the spare on my Rubicon for safety reasons. I was rear-ended hard a year or so ago and I got out of the Jeep expecting the back end to be in really bad shape. To my surprise, the only damage was one small scratch on the rear wheel itself, it was really small and I'm very picky. We exchanged information because this happened at night and I wanted to go home and have a chance to look at the Jeep close after I got it into my well lit garage. I took the rear wheel off, checked all of the bumper gaps looked over ever inch of the vehicle and it was just fine. I told the girl that hit me to keep me out of her claim because my Jeep wasn't damaged, her car was undrivable, it just happen to be the perfect height so it did no damage to my Jeep.

[dawabbitt]

As yet another suggestion: Working in the Automotive Service industry for over 25 years, it's a no-brainer that *Aluminum* rims are *much* heavier than their steel counterparts. If you are to carry a spare, please avoid feeling you *need to* have your spare assembly match your existing rims and consider the weight savings of a steel rim mounted with a tire of the same height. Functionality vs. Trailer-Queen will save that wear and tear, as well as fuel mileage and overall vehicle performance.

[jeromeburrasca]

RiGd Supply Megafit Ultraswing on my built Suburban.

[Kyle-kypo]

Asking my jeep to carry more is like asking my wife to pull even her own weight

[TheScoundrel]

I carry a spare. But, it depends on where I am and what the issue is whether I replace, or repair a flat tire. If nothing else, including your spare in your tire rotation schedule basically adds 20% more life to your tires. Also, I run a 1953 Dodge M37CDN with Michelin XML military tires on Canadian Military LAV Hutchinson beadlock rims, so there is the pro of having easy access to the inner tire carcass, but also the con of a lot of weight in the rim/tire combo. I'm kinda an old fart, so the way I looked at it was to have many options in order to go with the easiest one in a given situation. Just my 2 cents, before taxes and inflation.

[Mishab]

A good part of my off-roading in my FJ is in Lava fields and/or mountainous areas with lots of sharp rocks. It’s all remote off-roading requiring self-sufficiency. My main solution to this is the BF Goodrich KO2s. While I probably should carry a full spare in the matching KO2, for now I just ensure they are well maintained (rotated, inspected and replaced), while carrying one of the car’s original stock tires on the rear door mount, which is a significantly less robust Dunlop Grand Trek tire.
So far the KO2s have been the best of all worlds, and I have not faced any issues.

[asherdog]

I use the Rig-d ultra swing for my 40" spare. The biggest problem with the Rig-d is getting the tire on and off of the the Rig-d. I carry a DIY hoist with boat wench so I can change a tire by myself if necessary. But my first option is always a field repair.

[NigelNaughton]

The real question is: "Do you really need a Carhartt hat or not?" ;-) Ok..You are from Wisconsin so you get a pass.