spare tire question

When I get done writing, I need to find a big enough rock to crawl under before my wife gets home from her shift at the hospital. I guess I meant well when I bought a 5th 255/60-15 as a spare to do 5 wheel rotations. I don't mind the snickering and yuk-yuks from you guys, as a matter of fact, I'd consider it an honor. But my wife, who happens to know absolutely nothing about cars, by sheer chance asks the $64,000 question: "Honey, do you think that wide a tire will fit in that little bitty compartment?". Can you imagine the barrage of I-told-you-so's? My question, guys...What size spare tire do ya'll have?

JR

My '78 has the small emergency spare and my '69 has a full size tire to match the rest (P215/70R-15). The spare tire carrier is designed to fit whatever size full tire came on the car originally or any optional size available from the factory. Even the later cars that came with the emergency spare can carry a full-size tire.

you will need to loosen up the two front bolts on the carrier also loosen the rear one..

I reached to the nuts with my finger and loosened until the bolt end was flush with the top of the nut. I have 245/60's... you might need a little more.

Thanks for the good advice. One more thing...making sure I measured right, is the backspacing on the stock Rallyes 3.75"?
Mine's a '72 and if I read the Kelsey-Hayes markings correctly, the spare was manufactured in 1970.

JR

P.S. Gotta say it again, I don't know what I'd do without all you guys.From the bottom of my heart and my wallet, thank you.

jredding said: ... What size spare tire do ya'll have? ...

Looks to be an original F70 Goodyear laying in there. I haven't had it on the road since taking ownership 4 years ago. Also haven't looked at the stamping of the wheel yet. Steel rallys all the way around.

I guess the closest size to an F70-15 would be 215/70-15.
My best move is to buy a repro. wheel (Wheel Vintiques-$60+ at Summit) and use it for the spare.Thanks.

JR

That is the correct size tire.

According to a Tire Rack employee I spoke with the F70-15 is the equal to the 225/70-15. I thought this was correct. Not the 215. Are we both in error? Does any know of a conversion chart for these sizes? Charts for metric radials are common. But charts for letter size to metric seem rare.

bcliff said: That is the correct size tire.

Great....thanks.

JR

Since this will be an "emergency tire", so to speak, I'm not gonna worry too much. Thanks, "Lifer Ken".

JR