Survey: Biggest Spare tire you've fit in factory location?

[Herbie]

Hey all, I put this in Off-Road as its those of us with big lifts, etc. who tend to sweat how big of a tire will fit in the factory underbody location. I was chatting with another Astro/Safari owner on instagram last night, pointing out that he might have been able to put his new full-size AT spare in the original location, rather than on a new hitch-rack, but I started to wonder just HOW big a tire we could get away with.

I know I'm quite comfortably fitting my 245/70-16 ( just under 30") spare, fully inflated, into that spot. It requires pushing the tire over to the side slightly while winching since the spot where it hangs straight down interferes on one of the body rails, but it fits.

Doing some searching, I saw that T.Low had a 255/70-16 (just over 30") under his van.

I'm guessing that by deflating the tire and optionally wrapping it with a ratchet-strap to compress the diameter some, we could get a 31" or even larger under there.

Anybody got data for something even bigger?

[Captn. Crunch]

Both tires mentioned are bigger than the 235/75R-15 I have hanging back there. If you're like, I will pull the 31" Duratrac spare off the back of my BlaZr2 and see what happens

[Herbie]

Both tires mentioned are bigger than the 235/75R-15 I have hanging back there. If you're like, I will pull the 31" Duratrac spare off the back of my BlaZr2 and see what happens

Nah, just poking around to see who's done what. I'm sure some of the "old guard" have put some really big tires back there, but they don't check in as often. Personally, I'm glad the 30" fits - even though I've got a couple of workable plans for a rear-mounted spare tire, I'm glad to have the opening of my dutch-doors "uncomplicated" for now.

[Snowgeek]

I have a 245/75/16 under mine..... there is now a propex heater mounted in the frame rails above the spare but I still use the stock winch to pull it in place. I use a tie down to pull the tire over to the hitch in order to keep it away from the tail pipe.

Ryan

[Mmusicman]

Is this with or without trailer hitch?
I'm also interested in this discussion.. I've never put a "matching" oversized spare underneath, plus I have a hitch. I can see there is plenty of room.. but just how much?

[Herbie]

My fitments are WITH a hitch. Looks like Snowgeeks's are too, from his older photos (Photobucket has worked its "magic" on his build thread.)

So it looks like 30.5/ 245/75-16 is known to fit, with a hitch, so far.