Noel
Southern Oregon
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Joined: 08/01/2002
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I was checking the air pressure in our spare tire for our 2004 Tahoe 4WD and (finally) noticed this tire size was different than the other four.
The spare is 265/75-R16. Others are 265/70-R17. All the tires were factory installed.
I asked the local dealer about this and was assured that the difference in sizes calculates to about 1/10th of one percent, nothing to worry about and GM would not have allowed this unless it was safe.
Driving in 4WD with this 16 inch tire along with the other three 17 inch tires would also be OK.
Does this sound right?
Thanks
Noel
2003 National Dolphin LX 6335, W22, 8.1L
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NewsW
US
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Joined: 02/06/2012
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First, I am not a tire expert!
Was the spare mounted on a steel rim and the others alloy rims?
It may be close in diameter, and for emergency use it doesn't matter, BUT the handling characteristics will be quite different and it should not be used except in a emergency.
It is not a temporary spare, is it?
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Don & Linda
Western PA / Cape Cod
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Joined: 07/23/2004
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Spare tires offered now, are mostly undersized temp-use tires, that also have a very limited life.
Proper inflation, 4x4 use, distance traveled and speed restrictions should be observed. Check your owners manual for clarification.
If you dislike what OEM offers, purchase a tire/rim combo, equal to the size your currently running. That's what we do.
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North River
On the water
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Noel wrote:I was checking the air pressure in our spare tire for our 2004 Tahoe 4WD and (finally) noticed this tire size was different than the other four.
The spare is 265/75-R16. Others are 265/70-R17. All the tires were factory installed.
I asked the local dealer about this and was assured that the difference in sizes calculates to about 1/10th of one percent, nothing to worry about and GM would not have allowed this unless it was safe.
Driving in 4WD with this 16 inch tire along with the other three 17 inch tires would also be OK.
Does this sound right?
Thanks
Your dealer is correct. The two sizes are virtually identical in height.
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up2nogood
Utah
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North River wrote:Noel wrote:I was checking the air pressure in our spare tire for our 2004 Tahoe 4WD and (finally) noticed this tire size was different than the other four.
The spare is 265/75-R16. Others are 265/70-R17. All the tires were factory installed.
I asked the local dealer about this and was assured that the difference in sizes calculates to about 1/10th of one percent, nothing to worry about and GM would not have allowed this unless it was safe.
Driving in 4WD with this 16 inch tire along with the other three 17 inch tires would also be OK.
Does this sound right?
Thanks
Your dealer is correct. The two sizes are virtually identical in height.
I agree, height would be my only concern .
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CapriRacer
Somewhere in the US
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It is not uncommon for spare tires on pickups and SUV's to be a different size than the ground tires. The key point is that the rolling diameter between the ground tires and the spare is so small that AWD and 4X4 operation is unaffected.
But it is important to realize that the spare was meant to be used temporarily - as in just long enough to allow you to get a new tire. It was never intended as a permanent situation.
********************************************************************
CapriRacer
Visit my web site: www.BarrysTireTech.com
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JIMNLIN
out here
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Joined: 09/14/2003
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Hmmm, I don't know about a SUV but Dodge upgraded truck brakes diameter with the new frame/body style in '03 to the LT265/70-17 from LT-265/75-16 because of larger brake rotors. Sure they may be the same outside diameter but I would make sure the 16" wheel will go on your vehicles hubs.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers
'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 gvwr two slides
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ib516
Up here!
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TIRE SIZE CALCULATOR
2010 Cougar 322QBS 5er
2007 Dodge 3500 SRW Megacab, 4x4, 5.9L Cummins, 3.73, 48RE auto
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CND SuperCrew
SK, Canada
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Just ensure that if used, you rotate the spare to your front drive axle as this one is a limited slip and will not affect the gears, until you can repair the OEM.
Ron, Lori and Autumn
TV 2012 F150 loaded XLT EB SuperCrew 7700GVWR Maxtow 6.5'
TT 2008 Jayflight G2 23FB/ Equal-i-zer WD
2013 Colorado bound
2012- 4000km, 28 nights for the season 
2011- OR & CA done, 6800km in 3 weeks
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Tireman9
Akron, OH
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NewsW wrote:First, I am not a tire expert!
Was the spare mounted on a steel rim and the others alloy rims?
It may be close in diameter, and for emergency use it doesn't matter, BUT the handling characteristics will be quite different and it should not be used except in a emergency.
It is not a temporary spare, is it?
Not sure if the statement that handling will be quite different is accurate.
I can speak form first hand experience that vehicle OEMs (not RV manufacturers) do lots of on vehicle evaluations before selecting the tires and other components to go on a vehicle. This includes evaluating the steering and handling response of the spare tire. While the spare may have shallower tread (reduced weight & cost) it does provide handling that will not be a problem under emergency conditions.
The last thing an OEM wants to do is to introduce the possibility of legal action for unpredictable handling.
Tempa Spares even are OK. I seem to recall Car & Driver doing a handling evaluation on a race track of a Corvette a number of years ago and while the lap times were slower they had no problems even with 4 "doughnut" spares on the car.
You can learn more if you visit my tire blog RVTireSafety
In my opinion as a QS9000 and ISO/TS 16949 Quality auditor the word "Quality" does not appear to be in the RV industry dictionary.
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