Input on spare tire debate...

[Mujiir]

As I understand this topic, we need a source for 185/60R17 spare tires. I just looked at the spare in my 2012 mustang, and guess what. It's a 185/60R17. So a search of local junk yards may 'pony up' some newer options? Just throwing this out there. Hope it helps.

[birdfan]

This is good information. Do you happen to know if the wheel lug spacing is the same, so it would be a "plug-and-play" or would the tire need to be put on the T-bird spare rim?

[merlot4]

Here you go, John:
http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...-reference-pdf

[007Cruiser]

I ditched the donut. You can fit a real wheel with a 235/50R17 tire in the wheel well. The cover will not lay flat. If you insist on having a cover, you can use the original cover as a pattern to make a thinner cover.

[428PI]

Or throw the spare tire away, install an inflator kit and gain so much more trunk space!

[5bird7]

umm. inflator kits don't work with blow-outs from road debris.

[birdfan]

Thanks, Merlot04. I now saved that document to my T-bird info folder so I have it for easy access.

[007Cruiser]

umm. inflator kits don't work with blow-outs from road debris.

Exactly right. When something happens in the middle of nowhere, the compact spare won’t get you very far and forces you to slow down. Then there’s the problem of finding an acceptable tire in stock.

[BLACK BEAUTY]

so glad I got a Maxxim for $79! Hard item to find

[Linear]

I ditched the donut. You can fit a real wheel with a 235/50R17 tire in the wheel well. The cover will not lay flat. If you insist on having a cover, you can use the original cover as a pattern to make a thinner cover.

If you are interested in the above, please see:

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ull-size-spare

As stated above, the "regular" TBird tire, 235/50R17 will fit in the wheel well. The 245/50R17 will also fit. This is a wider tire, which I really like, and have on my Retro. The 235/55R17 (which many members have installed) will NOT fit, unless it is deflated by 15 psi.

Best regards,
Doug

[007Cruiser]

The 245/50 must be really tight

[Linear]

The 245/50 must be really tight

The 245/50 fits just fine. It's the 235/55, deflated by 15 psi that's "really tight"!

[007Cruiser]

Thanks Doug!

[AZTB]

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...e-part-2/page3

Note discussion on page 3 of this thread...it might be helpful.

[BLACK BEAUTY]

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes