Spare tire question

[wilmerfjohnson]

Greetings! Flipping this question around the other way. My 2023 XLT has a full size (though not as wide, but diameter is the same) spare - marked Temporary Spare. I know from previous vehicles that had a temporary spare, when it was time to replace the temporary spare you had to replace both tire AND wheel.

Is there credible, verifiable proof as to whether the spare wheel (not tire) is a standard service wheel? I.E. can I have a standard service tire mounted on the spare wheel once I use up the temporary spare, or do I need to buy a standard service wheel? The wheel on my temporary spare is not the typical stamped steel/black paint temp spare wheel. It looks like a Lightning Pro wheel. I don't care that it does not visually match my other 4.

Yes, I know I can get used take-offs. I did that, and have a set of 4, but I am saving those for, heck, I don't know what I am saving them for, but when I figure it out I want all 4 - and I don't want to buy another matching wheel to sit under the truck, unseen, if I don't have to.

Thanks.

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[rdr854]

Greetings! Flipping this question around the other way. My 2023 XLT has a full size (though not as wide, but diameter is the same) spare - marked Temporary Spare. I know from previous vehicles that had a temporary spare, when it was time to replace the temporary spare you had to replace both tire AND wheel.

Is there credible, verifiable proof as to whether the spare wheel (not tire) is a standard service wheel? I.E. can I have a standard service tire mounted on the spare wheel once I use up the temporary spare, or do I need to buy a standard service wheel? The wheel on my temporary spare is not the typical stamped steel/black paint temp spare wheel. It looks like a Lightning Pro wheel. I don't care that it does not visually match my other 4.

Yes, I know I can get used take-offs. I did that, and have a set of 4, but I am saving those for, heck, I don't know what I am saving them for, but when I figure it out I want all 4 - and I don't want to buy another matching wheel to sit under the truck, unseen, if I don't have to.

Thanks.

I would ask @Brian not AI or your local Ford dealer service department.

 

[GoodSam]

can I have a standard service tire mounted on the spare wheel once I use up the temporary spare, or do I need to buy a standard service wheel?

Looks like we need to do more investigation on the exact spare wheel part number for more info:
Perplexity AI:
"Yes — for the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, the factory spare is generally a full-size dissimilar spare, not a tiny donut, and Ford says any spare wheel/tire is intended for temporary use only and should be replaced as soon as possible with the originally specified size and type.fordauthority
What that means

• The wheel itself can usually accept a normal standard tire if the tire size matches the wheel specifications.
• But the spare assembly is not meant to be treated as a permanent long-term setup just because it physically fits. Ford’s guidance is to use it temporarily and then return to the correct matching wheel/tire setup.
• If you mount a standard tire on that spare wheel and it matches the wheel’s load rating, diameter, bolt pattern, offset, and tire size requirements, it can function like a regular wheel/tire combo — but whether it is appropriate for permanent use depends on the exact wheel spec, not the fact that it started life as a spare.fordauthority

Practical answer
If your goal is to keep using that wheel indefinitely, the safer answer is: only if the wheel is a proper production wheel with the correct specs for the tire and truck. If it is the factory spare wheel supplied with the Lightning, Ford still considers it a temporary-use spare, so I would not assume it is intended for permanent everyday use without checking the wheel part number and load/rating details.fordauthority
Best next step
Check the wheel stamping or part number and the tire placard/owner’s manual, then compare:

• wheel diameter and width,
• load rating,
• offset,
• tire size,
• and whether the truck’s brake clearance and suspension geometry remain correct.

If you want, I can help you figure out whether your specific Lightning spare wheel is the 18-inch steel/aluminum spare and whether a standard tire size will fit it for permanent use."

 

[RickLightning]

Garbage AI answer.

 

[Athrun88]

Is there credible, verifiable proof as to whether the spare wheel (not tire) is a standard service wheel? I.E. can I have a standard service tire mounted on the spare wheel once I use up the temporary spare, or do I need to buy a standard service wheel? The wheel on my temporary spare is not the typical stamped steel/black paint temp spare wheel. It looks like a Lightning Pro wheel. I don't care that it does not visually match my other 4.

You're probably not going to get the 'credible, verifiable proof' you're looking for on a forum; however, it would be fairly easy to go to a local tire shop and ask them to check it out. I have a local shop that gives me no-BS answers when I ask them questions. Small mom & pop set up that you can't find anywhere easily.

In my layman's opinion, as long as the standard service tire you choose to put on the spare tire rim fits the dimensions of the spare tire rim, I don't think it really matters. You said the spare tire equipped is not as wide, so maybe the rim itself has a narrower width which means that if you did opt to go with a standard tire to replace the temporary tire, just match the dimensions of the temporary and you're OK to go. Only thing I would probably not do is use the spare rim, even with a standard tire, as a full time tire on the truck. If you were planning on doing that, it would be better to get a full size spare with a standard full size tire that matches the other 4 and include it in your rotations.

Not sure if all that makes sense; my thoughts aren't as organized as AI.

 

[21st Century Truck]

You're probably not going to get the 'credible, verifiable proof' you're looking for on a forum; however, it would be fairly easy to go to a local tire shop and ask them to check it out. I have a local shop that gives me no-BS answers when I ask them questions. Small mom & pop set up that you can't find anywhere easily.

In my layman's opinion, as long as the standard service tire you choose to put on the spare tire rim fits the dimensions of the spare tire rim, I don't think it really matters. You said the spare tire equipped is not as wide, so maybe the rim itself has a narrower width which means that if you did opt to go with a standard tire to replace the temporary tire, just match the dimensions of the temporary and you're OK to go. Only thing I would probably not do is use the spare rim, even with a standard tire, as a full time tire on the truck. If you were planning on doing that, it would be better to get a full size spare with a standard full size tire that matches the other 4 and include it in your rotations.

Not sure if all that makes sense; my thoughts aren't as organized as AI.

FYI the wheel You choose must match the weight load classification for the Lightning.

I tried hard to find steelie wheels for my Winter tires. Could NOT find any... ended up getting an OEM set from a member here who had upgraded his wheels.

 

[Athrun88]

FYI the wheel You choose must match the weight load classification for the Lightning.

I tried hard to find steelie wheels for my Winter tires. Could NOT find any... ended up getting an OEM set from a member here who had upgraded his wheels.

Very true, I found that out as well. No steelie wheels met the load rating for the Lightning so I had to go alloys which was mildly annoying at the time. Decided to bite the bullet and put the nice aftermarket alloys for summers and put the winters on the stock rims. Just another small price to pay for just how damn good this truck is!

Guy I quoted though I think was referencing the rim that comes with the spare. For temp use, I'm sure that's got to be rated for the Lightning, right? I should maybe check my spare just for my knowledge.

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