Full Size Spare Tire Storage Suggestions

[AZGryphon]

I will be going on a road trip in the coming months in my 2007 Torrent with long stretches of highway having no service stations. I purchased a rim to put a full size spare tire on, only to realize afterwards that a full size wheel will not fit in the well.

I have a class III hitch and was looking for a way to mount the spare with that, but the only inexpensive option I've found is the Curt C31006. But this looks like it would block my license plate and prevent me from opening the back hatch.

I've seen some custom mounts that fold down that fit a 2" receiver hitch, but nothing I can just purchase. Has anyone else had this issue or found a solution? It seems like poor forethought that GM wouldn't provide room to put your tire if you had to put the stock spare on.

 

[melsg5]

did you see the section on page 418 on how to store a tire that is flat

http://www.vadengmpp.com/owners-manual/pontiac/2007-Pontiac-Torrent.pdf

 

[AZGryphon]

I did not see that in the owner's manual. I will try it when I get home, but from when I tried before, it didn't look like the well was deep enough to accommodate the width of a full size spare and have the cover pad still sit flush with the floor.

 

[AZGryphon]

Sorry for the delay in responding. I tried it out like the owner's manual said to. A full size spare tire will not fit and will not allow the floor piece to sit flush or flat on top of it. It seems like a big design flaw.

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[melsg5]

It is assumed the tire is flat which may be the difference in your case since you are using a fully inflated tire. Have you experimented with letting air out of the tire and carrying an portable electric air compressor.

 

[AZGryphon]

the tire height isn't as much of an issue as the tire width/depth. The normal spare is about half the width as a full size and that is where the majority of the mis-fit occurs. If you have the rear shelving system, you could get a full size spare in there, but you would have to set the shelf to the highest position for a full size spare to fit.