spare tire

[FDCAPTAIN]

The weather warmed up today and I tried very hard to fit a full size tire/wheel combination in the spare tire well.

The full size DOES NOT FIT!

Maybe FORD makes a modification to the panel that is at the rear of the trunk. This panel sticks out too far to get the tire into the spare well. It may not fit even with this out!

So the spare is large but not as wide by at least two inches as the full size tire/wheel.

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'56 TBird '02 NM Bird
'98 F250
'68 AMC AMX
'73 Volvo 1800ES
'01 Olds Aurora 4.0

 

[cat380]

I measured the LS wheel well in the trunk and it the same width and lenght as the Bird's. The Bird's is about 1" deeper. I think the tire needs to fit and whatever the wheel design is makes no difference. The LS has a full size spare and it fits. Doughnut spares are usually used for weight savings not space savings.
Ed
Triple Black #4430

 

[FDCAPTAIN]

cat380,

The size of the well is not the issue' getting the tire in is, it won't fit because lack of clearance due to trim/body parts.

Try putting the full size tire off your Tbird in the trunk well of the TBird. It will not go in because the plastic molding at the rear of the trunk which hits the tire and the angle needed to fit inside the well would require removing this piece of trim.

I see no need for a full size tire, the spare is already the biggest spacesaver spare I have ever seen!

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'56 TBird '02 NM Bird
'98 F250 4X4 SCab
'68 AMC AMX
'73 Volvo 1800ES
'01 Olds Aurora 4.0

 

[cat380]

I measured the LS wheel well in the trunk and it the same width and lenght as the Bird's. The Bird's is about 1" deeper. I think the tire needs to fit and whatever the wheel design is makes no difference. The LS has a full size spare and it fits. Doughnut spares are usually used for weight savings not space savings.
Ed
Triple Black #4430

 

[DavidA]

cat380: Why not try to get the LS spare into the T-Bird. I'd bet based on FDCAPTAIN'S remarks that it won't fit. If it does, then we could try the T-Bird's wheel.