Tech: Minute Mod

Fitting a Larger Than Stock Spare on a Montero

http://www.4x4wire.com/mitsubishi/tech/minutemod/spare31	Short Cuts
Author: Phil Hansford, June 28, 2000	Navigation Menu Mitsubishi Section Mitsubishi SUV Trail Talk Montero Sport Trail Talk OutdoorWire Front Page 4x4Wire Front Page 4x4 Parts 4x4 Tech 4x4 Trails

A 31" spare mounted on an 89 Raider

Yes a larger spare will fit, BUT you may need to slightly tweak the mount to keep from rubbing your back door. The Montero spare tire is held on by a steel base, secured to the door by six bolts. This base has three protruding studs, on which the spare fits. The depth of the mount, combined with the offset of the wheel, keeps the stock spare from being too far from or too close to the door. 

As you can easily see from the picture, tire diameter is not an issue. On the pictured 89, there is easily 2 1/2 inches between the tire and the bumper

Begin by mounting the spare on the back door. Depending on tire width and rim offset, there may be no contact at all. If not, you are done. If there is some contact with the back door, then remove the tire, and begin shimming the wheel studs with stainless washers, one at a time on each stud, until the tire no longer touches the door. Be sure to tighten down the lug nuts afterward, since the new, larger spare is heavier than stock, and will put more pressure on the mounts. It is also advisable to mount a padlock through the rim and the hole in the mount, to "spare" your new tire from thieves.

(Unfortunately the spare tire cover is not as accomodating for larger than stock tires.)