Spare tire discussion

  • From all of us at Scout Motors, welcome to the Scout Community! We created this community to provide Scout vehicle owners, enthusiasts, and curiosity seekers with a place to engage in discussion, suggestions, stories, and connections. Supportive communities are sometimes hard to find, but we're determined to turn this into one.

    Additionally, Scout Motors wants to hear your feedback and speak directly to the rabid community of owners as unique as America. We'll use the Scout Community to deliver news and information on events and launch updates directly to the group. Although the start of production is anticipated in 2026, many new developments and milestones will occur in the interim. We plan to share them with you on this site and look for your feedback and suggestions.

    How will the Scout Community be run? Think of it this way: this place is your favorite local hangout. We want you to enjoy the atmosphere, talk to people who share similar interests, request and receive advice, and generally have an enjoyable time. The Scout Community should be a highlight of your day. We want you to tell stories, share photos, spread your knowledge, and tell us how Scout can deliver great products and experiences. Along the way, Scout Motors will share our journey to production with you.

    Scout is all about respect. We respect our heritage. We respect the land and outdoors. We respect each other. Every person should feel safe, included, and welcomed in the Scout Community. Being kind and courteous to the other forum members is non-negotiable. Friendly debates are welcomed and often produce great outcomes, but we don't want things to get too rowdy. Please take a moment to consider what you post, especially if you think it may insult others. We'll do our best to encourage friendly discourse and to keep the discussions flowing.

    So, welcome to the Scout Community! We encourage you to check back regularly as we plan to engage our members, share teasers, and participate in discussions. The world needs Scouts™. Let's get going.


    We are Scout Motors.

Which size spare would you get?

  • 33-inch spare under the body

    Votes: 11 73.3%
  • 35-inch spare in the bed

    Votes: 4 26.7%

  • Total voters
    15

Dowens

New member
Nov 29, 2024
1
1
Jacksonville, FL
Are you getting the standard 33-inch spare stored under the body, or the optional 35-inch spare stored in the bed with an integrated in-bed carrier?

Things that I’m thinking out:

EVs go through tires. I imagine an off road EV will likely be worse. Having a 35-inch spare on hand will likely be more useful.

How accessible is the under body storage for the 33-inch spare? An in-bed carrier for the 35-inch spare sounds like it should be easy to get to.

How will range be effected by the added weight and potential impacts on aerodynamics with a 35-inch spare in the bed?

Will I get annoyed by a permanent fixture in the bed of my truck?

I would love to hear what you all are thinking.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pwrofgrayskull
If the Harvester is indeed in the rear of the Scout, there may not be room for a spare there. The only options would be external, internal cargo area, or frunk.
 
Would suck to lose bed space, but the smallest tire size I'd be going for is 35 and eyeing 37 replacements and I don't see that fitting anywhere BUT in the bed.
Same here and I agree. I’d be looking for 35 or 37 inch tires or larger. I’m hoping the design team will make this possible because I will be taking the low center of gravity of approach; I’d like the smallest lift (or no lift, depending how things work out) with the biggest tire possible in order to achieve more ground clearance off road.

I don’t need or want it to be a monster, but I don’t want to drag the battery/Harvester/undercarriage across rocks without proper protection…I wonder if they’ll offer a skid plate package…or at the very least make it aftermarket friendly so other companies can easily make skids. 🤔
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pilotsquid
Long story short I think I’ll be forced into having the spare in the bed (which stinks because that probably also rules out a bed cover which I would like to have) because I honestly don’t think Scout Motors can find a way to get a 37 inch (or bigger) spare underneath without compromising something and I for sure wouldn’t want to compromise off road clearance.

It can be done because I do carry a 37 under my Jeep’s bed in the stock location, but that’s an entirely different design. It would be awesome if Scout Motors could find a way, but I just don’t see it being possible at this point based on the design they have presented especially because I want the Harvester.
 
Long story short I think I’ll be forced into having the spare in the bed (which stinks because that probably also rules out a bed cover which I would like to have) because I honestly don’t think Scout Motors can find a way to get a 37 inch (or bigger) spare underneath without compromising something and I for sure wouldn’t want to compromise off road clearance.

It can be done because I do carry a 37 under my Jeep’s bed in the stock location, but that’s an entirely different design. It would be awesome if Scout Motors could find a way, but I just don’t see it being possible at this point based on the design they have presented especially because I want the Harvester.
I know the tire will be heavy, but maybe on the roof. I wouldn't want one there everyday though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pwrofgrayskull
I know the tire will be heavy, but maybe on the roof. I wouldn't want one there everyday though.
True. That’s another possibility. I don’t think I’d go that route, but you’re right. Maybe in a pinch. I’d likely not be able to get in the garage at that point anyway, so like you said not an everyday option for me either.
 
  • Like
Reactions: J Alynn
I am absolutely fine with having little tiny baby 33” dum-dum tires.

Tires are preferred in their own secret storage area in the back and they can be smaller than 33” if it means the spare fits in its own secret storage area internally in the back that doesn’t mean that I need to start going to the gym or need spinal surgery in order to remove it on my own. 👍 That’s my ideal storage solution. I don’t love the idea of an external spare. If I didn’t live in a city rife with douchebaggery (where on this very day a city councilor was arrested by the feds for thievery), I might feel better about it.
 
I am absolutely fine with having little tiny baby 33” dum-dum tires.

Tires are preferred in their own secret storage area in the back and they can be smaller than 33” if it means the spare fits in its own secret storage area internally in the back that doesn’t mean that I need to start going to the gym or need spinal surgery in order to remove it on my own. 👍 That’s my ideal storage solution. I don’t love the idea of an external spare. If I didn’t live in a city rife with douchebaggery (where on this very day a city councilor was arrested by the feds for thievery), I might feel better about it.
Like you, I’m likely ok with plebeian sized 33in tires (that’s already 2in larger than what is considered oversized on my old jeep :D).

And that brings up a good point.

Full size spares are awesome. But it might also be nice to offer a “not an emergency doughnut, but smaller than full size” type of spare. Not ideal, but way better than no spare.

I’d gladly take a 29-31in spare tire on a vehicle with 33’s, if it was out of sight. Especially if there was an additional option to carry a full size spare externally/elsewhere when desired.
 
Like you, I’m likely ok with plebeian sized 33in tires (that’s already 2in larger than what is considered oversized on my old jeep :D).

And that brings up a good point.

Full size spares are awesome. But it might also be nice to offer a “not an emergency doughnut, but smaller than full size” type of spare. Not ideal, but way better than no spare.

I’d gladly take a 29-31in spare tire on a vehicle with 33’s, if it was out of sight. Especially if there was an additional option to carry a full size spare externally/elsewhere when desired.
They need to be the same diameter. They can be much narrower though.
 
They need to be the same diameter. They can be much narrower though.
They NEED to be or you prefer them to be? Just asking as many vehicles offer donut spares to get you home and around and about for a brief period at a somewhat slower pace. Is there something about EV’s that prevents this? I’m new to EV’s so just trying to understand your response in the hopes of absorbing new info.
Thanks
 
  • Like
Reactions: pwrofgrayskull
They NEED to be or you prefer them to be? Just asking as many vehicles offer donut spares to get you home and around and about for a brief period at a somewhat slower pace. Is there something about EV’s that prevents this? I’m new to EV’s so just trying to understand your response in the hopes of absorbing new info.
Thanks
I’m pretty sure that the diameter of temporary spares is the same as the standard tire the vehicle comes with. Otherwise you could have rotational differences and cause gear binding. But, the width can be narrower which doesn’t potentially harm the vehicle.
 
I’m pretty sure that the diameter of temporary spares is the same as the standard tire the vehicle comes with. Otherwise you could have rotational differences and cause gear binding. But, the width can be narrower which doesn’t potentially harm the vehicle.
Spares are often far, far smaller in diameter. There is no issues with gear binding on open differential vehicles with different wheel sizes on the same axle (at least for normal combustion vehicles, maybe EV’s are different. But afaik open diffs are open diffs).

Every time you drive around a corner, the wheels go different speeds.

I have a 235/75R15 spare, and one time drove 100 miles on the highway in it when a pice of angle iron sliced my 31x10.50R15’s. I still have the jeep, 9 years later, no issues.

That said, smaller width could potentially be an option as well as smaller diameter. I was mostly saying that I’d accept something not full size if it meant not intruding in bed/interior space.
 
Spares are often far, far smaller in diameter. There is no issues with gear binding on open differential vehicles with different wheel sizes on the same axle (at least for normal combustion vehicles, maybe EV’s are different. But afaik open diffs are open diffs).

Every time you drive around a corner, the wheels go different speeds.

I have a 235/75R15 spare, and one time drove 100 miles on the highway in it when a pice of angle iron sliced my 31x10.50R15’s. I still have the jeep, 9 years later, no issues.

That said, smaller width could potentially be an option as well as smaller diameter. I was mostly saying that I’d accept something not full size if it meant not intruding in bed/interior space.
Interesting. I learned something new here. I guess it’s been drilled in my head with sure grip/posi traction differentials and AWD vehicles. I always knew you could get away with it on a driven axle but not a drive axle…at least not for long. Anyway, good to know!
 
  • Like
Reactions: J Alynn
Interesting. I learned something new here. I guess it’s been drilled in my head with sure grip/posi traction differentials and AWD vehicles. I always knew you could get away with it on a driven axle but not a drive axle…at least not for long. Anyway, good to know!
For what it’s worth, I believe you are thinking about it correctly for those setups. So that’s a good reminder, thank you.

Most of the limited-slip devices are clutched based, and engage when the wheel speed becomes different enough to engage. And then can drive some percentage of power to the other wheel.

Lockers are a hard 50/50 split. The limited slips are more in the 80/20-60/40 range (or, at least that’s how they were back in the day, haven’t checked in ages).

So for clutch based AWD system, too large of a tire size difference could cause issues, same with a a truck with a limited slip in the rear axle.

But for open diffs, it’s not a problem at all.

Cheers :).
 
I’m pretty sure that the diameter of temporary spares is the same as the standard tire the vehicle comes with. Otherwise you could have rotational differences and cause gear binding. But, the width can be narrower which doesn’t potentially harm the vehicle.
My Lightning came with a smaller diameter spare--it's still full-size, but it's not the same size. This is despite the fact that the rear diff can be locked. It's best, in general, to have the same size spare, but for a short distance (50-ish) miles, it doesn't cause so much extra wear that it's an issue.