Slightly smaller spare ……. Am I in trouble?

Okay, first off - my apologies for never introducing myself when I joined and started reading all the wonderful shit on this board.
Me: I am a pharmacist by training, a US Public Health Service officer according to Uncle Sam, and I am a rez dog lover by nature. I live in the Four Corners, and I’ve been lucky to call this home for 17 years now. I drove a 1993 2WD Pickup until it turned over 315,000 miles, and then changed over to a lovely 2002 Tundra 4WD access cab, which I finally let go last month at 299,000 miles. I’m now in a white DC 2021 Sr5 with the TRD off-road package, which is way too nice for me. It’s really taking some time to get used to this new truck stuff.

okay - my dilemma. I F-ed up yesterday and ripped a big hole in the sidewall of my right rear tire. Right after buying the truck, I swapped out for 265/70r18 Nokians, but still have the 275/65r18 Michelin as a spare.
Obviously, these are different size, but only amount to 0.5” difference in diameter, and result in about 10 revs/mile difference.

It’s going to be another week before I get a replacement tire.
depending on who I ask, I get either “you’re going to blow up your new truck if you drive that smaller rear tire” or “who cares - it’s nothing” when I ask about this.

what says the hive mind here? Do I need to park the truck and drive my lovely Yaris until my new tire comes? For full details, I work about 130 miles from home and will be there for several days this coming week.

-ben

 

Swap tires with the front.

 

Welcome -- drive it.

 

From previous feedback on here that I’ve seen, most have recommended putting the smaller spare up front and not using 4 wheel drive until able to change out…reason being is trucks are rear wheel drive, so keep matched tires at the rear to not cause issue with the rear differential. Speaking from anecdotal feedback only as have been fortunate enough to not need to test it out thus far.

@joonbug beat me to it

 

I agree. You're going to have problems in the rear, one way or another, if the tires are mismatched!

 

Invest in a spare that is the same size as your other tires for any future flats. Worth the piece of mind. Also, welcome to the forum.

 

I'm in the who cares it's nothing camp. .5" is not ideal but also is what often happens with a slow leak on one rear tire and you go 150 miles. Been done many thousands of miles with no blown axle components.

Thanks for supporting dog rescue in the Four Corners.

 

Craigslist search a spare tire in the preferred size if you have an opportunity...new isn't required but always reassuring...