2025 Sasquatch Goodyear Tires DO FIT in spare tire area - with mods

[Mt Goat]

So I finally recovered enough from my back injury to bug tussle the tires and try this out. The 235 Sasquatch tire does NOT fit in the spare tire area with the foam/carpet in there. At least if you want the deck to close. With the foam/carpet removed, it fits fine. I noticed more noise with the foam/carpet removed, so I tried putting some 1/8" wood flooring underlayment in there that I got at Home Depot, and the tire fit in - tight - but fit. And it was much quieter - close to the original form/carpet noise level. Or at least quite enough that it did not bother me. I did measure the tire as Bluebaru had requested, and this is what I got:

Tire off vehicle so unloaded - 29.5" diameter.
Circumference of tire with cloth tape with tire off vehicle - 235.5 (92.72"). Not sure why, but the charts list a 235 circumference at 91.9" or 233.4, and a 245 at 92.8 or 235.7"

These measurements are pretty much what a 245/65/17 run according to tire size chart (attached). So, it is large for a 235 and is more like a 245. I went ahead and replaced the spare tire with one of these as I do some off roading in Colorado and wanted a full size, more aggressive spare in case of a flat. These tires are not as beefy/heavy as the KO2's, but I like how they drive both on and off road, the noise is less then the KO2's, and, and I like the tread pattern. With this being a lighter vehicle, I figured this should be ok with this tire vs the KO2, but realized it may not be as bombproof so wanted a good spare. The KO2 is 5# heavier (34.57# vs 29.56#). Photos are attached.

I didn't want to order the full size spare without knowing that it would fit. Hope this helps others

Here is the tire on top of the factory carpet/foam:

Here it is with the tire deflated to 15psi - it sits lower but deck still not resting on stops.

Here is is with the foam removed, and my 1/8' underlayment in there - deck solid on stops.

Tire off vehicle, inflated to 33psi - level on top for accurate height:

Tire size specs:

Spare tire with foam/carpet removed:

Underlayment put in there instead of OEM carpet/foam:

Product I used for the underlayment:

 

[Bluebaru]

So I finally recovered enough from my back injury to bug tussle the tires and try this out. The 235 Sasquatch tire does NOT fit in the spare tire area with the foam/carpet in there. At least if you want the deck to close. With the foam/carpet removed, it fits fine. I noticed more noise with the foam/carpet removed, so I tried putting some 1/8" wood flooring underlayment in there that I got at Home Depot, and the tire fit in - tight - but fit. And it was much quieter - close to the original form/carpet noise level. Or at least quite enough that it did not bother me. I did measure the tire as Bluebaru had requested, and this is what I got:

Tire off vehicle so unloaded - 29.5" diameter.
Circumference of tire with cloth tape with tire off vehicle - 235.5 (92.72"). Not sure why, but the charts list a 235 circumference at 91.9" or 233.4, and a 245 at 92.8 or 235.7"

These measurements are pretty much what a 245/65/17 run according to tire size chart (attached). So, it is large for a 235 and is more like a 245. I went ahead and replaced the spare tire with one of these as I do some off roading in Colorado and wanted a full size, more aggressive spare in case of a flat. These tires are not as beefy/heavy as the KO2's, but I like how they drive both on and off road, the noise is less then the KO2's, and, and I like the tread pattern. With this being a lighter vehicle, I figured this should be ok with this tire vs the KO2, but realized it may not be as bombproof so wanted a good spare. The KO2 is 5# heavier (34.57# vs 29.56#). Photos are attached.

I didn't want to order the full size spare without knowing that it would fit. Hope this helps others

Here is the tire on top of the factory carpet/foam:

Here it is with the tire deflated to 15psi - it sits lower but deck still not resting on stops.

Here is is with the foam removed, and my 1/8' underlayment in there - deck solid on stops.

Tire off vehicle, inflated to 33psi - level on top for accurate height:

Tire size specs:

Spare tire with foam/carpet removed:

Underlayment put in there instead of OEM carpet/foam:

Product I used for the underlayment:

Pretty much what I expected Ford had done, a cheater tire, so to speak, to keep the ground clearance and gas mileage up, while maintaining the same ground clearance and while still adding the additional underbody protection.

You did a fantastic job with this attention to detail, leaving no room for ambiguity!!!!!

 

[Dude]

Well maybe a little ambiguity lol

@Mt Goat is hard to tell from your pics but was the CARGO MAT (aka CARGO AREA PROTECTOR positioned to the higher setting for use with a full size spare)?

and did you take a measurement of the unloaded (off the vehicle) tire width for the Goodyear Territory RT All Terrain 235 65 R17 tires?

Is interesting that you measured the tire diameter at 29.5” while the specifications for that tire state: Tire Diameter: 29.06"
Tire diameter should be measured at the center point but you used a level so unless the floor wasn’t level I suppose the measurement is pretty accurate.

 

[jofer]

Yeah, for clarity, there are two positions for the floor in the back. You need to use the higher one for any full size spare. Your photos show it in the lower position.

The load floor (flat piece you pull out to access the tire) should on top of the circled supports when it's in the higher position.

At least for me (21 BS Badlands that came with a 225/65/r17 spare), a 235/65/r17 fits just fine with the factory foam in place. No mods of any sort needed. E.g. https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/235-65-17-fits-in-spare-compartment.4052/ But things do need to be in the upper position for it to work.

 

[Mt Goat]

Yeah, for clarity, there are two positions for the floor in the back. You need to use the higher one for any full size spare. Your photos show it in the lower position.

The load floor (flat piece you pull out to access the tire) should on top of the circled supports when it's in the higher position.

At least for me (21 BS Badlands that came with a 225/65/r17 spare), a 235/65/r17 fits just fine with the factory foam in place. No mods of any sort needed. E.g. https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/235-65-17-fits-in-spare-compartment.4052/ But things do need to be in the upper position for it to work.

That is in the higher position. You can see the lower platform position in this photo. That higher thing, I'm not sure what it's for, but the floor won't stay on it. Maybe it keeps it from flipping up under load? I believe all the badlands come with the platform in the higher position, because they have the 225 spare instead of a skinny tire or a repair kit. Also the back side of the deck in the badlands curves down, where I believe the other models are flat and with less curve as the sit lower.

 

[Mt Goat]

Well maybe a little ambiguity lol

@Mt Goat is hard to tell from your pics but was the CARGO MAT (aka CARGO AREA PROTECTOR positioned to the higher setting for use with a full size spare)?

and did you take a measurement of the unloaded (off the vehicle) tire width for the Goodyear Territory RT All Terrain 235 65 R17 tires?

Is interesting that you measured the tire diameter at 29.5” while the specifications for that tire state: Tire Diameter: 29.06"
Tire diameter should be measured at the center point but you used a level so unless the floor wasn’t level I suppose the measurement is pretty accurate.

Yes, cargo mat was in the highest position - see my post about that in this thread. I did take a measurement of the width on my new spare. Here you go! And I tried as best as possible to put my level on the high point of the tire when I measured the height.

It is odd the discrepancy. It's something that Melissa Clark pointed out in her article on the tire not fitting in the spare tire area:

https://thebronconation.com/news/tire-change-or-repair-on-the-2025-bronco-sport-what-you-need-to-know-before-you-go-t.22202/

 

[Dude]

@Mt Goat that is about 9 3/8” width?

With the factory foam/carpet in place, Is it this tire width that pushes up the cargo mat or does the tire (even at 33psi) not fit because the tire diameter hits the factory foam?

just trying to understand with the factory foam/carpet in place, is it the tires 29.5” diameter that hits the foam or is it the tires width that’s too tall and pushes up the Cargo mat?

 

[Mt Goat]

@Mt Goat that is about 9 3/8” width?

With the factory foam/carpet in place, Is it this tire width that pushes up the cargo mat or does the tire (even at 33psi) not fit because the tire diameter hits the stick foam?

just trying to understand with the factory foam/carpet in place, is it the tires 29.5” diameter that hits the foam or is it the tires width that’s too tall and pushes up the Cargo mat?

Yes - 9 3/8" width. For comparison, I just measured the Pirelli - no wheel and no air - it sits at 9 3/16" - not sure if that would be higher or lower with a wheel and air........

Good question Dude - I think it's a little of both. When I pushed it down with the foam/carpet in place it was hard to push down and I don't know that I really bottomed it out. Got close. With the tire at 15psi I think I may have bottomed it out, but the thickness of the foam combined with the tires width was just a bit too high. It may also be the curve of the edges that were holding the tire up a bit as well. I was pleased that I was able to get it in there with the 1/8" underlayment at 33 psi - but it was pretty snug.

 

[Dude]

That’s great research @Mt Goat !!

 

[Dude]

It is unfortunate the factory Goodyear tire doesn’t fit as a spare without mods

in the spirit of a certain white Bronco…

“If it doesn’t fit, you must retrofit”

or

“If it doesn’t fit, you must refit”

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