If you have an older GMC Sierra 1500 and are considering larger tires, one question comes up quickly: can a larger spare tire still fit in the factory location underneath the truck?

The answer is possibly, but the tire’s overall diameter and width matter more than simply whether it fits the wheel well. The underbody spare-tire carrier has limited space, and a suspension lift does not automatically create more room for a larger spare.

For the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500, GMC Canada lists a full-size spare tire on applicable configurations. For example, a Canadian-market Elevation configuration with 20-inch wheels uses 275/60R20 tires while the listed spare is a 255/80R17 on a full-size steel wheel.

Can a Larger Spare Tire Fit Under a 2024 GMC Sierra 1500?

You can potentially install a larger spare under a GMC Sierra 1500, but no single tire size can be guaranteed to fit every configuration.

The key measurements are:

Overall tire diameter
Tire width
Wheel diameter
Wheel offset
Available clearance around the spare-tire carrier
Clearance to the suspension and surrounding components

The factory spare arrangement is designed around specific tire and wheel combinations. Changing to a significantly larger tire means checking the actual physical space rather than assuming the factory hoist can accommodate it. This becomes particularly relevant if the truck has been lifted.

Does a 4-Inch Lift Create More Spare-Tire Space?

A 4-inch suspension lift changes the truck’s ride height and suspension geometry, but it doesn’t automatically increase the space between the frame and the spare-tire carrier. That distinction is important.

If the goal is to run a 33-inch tire as the spare, the question is not simply whether the truck can drive with a 33-inch tire. The question is whether that tire can physically be raised into the factory spare location. A larger tire may contact the frame, exhaust components, suspension components, or other hardware before the hoist reaches its normal fully raised position. So a truck can have enough clearance to run a larger tire on all four corners but still not have enough room to store the same tire underneath.

What Size Is the Factory Spare?

There isn’t one universal spare size for every GMC Sierra 1500 configuration. GMC Canada’s specifications show that tire and wheel combinations vary by configuration. On the Canadian 2024 Sierra 1500 Elevation example, GMC lists 20-inch wheels with 275/60R20 tires and a 17-inch full-size spare with a 255/80R17 tire.

That illustrates an important point: the spare does not necessarily have to match the appearance or wheel diameter of the road tires to be the factory-specified full-size spare. If you’re considering replacing it with a larger tire, use the actual tire currently installed on the truck as the starting point.

Is a 33-Inch Spare Possible?

A 33-inch spare is a more realistic question than simply asking whether the spare can be “larger.” The nominal 33-inch measurement refers to the approximate overall diameter. Actual dimensions vary between tire models and sizes, so two tires marketed around the same diameter can have slightly different physical measurements. That means you shouldn’t select a 33-inch tire based solely on the number in its name.

Before purchasing one, compare its:

Overall diameter
Section width
Wheel diameter
Load rating
Wheel offset
Actual measured dimensions

The load rating matters most on a full-size pickup. The spare should suit the Sierra 1500, not just fit.

What About Keeping the Original Spare?

If your goal is to install larger tires while keeping the original spare underneath, that can be a practical approach. The main consideration is what happens if you need to use the spare. If the four road tires are significantly larger than the factory spare, the spare will have a different overall diameter. That difference can affect the vehicle when you install the spare.

For that reason, the spare should be viewed as an emergency-use solution rather than assuming it is interchangeable with the larger tires in every situation. Follow the owner’s manual and tire information for your specific Sierra configuration when using a temporary size difference.

How Do You Check Whether a Larger Spare Fits?

The safest way is to measure, not guess.

1. Measure the current spare

Record:

Overall diameter
Section width
Wheel diameter
Wheel and tire combination

This gives you a baseline for the available space.

2. Measure the proposed tire

Get the manufacturer’s actual specifications for the new tire. Don’t rely only on a description such as “33-inch tire.”

3. Compare the diameter

Compare the overall diameter first. A tire that is several inches taller than the factory spare requires substantially more vertical space when it is lifted into position.

4. Compare the width

Width can be just as important. A tire may have a manageable diameter but still be too wide for the available space.

5. Check the wheel

The wheel itself also matters. A different wheel offset can change how the tire sits relative to the truck’s components.

6. Test the carrier

If possible, physically position the proposed wheel and tire at the factory spare location. Raise it carefully using the factory carrier and confirm that it clears surrounding components throughout the process.

Does the Wheel Need to Match the Other Four?

The GMC Sierra 1500 can use a full-size spare with a different wheel design and wheel diameter from the road wheels. The GMC Canadian specifications illustrate this with the 20-inch Elevation wheel and the listed 17-inch spare steel wheel.

So, if your goal is simply to carry a larger spare, focus on the full tire-and-wheel dimensions, not whether the spare visually matches the four wheels on the truck.

What Should You Check on a Lifted Sierra 1500?

If your GMC Sierra 1500 has been lifted, check the spare location separately from the four corners.

Pay particular attention to:

Frame clearance
Exhaust clearance
Suspension components
Differential clearance
Spare-tire hoist operation
Clearance between the tire and surrounding components
Whether the hoist can fully secure the tire

The lift itself doesn’t establish compatibility. The combination of lift, wheel, tire, offset and suspension configuration determines whether the proposed spare will work in the factory location.

What If the Larger Tire Does Not Fit?

Several options exist, depending on how much additional tire diameter is required.

You could:

Keep the original spare
Select a smaller spare that provides more clearance
Use a different wheel and tire combination
Relocate the spare to another mounting position
Use a spare-tire carrier designed for the modified truck

The important thing is not to force an oversized tire into the factory carrier. If the hoist cannot fully secure the tire or the tire contacts another component, that configuration isn’t a proper fit.

The Bottom Line

Yes, a larger spare tire may fit underneath a GMC Sierra 1500, but you must physically check the exact tire and wheel combination.

A suspension lift does not automatically provide additional underbody spare-tire clearance. The critical measurements are the tire’s overall diameter and width, along with the wheel’s dimensions and offset.

For the Canadian-market Sierra 1500, GMC specifies different road-tire and spare combinations by configuration, including a 275/60R20 road tire and a 255/80R17 full-size spare on the referenced Elevation configuration.

If you’re considering a 33-inch spare, compare the actual dimensions of that specific tire with the available space around the factory carrier. Just because a 33-inch tire fits on the truck doesn’t mean it will fit underneath it.

Disclaimer: Content contained in this post is for informational purposes only and may include features and options from US or internacional models. Please contact the dealership for more information or to confirm vehicle, feature availability.

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Can You Fit a Larger Spare Tire on a 2024 GMC Sierra 1500?