so i have a 04 ranger with stock 15" tires... but my spare is a 16" wheel... Can anybody tell me why i have a 16" spare and not a 15" spare

 

I do not know the reasoning. Some ford money saving reasoning. However, the size of the wheel does not matter. Just the size of the tire matters for a spare.

 

Maybe someone changed from 16" stock to 15" custom wheels... !

Most if not all ranger come with 16" wheels.

AND as redranger04g stated, OD of tire is all that matters.

 

Shockingly, my 2001 came with optioned 16" aluminum wheels and 245/75R16 tires and came with a 15" steel spare with 235/75R15 tire.

It's some sort of cost cutting measure I presume. Totally not unheard of you having 15's and a 16" spare.....an old close friend's '08 4x4 came from the showroom with 15" steelies and a 16" steelie spare.

 

okay sounds good, i was just curious because i have had to use my spare quite a few time unfortuanrly and my normal tires are are 235/75/15 and then my spare is i think 235/75/16 so just curious

 

It's not that much of a big deal. Many may bring up OD tire sizes, but it isn't much of an issue on ANY stock axle Ford Ranger. It's a big deal with a locker, but a stock limited slip or open differential unit doesn't know the difference. It's temporary use anyway, even though it's a full size spare.

 

over all size is what matters not rim size, where your tires are "75" your spare is smaller and rim size was used to replace the over all size of the wheel/tire size. (from ground to top of tire size should be about the same)