Why are you surprised? With all the extra money Dodge spent on the interiors of these trucks over the 3rd gen, they had to recoup some of their costs somewhere. A full size wheel and tire are a big dollar item and a full size spare is not something customers typically look for when considering a vehicle for purchase. These numbers are hypothetical, but lets they can save $20 per vehicle by using a temp vs. full and Dodge produces 200,000 vehicles per year, you're looking at saving a cool $4 million bucks a year by throwing a temp spare on there.

Seeing as how its just a spare, I'm ok if its a temp. Its only there for emergencies anyway. I'd only expect a full size spare if I were buying a TRX package, since temps are worthless offroad. Keep in mind SRT vehicles don't even get spare tires, all they get is a can of flat-fix-it foam. Now that's a joke.

 

I used my spare time for more than 200 miles round trip when I had a blown rear driver tire. Did not have any problem, the ride was smooth, just watched my speed not to exceed 70 mph. The hair like spikes are still intact after the use.

 

Porsche does the same thing, no spare just a can of fix a flat.

 

At least with a Porsche you get a can of fix a flat, on my finacee's 2008 Focus, she did'nt even get a spare. Thats one way Ford saved a lot of money, I'm trying to find her a spare for her car though

 

www.car-part.com is an awesome resource for finding parts from junk yards, a perfect place to pick up a cheap spare. Good luck.

 

Are you sure a 20" rim will fit under the truck? It has a smaller center hole that will not allow the lift cable to fit through it. At least that was the way with my 08 QC. My 2500 has a full size 17" tire, the same ones that are on the truck, but on a steel wheel.

 

P265/85/R17 for my spare, and its a 2010 Sport

 

They don't list a 20" steel wheel, nowhere in US. Yet the Dealership Parts Dept does - although for a ridiculous $350.

Anyone know where to find a steel 20x8 for the 09 Ram ??

 

The 20" spare will fit.
I swithed mine with my 2007 lease before I turned it in.

 

Thanks man, I gotta get her car squared away for her when I move back to El Paso,Tx in 6 weeks. I can't believe she has'nt had a spare for 2 1/2 years, lol lol. I guess its a woman's thing to not care about their car until they're on the side of the road blaming their man for their predicament,lol.