A spare tire cover is one of the easiest upgrades for a Jeep or Bronco, right up until it shows up and doesn't fit. Getting the diameter right isn't the hard part. Our tire cover size guide covers both the sidewall-code method and direct measurement, and either one will get you the right number. Things go wrong earlier, in the assumptions people make before they ever pull out a tape measure. Here are four of the most common ones, and how to avoid each.
1. Assuming a Lift Didn't Change Your Cover Size
A cover bought to match your Jeep's factory spare fits great on day one. Add a lift and bigger tires later, and that same cover can stop fitting, because cover size tracks the tire's actual diameter, not the trim level or the year on the title. This catches people off guard because the change happens gradually. You lift the rig, run bigger tires for a while, then reorder a faded cover using the size you remember from the original purchase, which no longer matches what's on the tailgate today.
If you're running a lifted build, the jump from a stock tire to a set of 33s or 35s is usually enough to move you up a cover size or two on its own. The short version: never assume your cover size stayed the same as when the Jeep left the dealership. Measure what is actually on the tailgate now, then check that number against the size guide.
2. Reordering from Memory Instead of Remeasuring
This mistake isn't limited to lifted rigs. Any time your spare gets swapped, whether that's new tires after normal wear-and-tear, a different tread pattern, or a size bump alongside a lift, the old number in your head or on an old invoice can quietly go stale. Plenty of reorders happen because a cover wore out and the owner grabbed the size off the last receipt without checking the current spare.
The fix takes less time than digging through old paperwork: read the sidewall code on the tire mounted right now, or measure straight across its face, and confirm that number against the size guide before you order. Do this every time, not just after a lift. Tires get swapped for reasons unrelated to suspension work, and each swap is a chance for the size to shift unnoticed.
3. Measuring the Wheel Instead of the Tire
Plenty of owners know their wheel size cold, since it's what you need to buy rims, but a 17-inch wheel and a 32-inch spare tire are two different numbers, and only one matters for a cover. The wheel is just the metal underneath. The cover has to stretch over the whole mounted tire, tread included, which is a much bigger number.
Measure or read the code off the tire itself, not the wheel it's bolted to. In a sidewall code like 255/70R18, the last number is the wheel diameter in inches, useful for buying rims, but not what you order a cover by. You have to calculate the overall tire diameter from all three numbers, which is exactly what the size guide's calculator does for you.
4. Skipping the Camera-Hole Decision, or Guessing at It
Newer Wranglers and Broncos often carry a backup camera mounted in the tailgate behind the spare, and a solid cover sits flush over that lens and blocks your view in reverse. The mistake shows up in two ways: forgetting to check whether the tailgate even has a camera and ordering a solid cover out of habit, or knowing you need a hole but guessing the style, since covers are typically offered with a standard cutout, an elastic-ringed cutout, or no hole.
Take thirty seconds to check your tailgate before you order, or use our guide to spotting a factory backup camera if you're not sure what you're looking at. Camera placement varies enough by year and trim that it's worth confirming rather than assuming your Jeep matches a buddy's.
Getting It Right the First Time
All four mistakes come down to the same habit: check what's actually on your Jeep right now instead of relying on memory, a friend's setup, or a guess. Once you've got the real diameter and know whether you need a camera hole, ordering is simple. The Bigfoot Lurking Legend Spare Tire Cover starts at $69.99 in sizes 27 to 37 inches with camera hole options, and the Design Your Own Custom Spare Tire Cover starts at $74.99 if you'd rather put your own art on the tailgate. Still not sure which number is yours? The tire cover size guide walks through it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a lift always mean I need a bigger tire cover?
Not always. It depends on how much bigger a tire you run after the lift. A mild lift with a small tire bump might not change your cover size, while a jump to 35s or 37s almost always does. Measure the spare you have now rather than guessing from lift height alone.
I don't want to take my spare off the tailgate just to measure it. What do I do?
You don't have to remove it. Read the size code molded into the sidewall while it's still mounted, or measure straight across the tire's face from where it hangs. Both methods work without removing it.
Is my spare's cover size the same as my wheel size, like 17 inches?
No. Wheel size is the diameter of the metal rim, one part of the sidewall code but not the number a cover is sized to. Cover size is based on the tire's full mounted diameter, tread included, which usually runs a foot or more larger than the wheel underneath it.
How do I know if my tailgate has a backup camera?
Look for a small lens in the tailgate near where the spare sits, usually just below or beside the wheel's center. If you're not sure, our backup camera guide walks through it by year and model.
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