We know how frustrating it is when you can’t find your spare tire key. Given these circumstances, it only makes sense to call the local dealer.
However, this means that you have to take your vehicle to the dealership and then wait for them to find another key. At this point, it only makes sense to learn how to remove spare tire from Ford F150 without key.
Luckily, this is pretty easy to do, and you only need a 14-inch socket to get it down.
That said, below, we’ll go over this simple process as well as some useful information about spare tires.
Contents
What is a Spare Tire?
As the name suggests, a spare tire is a tire for emergencies. In other words, this is meant to get you out of trouble.
This is by no means a permanent fix, and it should only be used temporarily — that is until you get a new tire.
Spare tires are generally smaller than regular tires, which means that there will be a noticeable performance difference while driving.
How Long Can I Drive on a Spare Tire?
The lifespan of any spare tire depends on the tire itself since there are many options available, including full-size, donut, and run-flat tires.
A donut spare tire is a lightweight but useful tire meant to save your day. However, this type of spare tire is a temporary fix.
It is only meant to be used for a certain number of miles. It just doesn’t have enough strength to perform like a regular tire.
On the other hand, run-flat tires are a much more reliable option since they can be used for nearly 50 miles.
Can I Go Nuts While Driving on a Spare Tire?
As we stated before, spare tires are pretty restrictive and should only be used temporarily. In general, spare tires cannot go faster than 50 mph.
Pushing the limits of a spare tire can significantly increase the risk of a blowout—especially if you’ve used the spare tire before.
So, to avoid getting stuck again, your vehicle’s speed should never be greater than 50 mph.
How Often Should I Change My Tires?
Experts recommend changing your tires every 10,000 miles. However, this can always change depending on your current tire’s condition.
So, knowing exactly when to change your tires can prevent the risk of a tire blowout.
You should know that it is best to change all four tires at once. Why? Because if you’ve previously changed them before, there’s a good chance that they all need to be replaced.
What Can I Do If I Lost My Spare Key?
Losing your spare tire key F150 sucks. Luckily, there are three things you can do to get around this. Here’s what you need to know:
Go to Your Local Dealership
The easiest way to get a new spare tire key is to go to your local dealership. The dealer would then pull out the master wheel lock key and see which one matches your spare tire key.
Get a New Spare tire key
Another thing you could do is try to get a new wheel lock key and hope that it matches your original key.
Hack the System
Sometimes, you just have to cheat the system to get things done.
For example, if it has come to this, you would need a socket and hope that it goes right into the spare tire lock to get the spare tire down.
7 Signs You Need To Change Your Tires
If you go to a tire store, they’ll most likely tell you that your tires need to be changed.
But that’s most likely because they’re trying to make money. That said, here’s how you can tell it’s time to replace your tires:
Bald Tires
If you don’t know if your tires are balding, take a look at the threads. Balding means that your tires have little to no thread.
Tires tend to go bald as you drive. But there are many other factors that can affect how quickly your tires wear.
For example, if your tire does not have enough air inside, it’ll put more stress on the tire than it can handle. As a result, it’ll start to go bald.
Bald tires are incredibly risky to drive on since it’s easy to lose control while it’s raining.
Car is Shaking
If your vehicle is constantly shaking, then there’s a good chance that you need new tires. Typically, this means that there’s a problem with the interior of your tires.
They are probably under lots of stress than they were engineered for. So the tires will quickly wear out and make your vehicle shake when driving.
The Spare Tire Needs to Go
Spares tires are just spare tires. They are meant to help you get out of trouble temporarily.
However, if you forgot that you’re using a spare tire instead of your regular tire, then that’s the reason why your car feels weird while driving.
Snow Season
Your tires are not designed to drive in the snow. Sure, you might be able to make it work for a while.
However, this means that you’ll put too much pressure on them. So, they will wear them faster.
Instead, it would help if you got snow tires. Unlike regular tires, snow tires work like a charm for cold temperatures and snow-covered roads.
Uneven Wear
Uneven tire wear is primarily caused by bad wheel alignment, improper tire inflation, and unbalanced wheels.
Checking your tires regularly is the easiest way to prevent most of these problems.
That said, if your tires are wearing unevenly, replace the bad tire to get rid of the problem.
Bulges On the Tires
Another easy way to tell that your tires need to be replaced is when they have bubbles or bulges on the sidewalls.
In this case, you would have to go to your local tire shop and get them checked out immediately.
Bulges or bubbles can lead to a tire blowout. So, it’s best to get them checked as soon as possible.
Poor Traction
If you’ve noticed that your vehicle is having a hard time on wet roads, then there’s a good chance that the tires are no longer in great shape.
You see, as your tires get older, the grooves lose their original shape, meaning they have no way of wicking the water away from the threads.
DIY Guide: How to Remove a Spare Tire From a Ford F150 Without a Key
Below we’ll go over how to remove spare tire on Ford F150 without using a key:
1. What You Will Need
Here are all these tools that we’ll need to remove a spare tire without the key:
- An extension, ratchet & socket — to get the spare tire down without a key, we’ll use an extension, ratchet, and socket
- A screwdriver — the socket will most likely get stuck inside. So, we’ll use a screwdriver to get it off
- A hammer — to make this work, we need a hammer to get the socket inside
- Safety glasses — if you’ve ever got underneath your vehicle, you probably know that dirt can get inside your eyes. So, it’s not a bad idea to wear safety glasses
2. How it Works
To remove the spare tire from your truck, we’ll need a 14-inch socket to replicate our spare tire key for Ford F150.
So, we’ll try to beat the socket onto the vehicle to get the tire down.
If a 14-ich socket does not work, you will need to do a little bit of digging and find the right size for your vehicle.
For example, a 16-inch socket might do the trick. So, it’s just a matter of trying out different sizes.
3. Insert the Socket
Grab your 14-inch socket and feed it through the back of your truck, where the spare tire key is supposed to go.
4. Hit the Socket
Here’s how to remove spare tire lock without key: now that you’ve got the socket inside the vehicle, get a hammer and hit it several times.
Do not go nuts when hitting the socket, or you might damage the socket.
The tire won’t come down with the hammer alone. Instead, you’ll have to turn the extension counterclockwise until the spare tire drops.
5. Get Underneath to Remove the Socket
When you remove the extension, you’ll notice that the socket is no longer on it.
To get our socket back, we have to get underneath the vehicle where the spare tire is located.
Underneath the truck, there’s a plastic pipe, which is where our socket got stuck. We have to pull it off, get a screwdriver in there, and then remove it.
6. Remove the Socket
Crawl underneath the truck and find the plastic pipe or cover where the socket got stuck.
Next, grab the cover and pull it off. You should now see the socket stuck inside.
So, grab a screwdriver and get it between the edges of the socket. Pull it hard enough so that it comes right off.
Need a little bit more help? Then watch this short video:
How Much Does it Cost to Replace Tires
On average, you should expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $300. However, keep in mind that this does not count alignment and mounting.
Mounting and balancing will vary depending on your area and tire size. But it can usually go from $16 to $45 per tire.
Tires are not something that you want to budget on. They are super important, and cheap alternatives don’t get the job done.
So, make a wise decision before you spend any money on tires.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below we’ll go over some common questions about how to remove spare tire from Ford F150 without key:
What if I lost my wheel lock key?
If you can’t find your spare tire key and tried every DIY method to get the spare tire down, then it’s best to call your local dealer.
You’ll have to schedule an appointment to take your vehicle to the dealership. They have several keys which they will use to get the spare tire down.
Where is my wheel lock key?
The wheel lock ley is typically located under the driver’s seat or right behind it.
If you can’t find the key in any of those locations, it might be inside the glove box. If that’s not the case, get in touch with your dealer.
Can someone steal your wheels with wheel locks?
Technically, they can force their way into the vehicle like we did with a 14-inch socket.
So, you would need to get and set up an anti-theft car alarm with sensors so that they go off when someone tries to steal your wheels.
It would also help to set up cameras to catch whoever wants to steal your spare tire.
How do you lower the spare tire?
First, look for the crank hole located in the rear of the vehicle. Now, insert your crank into the hole.
Next, turn the crank counterclockwise. You should now notice that the spare tire is slowly coming down.
Conclusion
You now know how to remove spare tire from Ford F150 without key. This is a super easy job that anybody with some spare time can do.
So, don’t worry about going to the dealer to get a new wheel lock key. Still, if you don’t want to “cheat” the system, you can get a new set by going to the dealer.
Also, don’t forget that you might need to try a different socket if a 14-inch socket doesn’t work.
In this case, you would need to find one that matches your wheel lock key.