Tires are subject to extreme conditions, so they must be in good condition to keep you safe on the road. Tires must be replaced after their tread wears down. Even a new tire can be damaged by road debris, potentially causing it a leak or a blowout. You should change any tire whose tread is worn or that has sustained damage as quickly as possible. Fortunately, accessing and removing the spare tire on a Ford Ranger is fairly simple, despite the fact that the tire is located underneath the bed.
-
Put together the Ranger’s two jack handle pieces. Slide one piece onto the end of the second piece until the two pieces snap into place.
-
Slide the slotted end of the handle through the square opening on the side of the truck’s wheel nut wrench until the handle snaps into place.
-
Remove the lock that covers the spare tire access hole, using the lock’s key, if so equipped. (As an option, Rangers are available with a lock to prevent the spare tire from being stolen. The lock is located between the rear bumper and the tailgate.)
-
Slide the square end of the jack handle through the access slot. The access slot is located between the rear bumper and the tailgate.
-
Rotate the handle until it engages with the spare tire’s lift cable.
-
Rotate the jack handle with the wheel nut wrench counterclockwise to lower the spare tire to the ground.
-
Rotate the tire retainer in the center of the spare tire in a counterclockwise direction until the retainer separates from the tire, then pull the tire from under the truck.