The most important thing IMO hasn't been mentioned. Make sure the rolling diameter of the extra spare is the same as the existing tyres. Especially important for diff locked vehicles, but also for standard diffs.
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Not sure with the D2, but my D1 was 1880kgs on the rear axle when we went to Melrose over Easter. I was more worried about the tyres (passenger carcase, rather than LT) - they were rated at 975kgs each, so we were right on the limit. Kept the speed down and watched the wheel placement - no problems. Even climbed Big Red fully loaded! [emoji106] [emoji106]
Not wanting to go too far off thread - correct me if I'm wrong, but simply put, I thought rolling diameter was an issue for viscously coupled systems and not mechanically coupled systems?
Similar diameters = less strain on any differential system. Doing something like the Madigan Line puts enough strain on the drivetrain, without adding unnecessary extra work for the system to do (in my opinion, of course)
I needed a 6th for the trip we're currently on. D2 has 8" wide alloy rims, have a set of 7" alloys, so borrowed the spare (same tyres) off work dmax and fitted to 7" alloy ... It's a spare, it's on the roof, I've plugged one puncture, and haven't touched the spares.
No reason why the factory alloy can't be used as your second spare.
Don't over analyise it.
Alloy rims will be fine, ditto any of the steel rims mentioned. At the end of the day it will be the lowest weight capacity of the drive line component that will the limitation. No use having 1200kg rims as the rear axle on a D2 is only rated at 1800kg and in this case the tyre will need to have a minimum load rating of at least 900 kg (104 index) or better to cope.
I'm just about to head out on an extended 7500km lap through the central Aust, via Laverton and Warburton. For the first time since I stopped using split rims, I'll be carrying a second spare, but only to cover the unlikely event that I'm ham fisted enough not to notice a flat and I shread a tyre or break the bead. I'm running std alloys with 245/70 LT tyres.
Cheers
Steve
Don't forget the alloy wheel nuts if you make that choice