Roughly 30% of new vehicles now leave the factory without a spare tire at all, up from just 5% in 2006, according to AAA. That trend has an odd side effect for cyclists: the shrinking pool of vehicles that still carry a full-size, rear-mounted spare — Jeep Wranglers, Broncos, 4Runners, older SUVs, and most RVs and trailers — are also the only vehicles that can use a spare tire mount bike rack. If your rig still has that door-mounted or bumper-mounted spare, you have access to one of the cheapest, hitch-free ways to haul two or three bikes without touching your roofline or your trailer hitch.
Key Takeaways
- Spare tire bike racks clamp directly onto a rear-mounted spare wheel, so they skip the cost of a hitch receiver and avoid roof-rack wind noise and clearance issues entirely.
- Most models top out at 2-3 bikes and a combined 66-99 lbs, which rules out e-bikes and fat-tire bikes for nearly every option on the market.
- Fit depends on your spare tire’s diameter and width, not your vehicle model — measure the tire itself before ordering, since a rack sized for a compact spare will not clamp a full-size 33-inch off-road tire.
- Budget options like the Allen Sports Premier S302 run about $110-$130, while premium picks like the Yakima SpareRide run closer to $380-$400 for tool-free folding arms and better bike protection.
- A backup camera mounted behind the spare will almost always be blocked once a rack and bikes are loaded, so plan on mirrors-only driving with a full load.
The Best Spare Tire Bike Racks Worth Buying
These six racks cover the realistic range of what’s available for rear-mounted spares in 2026, from budget-friendly strap-on units to premium fold-down designs. Every rack listed here clamps to the tire itself rather than the vehicle body, so installation is largely tool-free across the board.
1. Hollywood Racks SR1
The SR1 is the rack most first-time buyers land on, and for good reason: it arrives mostly pre-assembled, uses a simple strap-and-clamp system, and adjusts to fit spare tires from roughly 24 to 32 inches in diameter and up to 15 inches wide. The support arms swing to accommodate off-center spares, which matters on older Jeep Wranglers and 4Runners where the spare isn’t perfectly centered on the tailgate. It carries two bikes at up to 35 lbs each (70 lbs total) and uses rubberized cradles that don’t scuff paint or frames.
Best for: first-time buyers who want the simplest possible install on a Jeep or SUV.
2. Malone Hanger Spare T3 OS
The Hanger Spare T3 OS is one of the few spare tire racks rated for three bikes instead of two, using a dual-webbing strap system that anchors to both the spare tire and the wheel offset to resist twisting under load. It fits spare tires between roughly 8 and 10.5 inches wide, and folds down against the tire when not carrying bikes so it doesn’t block the tailgate as much as bulkier designs. Combined capacity lands around 99 lbs across three bikes.
Best for: families or groups who need to haul three bikes without adding a hitch rack.
3. Yakima SpareRide
Yakima’s entry is the most expensive rack in this roundup, and it shows in the details: tool-free folding arms, a locking core sold separately for cable security, and noticeably thicker cradle padding than the budget options. It holds two bikes at up to 35 lbs each and is built around the same rugged plastic-and-steel construction Yakima uses across its hitch and roof lineups, so parts and support are easy to find years down the road.
Best for: buyers who already own other Yakima gear and want matching build quality and long-term parts support.
4. Rhino-Rack Spare Wheel Bike Carrier (RBC025)
Rhino-Rack’s RBC025 uses a fold-down arm design rated for two bikes and a combined 66 lbs, with a simpler mounting bracket than most competitors — it bolts to the wheel studs behind the spare rather than strapping around the tire, which makes it more secure on rough trails but also a slightly longer install. It’s a common pairing with Rhino-Rack’s own roof systems, similar to how shoppers cross-shop a roof cargo basket when they need to add more than just bikes.
Best for: off-road-focused Jeep and 4×4 owners who want a bolt-on mount instead of a strap-on one.
5. Swagman Around the Spare (RV Approved)
Swagman’s Around the Spare is explicitly RV-rated, which matters because most spare tire racks on this list are only warrantied for passenger vehicles and SUVs. It carries two bikes up to 35 lbs each (70 lbs total) and uses an adjustable mounting bracket built to handle the vibration profile of a towed trailer rather than just a daily-driven Jeep. Owners hauling bikes behind a travel trailer or fifth wheel should start here rather than with a rack designed only for SUV use.
Best for: RV and travel trailer owners with a rear-mounted spare on the bumper.
6. Allen Sports Premier S302
The S302 is the budget pick, typically running $110-$130, and it’s a legitimate option for occasional use rather than daily hauling. It carries two bikes at a combined 70 lbs using an arm-and-strap design similar to the Hollywood Racks SR1, though the arms and cradles are noticeably lighter-duty. It won’t survive years of washboard gravel roads the way the Rhino-Rack or Swagman will, but for a family that loads bikes twice a summer, it’s hard to beat on price.
Best for: occasional users who don’t want to spend premium-rack money for a few trips a year.
Weight Capacity by Rack
Total combined bike weight capacity varies more than most shoppers expect, and it’s the number that actually determines whether your bikes fit — not the brand name. The Malone Hanger’s three-bike rating gives it the highest combined total here, but remember that’s split across three bikes rather than concentrated in two.
Notice that most two-bike racks converge on the same 66-70 lb range — that ceiling comes from the physical limits of clamping to a tire rather than a chassis mount, not from any one brand cutting corners. If you’re regularly hauling heavier bikes, an e-bike, or more than three bikes total, a spare tire rack isn’t the right tool; look at a hitch-mounted cargo carrier or a dedicated hitch bike rack instead, both of which mount to the vehicle’s frame and carry substantially more weight.
| Rack | Bike Capacity | Total Weight Rating | Approx. Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Racks SR1 | 2 bikes | 70 lbs | ~$250 | Easiest install |
| Malone Hanger Spare T3 OS | 3 bikes | 99 lbs | ~$159 | Hauling 3 bikes |
| Yakima SpareRide | 2 bikes | 70 lbs | ~$380-$400 | Premium build quality |
| Rhino-Rack RBC025 | 2 bikes | 66 lbs | ~$230 | Bolt-on off-road security |
| Swagman Around the Spare | 2 bikes | 70 lbs | ~$230 | RVs and trailers |
| Allen Sports Premier S302 | 2 bikes | 70 lbs | ~$110-$130 | Occasional, budget use |
Price vs. Bike Capacity
Price doesn’t scale cleanly with capacity in this category — the Malone Hanger carries a third bike for less than half the cost of the Yakima SpareRide, which carries fewer bikes but adds tool-free arms and thicker padding.
How to Measure Your Spare Tire Before Buying
Every spare tire rack on the market is sized to a range of tire diameters and widths, not to a specific vehicle model, which is the single most common mistake buyers make. Measure your spare tire’s outer diameter (top to bottom, including the tire tread) and its width (sidewall to sidewall) before ordering anything. A Jeep Wrangler running 33-inch off-road tires and a Toyota RAV4 running a compact space-saver spare need entirely different rack sizing, even though both technically have “a rear-mounted spare.”
Also check how your tailgate or rear door swings. Some spare tire racks add enough depth that the door won’t clear a garage wall or a trailer hitch-mounted cargo box, similar to the clearance issues shoppers run into when pairing a rack with a truck bed bike rack or a full-size spare on a truck. And if your vehicle has a backup camera mounted through or near the spare tire — common on newer Wranglers and Broncos — expect that camera to be partially or fully blocked once the rack and bikes are loaded. Most owners simply switch to mirrors while bikes are mounted.
Finally, weigh your actual bikes before assuming they’ll fit. A modern trail or enduro mountain bike with a dropper post and wide tires can easily hit 32-35 lbs on its own, which eats most of a single arm’s rated capacity on nearly every rack in this guide. E-bikes, at 45-70 lbs, are not compatible with any spare tire rack currently sold — the tire itself isn’t rated to support that concentrated weight hanging off the back door, and no manufacturer on this list warranties e-bike use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a spare tire bike rack fit any vehicle with a rear-mounted spare?
Only if the spare’s diameter and width fall inside the rack’s rated range. Most racks fit spares between roughly 24 and 32 inches in diameter; oversized off-road tires (33-35 inches, common on lifted Wranglers) may need a rack specifically rated for larger spares, like the Hollywood Racks SR1’s extended range.
Can I still open my tailgate or rear door with a spare tire bike rack installed?
Yes, on nearly every model, since the rack mounts to the spare tire itself and swings with the door. What changes is clearance behind the vehicle — loaded bikes extend several more inches back, so tight parking spots and garages need extra room.
Do spare tire bike racks damage the tire or wheel?
Properly installed and tightened per the manufacturer’s torque instructions, no. The straps and clamps are designed to distribute load across the tire’s tread and sidewall rather than concentrating pressure on one point. Loose straps, not the rack design itself, are the most common cause of tire scuffing.
How many bikes can I realistically carry on a spare tire rack?
Two is standard across most of the market; three-bike models like the Malone Hanger Spare T3 OS exist but require careful bike positioning to avoid pedal and handlebar interference. Four-bike spare tire racks are not commonly sold because the tire mount itself can’t support that much cantilevered weight.
Is a spare tire rack better than a hitch rack for a Jeep Wrangler?
It depends on whether you already have a hitch. If your Wrangler has no hitch receiver, a spare tire rack is the cheaper path to hauling bikes. If you already tow or plan to add a hitch for other gear, a hitch rack typically offers higher weight capacity and easier loading, and pairs well with other hitch-mounted gear the way shoppers cross-shop Jeep roof racks for additional storage.
The Bottom Line
Spare tire bike racks remain one of the cheapest ways to haul two or three bikes on a vehicle that already carries a rear-mounted spare, and they skip the cost and installation hassle of a hitch receiver entirely. The Hollywood Racks SR1 is the safest default for most SUV and Jeep owners thanks to its wide diameter range and simple install; the Malone Hanger Spare T3 OS is the move if you regularly need a third bike aboard; and the Yakima SpareRide is worth the premium if you want tool-free arms and better long-term padding. Whichever you choose, measure your actual spare tire before ordering, weigh your bikes honestly against the rated capacity, and plan on driving by mirrors once the rack is loaded — the backup camera almost never survives the trip.
