Ford has filed a patent for a spare tire that lowers to the ground instead of making a driver crawl under a truck to reach it. The movable spare-tire mount describes a folding rack that could change how people deal with a flat.

The US filing, serial number 12773055, dates back to March 18, 2024. Ford Authority spotted it first, and the design tackles one of the most frustrating parts of any roadside tire change.

Anyone who has dragged a full-size spare out from under a pickup bed knows the routine. You lie on the ground, find the awkward hand crank, and spin it forever just to drop the wheel a few inches.

The patent describes a mount that pivots and extends, carrying the spare away from its stowed position under the frame or bed and setting it down near the ground. Instead of relying only on a vertical winch cable, the design adds a folding arm that moves the wheel outward as it comes down.

On trucks with underbody carriers, the spare often ends up wedged in a tight spot that is hard to reach, especially in mud, snow, or on a sloped shoulder. A rack that swings the wheel clear of the vehicle's underside could keep drivers off their knees in traffic lanes or roadside gravel.

The drawings in the application show a frame-mounted mechanism that suits body-on-frame pickup trucks and SUVs. Those are the vehicles that are most likely to carry a full-size spare instead of relying on inflation kits and sealant bottles.

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