The 9 Best Spare Tire Bike Racks of 2024 (Ultimate Guide)

When you have an SUV or off-road vehicle that has a spare tire on the back of it, hauling your bikes around requires you to have a bike rack that can accommodate the spare tire. Of course, when you have your bike and an adventure in mind, the last thing you want to do is spend time searching for a good bike rack to transport your bikes. That’s where we come in. We’ve spent the time looking at bike racks for you and put together a list of the 9 best spare tire bike racks below. Check it out to see which one is best for you.

Our Top 3 Choices

While we feature a lot of good spare tire bike racks in our list, the Hollywood Racks Bolt-On Spare Tire Rack is our top pick as the best spare tire bike rack. This rack is simple to use and has a lot of great security features that will make you feel comfortable having bikes attached to a rack on your spare tire. In addition to keeping your bikes stable on the rack with its rubber cradles and safety straps, your bikes will also be safe from someone trying to steal them, thanks to the locking knob. Since there is no assembly required for this bike rack, it will also get you out of the garage and on the road for an adventure quickly! Who can argue with that?! When it comes to bike racks that will fit on your spare tire, this is definitely our favorite.

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9 Bet Spare Tire Bike Racks

1. Hollywood Bolt-On Spare Rack – Top Pick

When it comes to the best spare tire bike rack, the Hollywood Racks Bolt-On Spare Tire Rack is a favorite amongst users, and also our top pick. We really like the simplicity of this spare tire mount bike rack. Right out of the box, this spare tire bike rack doesn’t require you to do any assembly so you can put the tools away! You just need to take it out of the box and attach it to the spare tire on your vehicle. It doesn’t get easier than that.

You attach the rack to the spare tire mounting bolts with the universal adapter plate. What’s great is that because this plate is universal, it fits most tire bolt patterns. The plate features a locking knob that helps to prevent someone from trying to steal your rack, a security feature we can all appreciate. Since you will need to actually remove the spare tire when you want to install or remove the bike rack, this really helps to keep thieves from being able to easily take your bicycle.

Three extension brackets are also included that will fit up to 12″ tires, making this a nice versatile bike rack that works for a lot of SUVs. This is a nice heavy duty bike rack that is made of high quality steel with a black powder coat finish. This finish helps to make it rust resistance and easily withstand any weather conditions no matter how rugged.

We really like how the makers of this bike rack focus on safety and protecting your bikes. The rubber cradles on the rack are super soft so they keep your bikes safe and secure while during transport so that you won’t have to worry about them. You can just focus on the adventure ahead. The safety strap will also help provide peace of mind for a smooth ride, knowing that your bikes are secure in place on your spare tire.

The bike support arms are adjustable and can be moved over to the center to accommodate for a side mounted tire. When you want to fold the rack up out of your way, you can swing the arms inward. This spare tire mounted bike rack can carry two bikes at a time on your vehicle, up to 35 lbs. per bike, and also includes a lock with it, another great security feature we like.

We do think it’s worth pointing out that if you are planning to carry a kids bike or ladies frame bike, you may need to purchase a top tube adapter to go on the rack so that you can haul those bikes. Other than that, when it comes to bike racks, there’s a lot to like about the Hollywood Racks Bolt-On Spare Tire Rack.

Features:

2 bike rack, 70 lbs. capacity, soft rubber cradles, safety straps, locking knob

Pros

• Fully assembled
• Compatible with most spare tires
• Sturdy
• Secure

Cons

• May require bike tightening

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2. Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike – 2-Bike Spare Tire Mount Bike Rack – Best Value

The Allen Sports Deluxe Two Bike Spare Tire Mounted Bike Rack is a solid bike rack from a popular brand, Allen Sports. It features a unique, patented design that really makes the installation of this bike rack a breeze. Since the rack is so lightweight, it’s not a problem to get it on and off of the spare tire on your vehicle. The design carries the bicycles up high to make sure that are in a secure position. And, the metal frame structure and two lower “sure straps,” provide incredible security for your bikes and showcase the durability of this bike rack. The powder-coat finish of the bike rack helps to resist rust and means you can use it regardless of the weather.

We really like the versatility that this spare tire mount rack offers since it will work with most mounted spare tires. With 15 inch arms, you can carry around two bikes up to 35 lbs. each on this spare tire bike rack. The arms can rotate so that you can load up a wide variety of styles and sizes of bikes, including ladies frame bikes and kids bikes.

The Allen Sports Deluxe Two Bike Spare Tire Mounted Bike Rack features tie-downs that individually secure each bicycle as they are in a fixed position on the carrying arm. This tie-down system will make sure that your bicycles are in place on the rack and protected while in transport. Since they are secured individually, they will stay put and will not make contact with each other.

One of the big benefits of purchasing this bike rack, as well as any of Allen Sport’s products is the lifetime warranty they provide. We consider this to be big selling feature and just shows how much faith the manufacturer has in this bike rack.

Features:

Carries 2 bikes, 70 lbs. capacity, metal frame, sure straps, tie-down system

Pros

• Fits most bikes
• Quick setup
• Stable

Cons

• Arms do not fold down

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3. Hollywood Spare Tire Rack – Best for Side Mounted Tire

The Hollywood Racks SR1 Spare Tire Mounted Bike Rack is a durable bike rack with an easy installation process. First off, this bike rack comes fully assembled right of the box, which is something that we love. The less work to do, the quicker you can get out and ride! This rack is really versatile and installs over your vehicle spare tire. In fact, it can be installed over most any spare tire since it can be adjusted to accommodate a width of up to 12 inches.

If you have a vehicle with a side mounted tire, that’s not an issue with this bike rack. The support arms can be centered to the side to make it possible to install with a side mounted tire, and when you aren’t using the rack, you can simply fold it up. While this is a great rack for rear mounted tires too, it’s ability to accommodate a side mounted tire makes it unique, which is why we recommend it specifically for side mounted tires.

The durability of this spare tire bike rack is a great feature, with solid construction. However, it’s still only 10 lbs. so it’s lightweight enough that installing it is easy to do. For the security of your bikes, the cradles are soft and rubber-like for holding your bikes in place on the spare tire. You can carry up to two bikes on this rack, up to 35 lbs. per bike.

You can’t use this rack with ebikes, and if you plan to use this bike carrier for kids bikes, ladies frame bikes, or mountain bikes, the rack may require a top tube adapter to fit them on the rack. The top tube adapter is an accessory you will need to purchase separately. Also, you will likely want to purchase locking cables to go along with this rack to make sure that your bikes are safe when you step away from your car since they are not included.

Features:

Carries 2 bikes, 35 lbs. capacity, fits spare tires up to 12 inches

Pros

• Fully assembled
• Quick installation
• Adjustable arms for side mounted tires

Cons

• Kid and ladies bikes may require a top tube adapter

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4. Allen Sports Premier – Best 3 Bike Rack

If you are looking for a spare tire bike rack that will carry up to three bikes, then we highly recommend the Allen Sports Premier 3-Bike Spare Tire Rack. Installing and setting up this rack on your car is simple to do. We like that this rack is completely assembled for you so you don’t need to do anything to put it together. It features a patented quick snap set up design that makes the set up take no time at all, right out of the box. With a metal frame, the Allen Sports Premier 3-Bike Rack is a very durable and easy to use bike rack. The carry arm is very long at 16″, which makes carrying three bikes no problem. In addition, it can carry up to 100 lbs. weight capacity.

This spare tire mount rack has two lower “Sure Straps” that help to make sure your bikes will remain stable and secure while you are on the road with them. The tie-down straps secure each bike individually in a soft cradle to keep your bikes safe from rubbing against each other or your car. These straps are UV resistant, which means you can count on these straps lasting a very long time. Due to the design, this rack can accommodate a wide range of externally mounted spare tires, though it’s always recommend to check the website to ensure it will fit your particular vehicle. Another neat design feature is that the rack hooks over the spare tire and lifts the bikes up high so there’s no chance they touch the road or the hot exhaust.

Like the other Allen Sports rack we mentioned above, this bike carrier also comes with the lifetime warranty from the manufacturer. Not many products offer such a warranty, so we consider this to be pretty special.

Features:

3 bike rack, UV resistant sure straps, 100 lb. weight capacity

Pros

• Fully assembled
• Durable
• Fits variety of spare tire sizes

Cons

• May leave a mark on the spare tire cover

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5. Surco Spare Rear Tire Bike Rack – Best Rack Made in USA

The SurcoBT300 Spare Tire Rack is a sturdy rack made in the USA, constructed of high quality steel with a durable black powder-coated finish. This finish ensures that the rack will not rust and can withstand any weather conditions. Though it is a heavy duty mounted bike rack, it’s actually pretty light in weight, which makes it easy to install and also put away when you aren’t using it.

This rack is easy to install and use, as it can install on a variety of spare tires, using a heavy duty mounting plate. While it usually works on most spare tires, we always recommend checking the website to make sure it will work for you. With the top mounting plate bolted on, your bikes are secure in place on the rack.

The rack also comes with a non-scratch padded channel that helps to hold your bikes and lock them in place so they don’t hit against each other or your car. This level of protection is one of the features we like most about this rack. The Surco rack can carry up to 3 bikes for you at one time, so if you have a small group ready for an adventure, this is a great product. It also comes with a key so that you can lock up your bikes to the rack if you park your car for a bit. There’s no need to chance a potential thief stealing your bike, so we like that the lock and key is included.

Features:

3 bike rack, steel construction, non-scratch padded channel, heavy duty mounting plate

Pros

• Easy to use
• Fits variety of spare tires
• Lightweight

Cons

• May not fit 3 adult bikes

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6. BUNKER INDUST – Best Mid-Range Rack

The BUNKER Spare Tire Bike Rack bolts onto your spare tire with a universal mounting plate, which makes it compatible with almost any spare tire bolt patterns, including an oversized and undersized spare tire. The exception here is 2018-2020 Jeep Wrangler JLs. So if your car falls into that category, then you will probably want to select one of the other spare tire bike rack options in our list that will work for your particular vehicle. The bike rack itself is solid construction, made of powder coated steel for durability.

The BUNKER spare tire bike rack can carry two bikes at a time with a maximum weight capacity of 75 lbs., which means it will have no issue carrying a variety of bike sizes and styles. You secure the bikes with stay-put cradles and anti-sway cages that will keep the bikes in place on your spare tire to protect the bike frames from getting damaged. The rubber straps secure your bikes to the rack, making sure that even if you hit a few bumps in the road, your bikes will stay put on the rack. We know that cycling adventures can take you just about anywhere, so if you may end up on a rough road, this rack just might be the one for you.

Another feature we really like is that this bike rack also comes equipped with an anti-theft lock to prevent someone from trying to steal your bikes or the bike carrier when you step away from your car.

Features:

2 bike rack, 75 lb. weight capacity, universal mounting plate, stay-put cradles, anti-sway cages

Pros

• Compatible with most spare tire bolt patterns
• Anti-sway
• Anti-theft lock included

Cons

• Won’t work with vehicles with a backup camera in spare tire

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7. Saris Freedom and Spare Tire Rack – Best Platform Style Rack

The Saris Freedom Spare Tire Rack is a very easy to install and easy to use bike rack. Part of this is due to the fact that the bikes sit on a platform rather than the bikes hanging in the air off of your car. This makes loading the bikes onto and off of the rack a much easier process. It also offers a better level of protection for your bike frame so that it doesn’t get scratched. This helps to keep your car from getting scratched, too.

This spare tire bike rack features patent pending Cuscinos, or pillows, which provide extra soft cushioning and protection for your bike. Each bike is secured with ratcheting straps onto the platform to make sure they are stable during transport. We really like the focus on protecting your bike with this rack, not just making sure that your bikes stay securely in the rack, but also that they stay in place and help to protect the finish of your bike. If any damage to your bike frame is a major concern for you, then this product is probably a great bike rack for you to choose.

This spare tire mounted bike rack can carry 2 bikes at one time, with a weight capacity of 35 lbs. per bike. Most spare tires will work with this rack. When you aren’t using it, the arms will conveniently fold flat for easy storage. The Saris Freedom bike carrier is made in the USA.

Features:

2 bike rack, 70 lbs. capacity, Cuscinos, ratcheting straps on platform

Pros

• No frame contact
• Easy to load
• Secure

Cons

• Instructions aren’t the best

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8. Apex Rage Powersports – 2-Bike Spare Tire Mounted Bike Racks – Best Budget Option

The Apex Rage Spare Tire Bike Rack is constructed of heavy duty steel and features a durable black paint finish. It attaches to your vehicle hatch rear spare hub mount, and fits 7-11/16″ to 12.5″ wide spare tires. The Apex can easily carry two bikes wherever you need to go. You can secure the bikes to the rack with tie-down straps to make sure they stay in place.

A nice feature about this spare tire bike rack is that the bike cradles can swing to the side for storage against the vehicle hatch. For increased safety while driving at night, a rear reflector is on the bike rack. A lock is also included to secure the bikes and help prevent thieves from stealing your bikes or the bike rack, and it comes with two keys just in case you lose one. All in all, when it comes to spare tire bike racks, the Apex Rage provides you with a lot of good features at a very reasonable price. This makes it an affordable bike carrier product that will work for a majority of people, assuming you only need to transport two bikes of course.

Features:

2 bike rack, steel construction, tie-down straps, rear reflector

Pros

• Heavy duty
• Lock with 2 keys included
• Cradles swing to the side

Cons

• May need to replace bolt

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9. Swagman RV Approved – Best for RVs

The Swagman RV Approved Around the Spare Tire Deluxe Bike Rack is unique in its design. This bike rack is mounted around the spare tire rather than mounted on the spare tire. So, you don’t even have to worry about the fact that you have a spare tire on your vehicle because this bike rack can work around it, literally. This design of this bike carrier makes it a great bike rack for an RV or camper. The rack attaches to a 4 to 4.5″ continuously welded steel bumper. For an easy installation, we appreciate that all the hardware you need for for attachment to bumper and carrying the bike is included.

The Swagman spare tire rack can carry up to two bikes, making it a great rack for the back of your RV if you are on a cross country adventure with a friend or significant other. Durable rubber straps will secure the bikes safely in place on the bike rack. The anti-sway cradles ensure that your bikes will not come into contact with each other, preventing any scratching of the paint on your bike frame.

Features:

2 bike rack, rubber straps, anti-sway cradles

Pros

• Hardware included
• Great for RVs or campers
• Anti-sway

Cons

• Ladies bikes may not fit as well

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Spare Tire Bike Rack Buyers Guide

Our list is full of great options for spare tire bike racks. Ultimately, all of the bike racks are different and each one has its own set of advantage and disadvantages. We feel confident that with our recommendations above, you will be able to find the perfect rack for you and your needs. With our list, we’ve put together a guide below of things we think it’s important for you to consider when shopping for spare tire bike racks. These things include: bike capacity, type of bike, ease of use, security, durability, and budget. This recent blog about the best bike racks for SUV reviews may also interest you.

Bike Capacity

One of the most preliminary things to think about when you are shopping for bike racks is how many bikes you plan to carry around on the back of your car. All of the spare tire bike racks in our list can carry at least two bikes, with a few even carrying three bikes. If you decide to carry two or more bikes on your spare tire bike rack, it’s important to make sure you choose a bike rack that protects your bikes and ideally eliminates any contact between bikes. If you go down a dirt or gravel road, you want to make sure that your bikes are securely in place and don’t hit each other and scratch the bike frame. If you do have the type of vehicle that can handle a spare tire bike rack, I recommend to check our recent post about guide for the best roof mounted bike racks. Also, we have listed 7 best bike racks for Jeep Wranglers if you happen own that type of vehicle.

Type of Bike

Not all of the spare tire bike racks can accommodate multiple styles of bikes. Some racks are able to hold mountain bikes, kids bikes and ladies frame bikes. However, other racks will require you to purchase a separate adapter bar that will allow you to carry those types of bikes. If you know that you will be carrying ladies bikes, mountain bikes, or kids bikes on a regular basis, then that is something you definitely want to consider when looking at spare tire bike racks. If you really like a particular rack that will require a top tube adapter, that is just something to keep in mind since it will be an additional cost on top of the rack itself.

Ease of Use

While a spare tire bike rack being easy to assemble and easy to install is not a requirement, it is certainly a big advantage and a selling point for some. Not all bike racks are built the same. Some bike racks are definitely easier than others, and the easiest ones are the bike racks that come fully assembled. One less thing to do before you get out on the road. You might also want to consider installing swing-away bike racks as another way of storing your bikes to save more space in your vehicle. See our full post about the 7 best swing-away bike racks on our recent blog.

You need to make sure that the spare tire bike rack you choose will properly fit over your spare tire. If it doesn’t, then you will certainly have a problem. And, there are different tongues for different sized tires. This makes a big difference when it comes to how secure your bike rack is onto your spare tire. In fact, if the spare tire bike rack is installed wrong, it can actually damage your spare tire, which is something you obviously want to avoid. You may also check out our post on the best trunk bike racks.

Security

When you are driving down the road with bikes on the back of your car, making sure that they don’t fall off is very important. That’s why security is one of the things we think you should consider when looking at spare tire bike racks. Bikes are usually secured by straps and cradles, but each rack does it just a little bit different.

Not only do you want (and need) your bike to be stable and secure onto the spare tire bike rack while in transport, but you also just need your bikes to be generally secure when you stop the vehicle, whether for a few hours or overnight. With this in mind, you will want to make sure that the bike rack has locking cables to properly lock the bike to the rack. This will help prevent thieves from trying to steal your bikes. If the rack doesn’t come with a locking cable, then you will want to purchase one separately.

Durability

When you purchase a bike rack, you want it to be one that will last you a long time. You want to choose a rack with high quality construction that you can use over and over again. All of the spare tire bike racks in our list are solid racks and will be a great product, though some spare tire racks are more durable than others. Also, if you looking for the best option to store your bikes at home, you can check our recent post where we talk about the best indoor floor bike rack.

Budget

The price of spare tire mounted bike racks can vary greatly. While there are many inexpensive spare tire bike racks out there, you want to make sure that you choose one that will last you for a long time, especially if you will be using it frequently. It may cost you more money up front to buy a more expensive rack, but it could save you money in the long run if you get more life out of it.

The good news is that even some of the great, high quality spare tire racks are budget friendly. Not all bike racks are a high price. You may not get all the upgrade and features that you will get with some of the more expensive racks, but they will still work well and transport your bikes safely.

You may also like: Best Bike Racks for Minivans

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Final Thoughts On the Best Spare Tire Bike Rack

Our list includes a variety of spare tire racks, from two bike to three bike capacity and varying prices. When it comes to a user friendly rack that will provide stability and security for your bikes on your spare tire, then we recommend the Hollywood Racks Bolt-On Spare Tire Rack. Overall, we believe this is an incredible product, and the best spare tire bike rack. It’s a solid, heavy duty rack that can withstand any weather conditions so it can easily keep up with you for any adventure. And for your next trip, you might be thinking of going on a canoe adventure. This post about the best canoe carriers for cars, SUVs, and trucks can help you bring your boat without any worries.