The Spare Tyre Fire Pit - Explained, Compared, and Done Right

A spare tyre fire pit turns the most wasted space on your rig - the spare wheel - into the mount for a full fire pit and BBQ. Instead of packing a fire pit inside your caravan or 4WD and losing precious storage, the pit rides on the spare, outside the vehicle, and lifts straight off at camp. It's a simple idea that's changed how Australians carry a campfire. This guide explains what a spare tyre fire pit is, how to choose a good one, and why the patented Tyre Fire® is the original.

What is a spare tyre fire pit?

A spare tyre fire pit is a portable fire pit engineered to mount over the spare wheel on the back of a 4WD, caravan, or camper trailer. Rather than riding inside the vehicle - eating storage space and coating your gear in soot - it travels on the spare tyre, outside, and lifts off ready to use the moment you stop.

The appeal is simple. Every touring setup already carries a spare tyre, and for most of its life that tyre is dead space. A spare tyre fire pit puts that space to work, letting you carry a proper fire pit and BBQ without giving up a single cubic foot inside the van or canopy. For anyone doing the big lap, weekend trips, or off-grid touring, it solves the oldest problem in camping: too much gear, not enough room.

Why mount a fire pit on your spare tyre?

Three reasons the spare-tyre-mounted design has taken off with Australian campers:

Zero internal storage lost. The pit lives on the spare, so your drawers, boot, and canopy stay free for the gear that matters.

Soot and grease stay outside. A fire pit stored inside the vehicle brings ash and grease with it. Mounted on the spare, the mess never enters your living space.

No reassembly at camp. A good spare tyre fire pit lifts off and lights - no slotting panels together in the dark while everyone waits on dinner.

How to choose a spare tyre fire pit

Not all spare tyre fire pits are equal. Here's what to check before you buy:

Fit. Confirm the pit suits your spare tyre width. Many fit only narrower tyres - look for one that fits up to 320mm to cover common 4WD and caravan sizes. Check the first number stamped on your tyre's sidewall (the section width in millimetres).

Construction - bolted beats welded. Most stainless pits are welded, and welds crack when steel expands under repeated heat. A bolted chassis flexes with thermal expansion and stays square for years. For the full engineering breakdown, see our Tyre Fire® vs generic pits comparison.

Material. Food-grade 430 stainless steel handles high heat, resists rust, and is safe to cook on - the right choice for a pit that lives outdoors.

Where the cooking gear travels. This is the one most buyers miss. On most spare tyre fire pits, the grill and hotplate are separate accessories you still pack loose inside the vehicle - so you've solved where the pit goes but not the greasy plates. The best designs store the cooking gear on the pit itself.

Delivery. Check shipping is actually free to where you are - some brands charge beyond metro areas.

Why the Tyre Fire® is the original patented spare tyre fire pit

Spare tyre fire pits have grown popular, and others have since copied the concept. Here's what sets the original apart - and what only the Tyre Fire® can offer:

Patented on-pit grill & hotplate storage. The Tyre Fire® is the only spare tyre fire pit engineered so your grill and hotplate store on the pit itself, travelling mounted on your spare tyre as one clean unit - never as loose, greasy gear inside your vehicle. This design is protected by an Australian patent, which is why no competitor offers it.

Registered trademark. TYRE FIRE® is a registered Australian trademark. If it doesn't carry the mark, it isn't the original.

Fits tyres up to 320mm wide. Wider fitment than many spare tyre fire pits, covering the vast majority of caravans, camper trailers, and 4WDs on Australian roads.

M8 bolted chassis. Built to flex with heat and stay square season after season, not warp like welded pits.

Free delivery Australia-wide. Wherever you're headed.

Spare tyre fire pit vs other portable fire pits

How a spare-tyre-mounted pit compares to the alternatives most campers consider:

Feature	Spare Tyre Fire Pit (Tyre Fire®)	Slot-Together Steel Pit	Bowl / Basket Pit
Where it travels	On the spare tyre - outside	Inside the vehicle	Inside the vehicle
Internal storage used	None	Significant	Significant
Setup at camp	Lift off & light	Reassemble every time	Varies
Cooking gear storage	Stores on the pit (patented)	Loose & separate	Loose & separate
Construction	M8 bolted - flexes with heat	Slotted tabs	Welded - cracks
Material	430 food-grade stainless	Thin plate steel	Mild or coated steel

For a detailed head-to-head against generic spare tyre pits, see our full comparison.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is a spare tyre fire pit?
It's a fire pit designed to mount over the spare wheel on a 4WD, caravan, or camper trailer, so it travels outside the vehicle instead of taking up storage inside. You lift it off at camp, light it, and remount it when you pack up.

Do spare tyre fire pits damage your tyre?
No. The Tyre Fire® sits over the spare and is secured with tie-downs against the tread. It doesn't pierce, bolt into, or mark the tyre, and it comes off cleanly.

Can you cook on a spare tyre fire pit?
Yes - with the Tyre Fire® you can add a hot plate or grill and cook over firewood, charcoal, or heat beads. It's a fire pit and portable BBQ in one, and the cooking plates store on the pit for travel.

Are spare tyre fire pits legal in national parks and caravan parks?
Many parks permit contained solid-fuel fires, but rules vary by location and season and total fire bans always apply. A contained off-ground pit like the Tyre Fire® is a tidy, low-impact option - always check local restrictions before lighting up.

What's the difference between the Tyre Fire® and other spare tyre fire pits?
The Tyre Fire® is the original patented design and the only one where the grill and hotplate store on the pit itself. It also fits wider tyres (up to 320mm), uses a bolted chassis that won't warp, and carries a registered trademark.

Is delivery free?
Yes - the Tyre Fire® ships free Australia-wide.

Shop the original Tyre Fire®

The original patented spare tyre fire pit - designed and built in Australia, with your grill and hotplate stored on the pit and free delivery Australia-wide.

Shop the Tyre Fire®