Dear B.B.

Hope you're well. Tires - even those never put on a rim - are time-expired after a maximum of ten years. Some tire shops won't mount a tire older than six years.

Rubber deteriorates with time (exposure to oxygen). Heat accelerates rubber deterioration.

So, the factory-supplied "doughnut" tires should long ago have been sent for recycling.

I'm pretty sure the third seat can be removed. If it is not present, i.e., if the factory original load-space floor panels are present, there's plenty of room for a full-size spare tire.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook