Here's what I can add to the discussion:
1. Spare will fit, but you need to partially deflate it to wedge up in there (down to 10PSI or so), then you can reinflate it and still get it out. Gravity must help I guess!
2. I wouldn't put a full size spare there in an off road situation. Should you get a flat in interesting terrain, it will be almost inaccessible in that location. I keep the space saver there and use it as a resilient skid plate
3. Generally, no rubbing in access mode. Sometimes in extreme left turns the driver side will rub on certain LR3's.
4. Generally, light rubbing will be experienced in the rear, just forward of the tire, at the 9:00 or 3:00 position. This will occur in normal mode or off road mode when compressing the suspension such as a hard corner (like a sharp turn on a freeway onramp at speed), or fully articulating the suspension over rocks, gully's, etc... The rubbing is minor and has not caused anyone any issues.
5. There are some LR3's that a the sensor wire (for the brakes I think?) attached outboard on the frame behind the drivers side front tire. This can get rubbed right through causing all sorts of interesting problems. It's 5 minutes work to move this wire to the top of the frame, reusing the plastic clip thingie that it mounts with.
6. The Nittos are good tires. Very stout durability off road, great rain performance on road. Fairly low noise. Mine didn't last overly long, but I got a bit over 30,000 miles on them in very harsh use.
7. My personal opinion is that the Cooper Zeon LTZ's are similar to the Nitto, but superior.
Here is a shot of my Nitto's:
