Spare Tire Only for Temp Use?

So all my summer and winter tires are now 265/70/17, so I bought a 2nd hand-but-never-driven-on Goodyear Wrangler Authority, so all my tires would be the same size. Rather than let the tire shop drop my spare tire, I thought I would do it, simply because I’ve never done it before. So I lower the spare and hose all the Krown and mud off to reveal a sticker that, surprisingly to me, says “Temporary Use Only.” It’s the same Dunlop tire that came on the truck, so I can only assume Toyota just used the cheapest wheel they could find that isn’t strong enough for everyday use? It is a bit of an odd looking wheel...

 

can you drive on it for 100k miles and report back your results?

 

Those are the same rims that came with my TACO as the winter set.

 

It might be because there is a weight difference between the spare rim and stock. Also might be a different offset then stock? Doesn't matter too much, but obviously don't want to mix those things for long periods of time. As for using all 4 for a winter set, should be fine since they all match up.
That's just my guess. It shouldn't be because the wheel is weaker in some way, or else they wouldn't produce it.

 

I actually bought four more of those rims and put my KM2s on them (and the spare so I have a matching spare) and that's what I use when I go wheeling. No issues after two trips down to Red River Gorge and a few side trips over the last 12 months or so. I do have another set that I use for daily driving but if I can beat the hell out of them at RRG and not have any issues I don't see what the problem would be. I'm from Boston, so the trip to RRG is like 15 hours one-way.

 

There are people here who run a full set of those steelies all the time.
I doubt that sticker is stock.

 

^ I was wondering why you were rocking those wheels. Where'd you get them? I kind of like that idea. Cheap rims with mud tires so you don't tear them up on the street.

 

I bought them from Santa Anna Wheel, but on ebay. They're pretty cheap and refurbished so they weren't all rusted like most spares would be.

 

Yea I never thought about the possible weight difference. Maybe that’s it.

 

Do you need different lug nuts for those than the sport alloy wheels?

 

I searched TW for "temporary use only" and I found the answer. In the later 2nd gen years when Toyota went to no TPMS sensor in the spare, they put that sticker on the spare. It's to cover their ass if somebody uses it long term and doesn't know it's low and crashes and dies. Also could be a legality thing, since vehicles are required to have TPMS.

 

Huh. That makes sense I guess. Good find!

 

Ya you're good man

 

I was driving normal speed and hit a slight rough patch on the road. Having my spare on I think caused the abs to think I was loosing traction and started to apply brakes to that wheel. Hopefully it never happens again after I put my matching rims and tires back on but just be warned it could be dangerous.

 

This, I recently had to use my spare and noticed the sticker. TPMS, and having a tire that does not match the other three are my guess.