Question on spare tire (5 lug)

I was under the truck today checking on some things, and noted on the wheel of my spare was a sticker that said 'temporary use only'.

I'm used to seeing this on the sidewall of donut tires, but that's not what this is.

My spare is the exact same tire brand/size/etc. as the 4 on the ground. The wheel is different, but the same size.

Because of the different wheel, they don't intend for you to take advantage of this tire using an old fashioned 5 tire rotation scheme. But why the 'temporary use' on a full size spare?

Is it because the spare does not have a TPMS, and they don't want you to trip the system?

Actually I kinda like the look of the spare more than the wheels on the ground. Wonder if I could find a dog dish cap to cover the lugs???????? Although there did not seem to be any 'nubs' in the wheel to snap a cover into........

 

The last time this was asked the universal conclusion was that it was because of the lack of the TPMS. Not because it will trip the system, it can't since it doesn't have a sensor. But most likely because regulations now require all tires on new vehicles to have TPMS. In order to get by the regulations and not have a TPMS in the spare they probably have to mark it as "temporary use only" otherwise the law probably requires them to have a TPMS in it.

Older models of the Tacoma did have a TPMS in the spare, but this likely caused a lot of problems as people would have the TPMS light go on, check all four tires with no problems and then go to the dealer to bitch only to discover it was the spare that was low. And the way the spare is mounted you have to drop the spare (major PITA) to check or fill the tire.

Anyway, it should be fine to use I expect.

 

^^^^^^^^^^
100% true.

 

Could you expand on that just a touch more? I thought if you put non sensored wheels on a TMPS vehicle that the non registration would set off the dash light. If it didn't folks wouldn't be complaining about wheel swaps and the need for sensors to be added/calibrated and such???????

Perfectly logical. Nanny-ism at its finest!

Seems reasonable. It's the same reason things like real oil pressure gauges converted to idiot lights, because people asked too many questions about nothing.

Fortunately I don't have that problem. The spare is mounted stem down. On the Highlander (mounted stem up and won't mount flipped) I just picked up a long stem extension, something like used on dual wheel RVs, and ran it down through the wheel so I don't have to drop the tire.

Thanks for the great explanation(s)!

 

Could you expand on that just a touch more? I thought if you put non sensored wheels on a TMPS vehicle that the non registration would set off the dash light. If it didn't folks wouldn't be complaining about wheel swaps and the need for sensors to be added/calibrated and such???????

If you put the spare on because of a flat tire the dash light will be on.
If you just put the spare on and keep the aired up sensored wheel in the truck no problem.

 

If my truck didn't come with a sensor in the spare, could I add a matching wheel with a sensor and use it in a five tire rotation? Does the computer still have the ability to accept a fifth sensor?