Frame Damaged Spare Tire :(

I suppose it is a good idea to check the condition of your spare tire every now and then. I have a 2006 Tacoma and never actually took the spare down. I sort of needed it today, as I found a bolt jammed in my tire when I got home and can't get it fixed until tomorrow. When I took the spare down, I noticed that the frame had worn into the sidewall of the tire and it's probably not safe to use. I'm going to get a new tire, but I'm going to try to put some kind of cushion between the frame and the tire to prevent this from happening again. Has anyone seen this before?

 

Looks like you never used your spare. It's just the sidewall, is the cord showing?

The best response you'll see here is....... .
ZZZZzzzzzzz...... . . .

This is normal, mine looked like that after riding around for a 100k having never being dropped.

 

I'd use it.

 

Getting a piece of rubber mat and cutting it to fit between the spare and frame is on my to do list.

 

mines the same way after being under there for 15yrs and nearly 250,000 miles... i think it's fairly common but seeing as i need to upsize it soon to match the current 265/75/16's i'm running i know i wont be running it long so not overly worried just yet...

i've noticed this happening on a number of different vehicles i've had and best thing i've found to prevent it is to drop it about 5 inches or to the ground then inspect and rotate it a few degrees every few oil changes or when i am already under there to grease the U-joints and check pressure in the spare anyway... greasing the spare tire winch's cable may not be a bad idea either.
plus it gives me peace of mind knowing that the spare tire winch hasn't seized up... also common.

 

No change on the 3rd gen.

 

thats normal

 

Someday someone is going to want to do a full factory resto. on a Taco and will pay 1000's for a set of like new, date stamped stock tires. Better keep them in good shape.

 

Get a matching spare wheel and tire. Do a five tire rotation when you rotate your tires.