Spare doesn’t use mag seat lug nuts

I have a spare but it looks like it uses acorn lug nuts and I don’t have a spare tool to let it down and my wheels are the 17 in alloy mag seats do I need to get a new spare or just carry 6 lug nuts with it

 

Probably a lot cheaper to get six lug nuts, put them in a little baggy and put that in the compartment with the jack or in the glove box.

 

Buy six acorn nuts and put them in one of the storage cubbies in the vehicle. Wrap them in something like a shop rag or a paper towel before bagging them so they don’t clatter around and drive you crazy . I do this with every vehicle I have that has a mismatched spare.

 

I recall using my mag lug nuts on the spare, temporarily of course. My mag lug nuts had an "acorned" end. I don't suggest it but I had nothing else at the time.

 

The stock Mag Seat lug nuts are tapered on the end.
They will work on the spare. But they are NOT meant to be used long term.
That is why the owners manual says to have the stock wheel and tire changed as soon as possible.

See the "taper"

 

Acorn nuts are super cheap, just saying.

 

They are better.
And OP can buy 6 if he wants (M12x1.5)
But Mag nuts will work. Just putting that out there incase someone else reads this post and thinks they wont.

Like any lug nut, you should always recheck them after about 10 miles of driving.

 

I’m not sure if the wheel is a 16 or 17in if I need to replace it anyway or just swap a front and back wheel and put the spare on the front so I don’t mess up my diff.

 

Until you can get the spare down the lug nuts don't matter much

And unless it's been flipped stem down, it's likely flat anyway.

If the truck has lived in salt world the last 12 yrs you may struggle to lower it and then find bad things....

Get the tool and drop the spare.

 

If it's an open diff I don't think you will damage it....they are made to be able to spin at slightly different speeds. That's how you are able to turn and not skid your tires.

 

Wheel size doesn’t matter. I had 17 inch wheels on my FJ cruiser and a 16 inch steelie spare, but the overall diameter of the tires was the same.

 

All 2009+ trucks are open diff.

The spare should be the same diameter.
Doesn't matter if it's a 16" or 17" wheel.
The TIRE will make up the difference.

 

I figured it was, but I don't know what modifications he has made to it.

 

Fair enough.
You are correct, OP could have added an LSD.

 

Why don't you have the tool to let it down? Was it lost ?

And as mentioned the lug nuts that come with the allows have a tapered base that works fine with the steel spare. This is the way it comes from Toyota and they aren't going to equip a vehicle that doesn't have the appropriate parts that wouldn't allow you to change to the spare if needed.

 

Right from the manual

 

I just bought 6 nuts and am gonna order a kit for the jack and the spare tool

 

It came from the dealer without a kit

 

I don't think manual says to get the damaged tire replaced asap because of lug nut concerns, more of a general safety recommendation to have matching tires and wheels.

If the mag-style lugs were a safety concern for the manufacturer they would be putting 6 acorn lugs in a baggie somewhere under the seat with all the other tire changing equipment. And there would be huge warnings in the owners manual about which type to use

They're not going to put a spare under the truck and then not give you the correct nuts to use it

 

I just bought 6 acorn lugs from Rock Auto, as I have an aftermarket steel rim and a full size tire and they’re both not temporary. I live in NJ and I regularly lower the spare tire and spray it with lubricant so it works if I’m on the side of the road.