2021 Taco factory spare tire

I really think the whole 50mph is to cover their ass. My 2009 TRD OR had a full size steel wheel spare and the actually wheel said the same thing. My 2021 OR is the same way even though it has the same Goodyear as the rest of the truck. They put the warning on there for some reason, just like my snowblower said not to use on the roof and chainsaw said not to stop with your genitals. Someone did something stupid.

 

On my 2021 Sport, the regular tires are 265/65R17 on 17" cast aluminum wheels. 30.6" diameter and 10.4" section width.

The spare is 245/75R16 on a 16" steel wheel. 30.5" diameter and 9.65" section width. The tread depth is also shallower than that of the regular tires. No TPMS sensor.

Obviously, this cannot be used in a 5-tire rotation. Even if I get another regular wheel/tire combination to use as a spare, 5-tire rotation is still a problem due to the TPMS issue. (The ECU can only handle 4 sensors.)

I have a dilemma. I can carry the spare in the designed location underneath the truck, where the wheel and tire will rust and rot from exposure to the elements, and be inconveniently (in)accessible for pressure checks. Or, I can carry it in the bed, where it will take up a huge amount of space (precluding the building of a sleeping platform, etc.). Or, I can leave it at home and instead carry an air compressor and puncture repair kit. (I'm inclined to the last alternative.)

 

Yep, I saw the cascade of features that may not work when you put the spare on. No idea why automatic high beam would be affected by a spare tire but, okay. My thanks for the research you did and picture of the spare on your rig as well. Tomorrow AM I will get underneath and take a look and probably lower the spare down.

 

Yes! Got under the truck and confirmed the spare is the exact same tire as the other four. No TPMS transponder on it but in a pinch, I can live with that.

Happy camper. Thanks to all for the advice and support.

 

The truck only accepts 4 so I wouldn’t consider adding one to the spare either.

 

So what’s required to add one TPMS and remove another at rotation time? Can’t be too difficult as I imagine it must be done when one goes bad. Probably just some sort of hardware that communicates with both the sensors and the ECU.

 

Assuming that all tires have sensors installed, you can get a reprogramming tool, costing $225, that lets you designate which 4 will be registered in the ECU. Or, you can let a tire dealer do the reprogramming, assuming they are willing and able to do so (for a fee).

The problem remains as to how to carry the spare -- either under the truck exposed to the elements, or in the bed taking up space. (I learned the hard way that keeping the spare under the truck will eventually lead to the ruin of the wheel and/or tire. In any case it won't be reliable if you actually need to use it.)

 

It’s usually age that defeats a tire or wheel, not the mounting location.

 

My 2000 Ford Ranger came with an undersized spare, mounted under the truck. One of the first things I did was replace it with a full size tire/wheel to match the others. Since this was held up only by a cable, I added safety chains to prevent it from falling in case the cable failed. This made it inconvenient to take down, so it went for several years without being disturbed. When I finally took it down, I found that the aluminum wheel was badly pitted and the tire wouldn't hold air. The whole thing, including the chains, was encrusted with road salts. I replaced the tire and polished up the wheel. It now rides in the bed of the truck.

I'm trying to apply this lesson proactively to my new Tacoma. But that's being complicated by the TPMS. This makes it difficult and costly to do a 5-tire rotation. I think I may just dispense with the spare altogether, and just carry an air compressor and puncture repair kit.

 

I know I’m old and slow. And I’ve only had pickups for about three decades, but how is under the truck worse than than in use on the truck?

Heck it’s even protected from UV.

 

Apparently you have never lowered a spare from a truck that had it tucked up in there for 5 years or so . Well I did and the wheel looked like it was junk and not road worthy . They take a beating up there and the top side holds dirt and the rust and chips and dents wow .

 

Because when the tire/wheel is actively in use on the truck, you can inspect it (by eyeball) daily, check the air pressure, clean off the road salts, etc. When it's under the truck as a spare, it's "out of sight, out of mind." How many of us check the pressure on the spare? (Especially when it's not included in the TPMS?)

In addition, a tire in use maintains pressure against the rim, holding the seal intact. The spare, after it loses air pressure over time, will also lose the seal against the wheel. The wheel, whether steel or aluminum, will start to corrode and it will be difficult to get a good seal again, even if the tire is remounted.

 

Exactly what I'm trying to say. IMO, under the truck, exposed, is about the worst place you can carry the spare. The best place would be a protected well accessible from the top of the bed (similar to the way cars carry the spare in the trunk) but pickups are not designed that way. The second best place is carried flat in the bed -- if you have the room and a way to secure the tire from theft.

 

FWIW, I got a spare OEM off road rim (used and in very nice condition) and an OEM TPMS (new) for my spare. Started rotating it in a week ago when my left rear tire picked up a nail.

Stupid me forgot to write down the TPMS number though so I need to bum a scan off DT.

Then I’ll use techstream to swap position. I believe there is a spot to stash the code for the spare so you don’t have to remember the code. But I’ll probably keep a printout in the glove box.

Though I think I might actually prefer TPMS enabled on the spare actually. It’s much harder to reach to check pressure.

Really wish the system could just track all 5. Seems like that might even be possible without any additional hardware since the sensors are reading the spare on my truck right now.

 

My spare tire has a sticker saying “Warning! This spare tire may LOOK exactly like the tires on your vehicle, however it’s a temporary tire only, not for vehicular use as a regular tire, since our overpaid legal consultants, Dewy, Cheatum & Howe, want to ensure we are absolved if anything goes wrong with said spare tire.”

 

Funny thing is I have seen people drive months on those things.... probably thousands of miles.

 

It’s a temporary spare because the steel wheel they provide is lug-centric and the lug nuts that are used on your alloy wheels are not true dedicated lug-centric nuts, nor is your hub lug-centric. Over a certain speed, wobble in the wheel may loosen the nuts and send you over a cliff, hence the warning.

If you’ve ever fitted the OEM spare to any of your hubs, you know what I’m talking about.

 

102 degrees, in the middle of nowhere Idaho on a deserted gravel road.
Fun times. Will be carrying a tire plug kit from that day on

 

Toyota sells steel wheels, as an alternative to the alloys- are you saying they are dangerous?? I was hoping to get my winter tires on steel wheels instead of switch back and forth.....

 

The spare wheel is a universal wheel. The steel wheels and lug nuts that come on an SR Taco may be different. Certainly the lug nuts would be.