Do you/should you rotate in your spare?

Dude lives in Durango! Nothing normal bout that awesome place. It is above average. Far above.

 

One thing I will say, it sure would be nice if the Tacoma's TPMS system could have a slot for the spare which auto-rotates in when used. That would cost very little and be great peace of mind. What's the point of a spare if it's deflated? Although maybe that's a good justification for the arb twin I don't need

 

Oh, I didn't mean the TPMS sensor system - but the differential wheel speed sensor system, whatever that's called. The one that figures out one wheel is consistently turning faster than the other. I believe that system takes a bit to recognize the problem (so that, for example, it doesn't throw the code every time you take a turn).

Also, 3rd Gens might be different in this respect (I'm 2nd Gen), although I doubt it.

 

...Sure? Yes, let's go with that. Not trying to be "special" here, just saying that 5-tire rotations definitely have their place.

 

Oh! It depends. I tried a few times to get it to reset off road when aired down. It only picked up readings once, so I just live with the dash light and monitor the pressures.

At home, it happens really fast? We live just a bit off a 35mph road. A couple times, it was reading pressures by the time I was accelerating. Other times, it was about 5min down the road.

 

If you use a 4 tire rotation and drive 40,000 miles you have 40,000 miles on all 4 tires and a spare with very few if any miles on it. You paid for the spare, might as well use it if it is the same tire and on matching wheels.

With a 5 tire rotation you can drive 50,000 miles and only have 40,000 miles on each tire. If you rotate them regularly and correctly you'll buy tires less often and they will all have the same amount of wear.

Whether or not that is worth the effort is up to the individual. I've done it on Wranglers where it was easy to get to the spare and the wheels matched. On my truck where it is a PITA to get the spare out every rotation and with a different wheel I don't.

But when I buy new tires I pick the best old one and have it mounted on the spare wheel. Most tire stores will pay you for the "like new" spare under the truck. When new tires are needed thereafter the decision is based on the need at the time. If the old spare is still fairly new, or is still a better tire than any of the ones coming off the truck I'll keep it longer. If not I'll again move a different tire to the spare wheel.

 

I do the long term rotation.

1. Buy a matching spare, put it on the steel rim.
2. Hope I never need it.
3. When my tires wear out I buy three new ones, rotate in the never used spare and put the best of the old tires under the truck as the "new" spare.
4. Once I need new tires again I'm usually ready to try a new make/brand and start all over.

 

I did a 5 tire rotation on my FJ. One benefit is you have to buy tires 25% less often.

 

I did the math... there is no benefit to rotating in the spare.
Let me see... ah, from 2011!

"Basic assumptions:
1. You rotate tires every 10K miles to maximize life
2. Each tire costs $200.00 (just a number and could be + or -)
3. Cross rotate and work in spare for both directions ( I know Toyota says front to back but the math works out the same so either way is fine)
4. Tires are not uni-directional
5. You have a vehicle with a matching spare tire and rim with a TPMS.
6. Each tire has a max 50K tread life
7. You like the brand and type of tire you have and will stick with it.
8. You drive 20K miles (or more) a year.

Okay. So you have a brand new vehicle with good 50K tires, unlike the stock tires we all have (had) to begin with.

In a 4 tire rotation, you will rotate the tires 4 times and buy a new set at 50K for $800.00. You will have 4 worn out tires. Your spare will still be new and you could replace your spare with a new one and use the spare in with the new set to keep shelf life on spare optimal.

In a 5 tire rotation you will rotate tires 5 times and at 60K you will have 4 worn out tires and your original spare will have 10K miles left. Following the rules above you buy 5 new tires for a cost of $1000.00

So, if you are a 5 tire rotator (lol) you got 10K extra miles out of the set but at a cost of $200.00. You COULD keep the 10K tire for a spare and go to a future 4 tire rotation and save $200.00 but you now have an almost worn out spare that is showing some age. If you buy 5 tires and go back through the process you save no money.

The conclusion to all this is simple: Both ways are fine to use but there is no savings doing it either way. Also notice I put a spare with the same rim and TPMS under the back to make it apples to apples. If you have to either have a shop dismount and remount a tire every rotation or you purchase an additional rim with TPMS up front you are losing money. FWIW I do a 4 tire rotation. If you trade the vehicle sometime, or go to a different type or size of tire, or have to replace one due to damage then this negates any savings as well. So, the 5 tire change is no more economical as a 4 tire rotation in the long run. Sure you go 20% longer maybe but you spend 20% more. It's up to you.

One more thing: If you cross rotate and use your spare good luck keeping up with the correct rotation position. I diagrammed it for the PM and it gets complicated fast on what position each tire needs to be for rotation. I used the letters "A" through "E" as markers. Again, good luck."

 

This is a stupid reduction of capability for an insignificant cost saving.

 

I do rotate the spare (so 5 tire rotation). I have learned that this is a controversial choice, but it is mine.

 

Lol it works out even, just no advantage either way.... unless you have to change tpms.

 

Or unless you actually need to use the spare for a long distance/period of time.

 

I don't include it. Couple of reasons.
1- I run 265/75-16's and the spare is stock. (not much difference is size)
2- I have on board air and an ARB plug kit should that need arise.
3- I like to buy new tires every once in a while...

 

I don't. I have a permanent full size 33" until I eventually go 35s.

 

Does your 5th rim match? (My spare doesn’t match my four corners.)

 

Some of you guys got it down to a science. I've never done the 5 tire rotation myself. I just know tires have a shelf life. Say you keep a fresh spare under the truck for 7-8 years. Even if it's never touched pavement, it's way past its shelf life yes? It will have to be replaced regardless of whether it touches the road or not. So that begs the question of whether or not you may as well throw it on the truck throughout rotations.

 

No. Shelf life is 10+ years unless exposed to sunlight.

 

It depends? As was posted earlier, our tires are not exposed to UV, so aging is less of a problem.

Just like the doughnut spares hidden in car trunks. We don't replace those and they function well enough as long as there is air in them.

 

That's news to me. Good info if true. (Not saying I don't believe you).