No TPMS on Spare?

I just purchased a 2011 MG 4X4 DC. According to the Users Manual, you're not suppose to rotate it out when rotating the tires. I'm assuming that this is because it doesn't have a TPMS sensor. Is this correct? I was thinking about installing the sensor in the spare and using it in a five tire rotation. Doesn't seem to make sense to just let the spare age out. Is there a reason I can't do this?

Thanks

 

Why would you want to rotate a spare tire in? I was always under the impression that my spare tire is just that, a spare..

 

It should be a full size spare with same rims. So it should be an exact replica of the four tires touching the road. If I rotate the spare out, then all 5 tires get even wear. If it just sits as a spare, the rubber will degrade with time. I can get better use out of the tire if I can use it.

 

my spare was not on a rim that was the same as the rest...mines spares on a shitty black rim...then again I have the cheapest 6 lug Toyota makes

 

Can't think of a reason you'd want to rotate the spare in but you certainly can. It's a full size spare but mine didn't match the other wheels asthetically. But, to answer your question, there IS a TPMS sensor on the spare.

 

I haven't looked under there yet. I should check. I have the SR5 with upgraded rims. I'll be disappointed if it's not the same tire and rim as the others.

 

It'll be the same tire (at least that was the case on mine) but the rim didn't match. I got alloy rims, the spare was steel.

 

Well, if that's the case, it makes no sense rotating it out. My reason for wanting to rotate the spare out is due to experience where I rarely have had to use the spare. If the spare is more than 5 or so years old, it's not safe to run them full time

Thanks everyone. I'll take a look at the spare tomorrow.

 

Your spare tire will be a black steel wheel, it has NO TPMS in it. Earlier models came with an alloy wheel and TPMS, but that has since been phased out.

 

Damn man, when did they phase that out??? The spare is the one tire that stupid system actually makes sense to be monitoring! Sorry OP, I wasn't aware they phased out a good idea...

 

Interesting... yeah mine's definitely a ugly utilitarian steel wheel, full size rim and tire, but does have the tpms in it. I don't know why they'd phase that out. I think that is the most important part of the tpms for me. I can look straight at the other 4 tires and see, but if the spare is flat and I need it I'm SOL. I like the fact that once a year or so my light comes on reminding me to add a little air to the spare...

 

Plus the spare is a PITA to get out with that crappy crank assembly that toyota threw under our trucks. I wouldn't want to drag the spare out every 5000 miles.

BTW welcome to tw from one NOVA resident to another!

 

Beat me to it...

 

Yeah, that surprised the hell out of me to hear they phased it out! It's the only one you can't see and would completely suck if it went flat when you finally do need it! It's a friendly reminder to take it out, air it up and I usually clean it up while it's off the truck (I live in NE and it accumulates quite a bit of sand/salt).

 

They discontinued the Spare TPMS in 2009 thank goodness.
The owners manual now refers to the spare as a temporary spare as there is no TPMS.
Just legal CYA by Toyota.

 

That is a good reminder
My 95 toyota the chain/cable had to get cut off even with the best of maintenance...after about 10 winters that system rusted up pretty good. The spare rode in the bed for the rest of its life....
Also my spare sensor (I have a 06) always likes to go off in winter on the coldest day .. murphys law

 

x2^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Thanks for the welcome. I'm in Herndon.

So the consensus here that the '11 spare doesn't come with TPMS and is mounted on the standard Steel Rim. Must just be another cost saving major.

My last truck was a 01 Dakota 4X4 and it had the same rim and tire as the rest of the original equipment. No TPMS during that era, though. Now I have two cars with no spare tire at all, just run flats on one and a repair kit on the other. At least the Tacoma has a full size spare.

 

If you really want to see for yourself if the tire is on a rim like the rest of the 4 are....go take a peak!