Do you/should you rotate in your spare?

Input?

 

If I had a full size spare I would. That way the whole set gets worn down evenly.

 

It is personal preference. The spare on mine was a different type (Firestone Destination spare versus Toyo A30s) mounted on a steelie with no TPMS sensor.

I believe the OR has the same GY Wrangler for the spare, but you'd still be on a steelie with no TPMS.

With the Carista App and OBD adapter or TechStream and a Tactrix USB adapter, you can easily update the TPMS sensor IDs.

My preference is for four tire rotations. I cross rotate every 10k.

 

This is correct. What would happen if there was a TPMS in the spare? I thought I read a thread where a dude had one but can't remember how the system sorted it out.

As far as rotations go, I'm at 18k and have not cross rotated yet. Maybe at 20k I will just do a double-cross!
Never used the spare in my rotations but I probably would if it wasn't on a steelie with no TPMS....

 

I read that the ECU can only hold 4 TMPS sensors at a time, so each time the 5th wheel gets rotated in, it'd have to be programmed again.

I have an OR with a matching spare wheel and tire and added TPMS, but I haven't rotated it in yet, so I can't speak from personal experience.

 

That thread was a mess. They got in a circle jerk about the aftermarket scanner / programmer that still didn't do what they wanted.

Basically, the system doesn't care about the fifth TPMS. It will just live back there until you manually swap it in.

 

Since I have a full-sized spare on a matching wheel and don't need to deal with TPMS, then I rotate mine in so they wear evenly. I switch up tire size/brand every time so there's no sense in having a brand new one that will no longer match the next set.

edit: I only have a matching spare because I go wheeling and it's a necessity. It's saved me 3-4 times now because I'm always tearing sidewalls apparently. If I didn't need one, then I wouldn't have one nor rotate anything in.

 

That is correct. Also, you will see five slots in TechStream. That fifth slot does nothing on the 3rd Gen as TS is a universal tool.

Note that position is not important when programming other than knowing which sensor is in which tire. The TPMS Reset button will relearn each position while driving. Amazingly, @Jeff Lange said that it measures signal strength to determine the positions.

 

Seems like you're paying for an extra tire that you may not need if you're rotating all 5. A decent tire, stored under the bed and out of the sun ought to be good for quite a while before it dry rots out, probably longer than the set of tires being worn I think.

I usually just a get a mediocre used tire for the spare anyway, so replacing it every 6-8 years is no big deal.

 

So I could manually swap the spare TPMS in using TS as long as I know the ID's of all the sensors? Does the ID come displayed on the packaging when you get a new sensor? Don't want to buy another scanner/tool....

 

It would be a significant increase in the PITA factor!

 

Yes. You can read the Sensor IDs physically. You can screenshot your existing ones.

That's the problem. LoL! The scanner / programmers are like $250. Why bother when TS is free and you already have a Tactrix.

 

I had discount put a sensor in my spare. I just drop it off and the do the 5 tire rotation, easy and effective. And I have a real tire/matching rim in case of emergency. They reprogram the sensors each time to keep the computer happy

 

I do a five-tire rotation on my truck. Bought five of the same wheels/tires when I upgraded from stock. No 5th TPMS sensor. The one rubber valve just cruises through the rotation pattern and has never given any issues. I could care less about the TPMS system anyway, although if it was flashing an idiot light at me I'd get annoyed. It doesn't.

If you wear four of your tires down significantly and never use the fifth, then when you need to use it you might get a wheel speed sensor error if you have to travel far at speed. This is because the unused tire is literally larger in diameter by a significant amount and will rotate more slowly than the worn, used tire on the other side. I know this sounds nuts, but it is true.

 

I bought a used, near-mint OR wheel and an extra TPMS sensor b/c I don't like the "look" of the spare. Planning to stick with stock tires for a few years though but contemplating going a little bigger in the future. Not sure yet on 5 tire rotation vs 4. But my perspective is, since the truck allows a full size spare, why not have a setup ready to get up and go if you do destroy one tire/wheel. Granted it'd be highly unusual to trash the actual wheel itself but it _could_ happen. And isn't it nice to _not_ feel an obligation to swap back once the spare is on? Or at least have 100% confidence that all your wheels are good to go?

I had a donut for my prius, had to swap it in twice, and I was always tentative about driving on it. Granted the stock steel spare is fully capable but still, it looks UGLY so no way you're going to just leave it on after you swap right?

The only thing I can't decide yet is, should I buy a new tire for the new wheel and have 6, keeping the stock spare in my storage locker for a super oh-s sort of situation? Or just swap the tire, sell the stock spare and be done with it?

I suppose there may be some argument against carrying a nice clean wheel clamped in the spare location? But I would expect any scratches would be on the inside and not visible?

Mostly I wanted a legit spare just because and I figured might as well get the TPMS while I'm at it, but not gonna pony up for a tool nor am I planning to do my own rotations b/c my driveway isn't safe enough for that.

 

Also true, I agree. But I often travel in areas where it takes hours to get, well... anywhere. So I may be a little paranoid.

I think Toyota mentions (can't remember in what publication but I swear I've seen it) the warning light taking 10-20 minutes of driving to activate?

 

That's why I am living with 265/70R17 ATs and the 265/65R17 stock spare. When I swap these out, I will keep one and spoon it on.

 

That is a perfectly reasonable situation. If I was truly out like that, I'd have a different scheme.


No. The TPMS updates near real time. Some folks use that screen when airing up / down.

 

No, never have.

 

I used to rotate 5 of same tires/wheels, but times have changed. TPMS issue makes this a royal pain.
Until around 10 years ago I had the expectation that I would be using the spare with some regularity. I live in a place where there is lots of sharp lava rock on and sticking out beside the roads, and I am often in and out of construction sites with nails and sharp metal. All OEM and most other tires would create on road drama. Now I switch out the OEM tires right away and look for some fool who will buy them.
Running KO2's in E Range (and the Michelin LTX Defenders on my wife's previous ride) and changing them out at 30K miles, it's been more than a decade since we've used a spare.
So we rotate 4, and make sure to check the air in the (OEM) spare twice a year or so, just in case.