Check your Spare Tire

[graysquirrel]

Learned that the Limited has a TPMS sensor in the spare tire.

Massive cold front came thru Texas and we went from temps in the 80's to right around 40 degrees.

Got out of work to find my TPMS light on.

Got home and all my 4 tires went from 36 psi down to 31 psi. So, aired them back up.

Light still on. Checked manual. Dropped spare.

Spare tire was at 25 psi. Aired it back to 40 psi.

Had me scratching my head for a bit.

 

[srpuywa]

SR5 spare (steel wheel ) no TPMS

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

Should be checked regularly no matter what just so it's good if you need it. Should also be lubing up the cable or chain and winch a few times a year for the same reason.

 

[docsnavely]

SR5 spare (steel wheel ) no TPMS

If that's the case, I wouldn't assume that for other trims with steelies. I have an '18 pro and have had the tpms go off for the spare's pressure. Even the 2010 prius we had and the 2013 prius c we currently own had/have tpms in their trunk donut.

 

[itzkevin]

If that's the case, I wouldn't assume that for other trims with steelies. I have an '18 pro and have had the tpms go off for the spare's pressure. Even the 2010 prius we had and the 2013 prius c we currently own had/have tpms in their trunk donut.

so all of those vehicles of yours had a metal valve stem on the spare??

 

[docsnavely]

so all of those vehicles of yours had a metal valve stem on the spare??

Yup. Come to think of it, the 2015 limited we had also had it, but Toyota was generous enough back then to include a matching 20" limited wheel as a spare.

And it wouldn't have been specific to any port because we bought the Prii in Florida and the 4Runners in Washington.

 

[J.F. Sebastian]

There was a post once about a guy sealing one TPMS sensor into a small, capped PVC pipe with a schrader fitting on one end attached to his frame and regular valve stems in all his wheels...

 

[flyrv9]

I don't have the 5th TPMS sensor for the spare either. Perhaps it won't fit in a steel wheel; so I lower the spare (valve points up and can't be reached) and check it every 6mo or when going on a trip. Although kind of a PITA, it's good practice as getting the rod in to lower the spare is a little tricky.

 

[srpuywa]

I don't have the 5th TPMS sensor for the spare either. Perhaps it won't fit in a steel wheel; so I lower the spare (valve points up and can't be reached) Just lower it and turn it over

I check it about twice a year and if its low put 50 psi in it

 

[flyrv9]

I don't think it fits well if turned over due to the offset. Also that leaves the valve stem unprotected which is possibly why it's installed up in the first place. Not that big a deal.

 

[graysquirrel]

Guess with the 2018 limited it is an full-sized spare tire. Matches the existing wheels exactly. The sensor is pointed up and seemed to be quite protected up against the truck bottom.

I've switched over to 17" SR5 wheels and tires so I think 3 or 4 years down the road I will pick up a single 17" SR5 wheel and get 5 tires the next tire change and change out the spare so all match at that time.

 

[mallurunner]

Had the opportunity to buy a 19 4runner on Monday, took it home and had a flat tire on Tuesday. :hurt: Put the full size spare on and drove it to the dealership. Fun filled rainy Texas morning.

 

[flyrv9]

I think all 4Runners have full sized spares. Some models like the Limited and perhaps the TRD have matching rims while the SR5 has a steel rim like mine with no TPMS. In 4 years we had 1 flat tire my wife had while driving home. She called and I changed it in a parking lot in the rain as it was getting dark. That's why practicing lowering the spare and using the jack helped.

 

[abq sfr]

Why change a tire?

I can't understand why everyone doesn't just carry one of those cheap 12 volt air pumps. Unless you break the bead or destroy the tire its so much easier to pump up a flat than change the tire. I've always been able to get to a tire repair shop even if I can hear hissing. Of course offroad in the boonies could be a different story...

 

[L8Shift]

I don't have the 5th TPMS sensor for the spare either. Perhaps it won't fit in a steel wheel; .......

Steel wheels typically take a different TPMS sensor than a alloy wheel. Sensor itself may be angled differently, the stem is shorter. :keyboard:

 

[Tino87]

Similar Issue

2016 Limited 4WD 33k miles

A week ago I got a nail in my drivers side rear tire. Not patchable. Put the spare on. Tech advised the spare was 'brand new' and had not been rotated. New tire at 10/32, all other tires at 4-5/32. Tech advised to change the passenger side rear to avoid drive train issues. I declined - it is currently under lease and fully dealer maintained. Contacted dealer multiple times that week to discuss the issue - various responses to the extent of 'you'll be fine.' Unsatisified with the response I escalated to Toyota - submitted to dealer Customer Relations Manager (CRM). Went in Friday to dealer. Met with CRM and service manager. He told me there is no concern, I reiterated my concern that they did not follow the tire rotation required by the service manual, to include spare, which put me in this position. After much back and forth they agreed to replace the other tire on the same rear axel with a new one.

So now I have two worn front tires with 4-5/32 and two new rear tires with 10-11/32. It could just be in my head, but the drive feels different since the spare was put on and even after a match was put on the other side of the rear axel. Minor friction feel at pedal, torque resistance, minor vibrations, etc when accelerating or cruising on highway.

Lease is up in a month and I planned on buying the car. Will replace front two tires and spare if so - otherwise I have lease insurance to cover. Concerned about damage being done to LSD/diff/drive train components. Searched the forum and found various opinions especially related to 4/5 rotations and similar thoughts. What is the bottom line? Does the torsion set-up help? Is the front/rear 5/32 difference damaging the drive train? TIA.

Tino