Does the spare need to be changed?

chetJ

New member
Hello all,
I have a quick question. Now that I have changed the tires to Michellin MS2s (275/55/20) do I have to change the original spare (Yokohama- 245-60-20)? If I do not, will it cause problems with the AWD system if one of the tires is of a different size? Any input is appreciated!
CJ
 
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Hello all,
I have a quick question. Now that I have changed the tires to Michellin MS2s (275/55/20) do I have to change the original spare (Yokohama- 245-60-20)? If I do not, will it cause problems with the AWD system if one of the tires is of a different size? Any input is appreciated!
CJ

Personally, I would want all tire OD's to be the same.
That's just me. :nod:
 
If you ever have to use your spare and you just want to take it to the closest fix-it shop within a couple of miles... then you would be fine with the oem spare. If you were to use the spare to finish up the last 100 miles of your camping trip, then you would want a spare that has the same diameter so it doesn't wear down your gears and bearings; as well as putting a lot of stress on your differential. Just my $0.02
 
On my last truck (JGC) I left the spare one size smaller then the rest, had a flat and had to drive a few hundred miles back to Denver. I got a warning light about the 4x4 system (it was full time) but otherwise I swapped it back out when I got home. Would I do it again, no, but it didn't seem to be the end of the world.
 
Hello all,
I have a quick question. Now that I have changed the tires to Michellin MS2s (275/55/20) do I have to change the original spare (Yokohama- 245-60-20)? If I do not, will it cause problems with the AWD system if one of the tires is of a different size? Any input is appreciated!
CJ

Short answer:
You're fine, as far as the awd system, running it anything less than semi-permanently, even a few hundred miles if need be. The biggest consideration in that circumstance would be that it's not a matching tire so emergency handling may be compromised.

Long answer:
Tire size calculation puts the difference at .3 inches of diameter which is the equivalent of 5/32 tread depth difference if all tires are new. That number is at the outer edge or perhaps slightly outside of what is considered an acceptable difference by Toyota, however I'm aware of no explicit Toyota statement on the matter. I base it on what is implied by the same side tire rotation recommendation that applied to the 4th gen, too, but where the spare was also expected to be rotated in on one side. If you do the arithmetic on how much difference there could be in tread depth between the tires on opposite sides at the end of tire life, it's in the ball park of 1/4 inch diameter or 4/32nds of tread depth. This 4/32 number appears in other places, as well, when searches are done for various AWD systems and their tolerance to differences in tire sizes. And to state the obvious, as you wear down the tread on the in-service tires, the difference will shrink over time.
 
Last edited:
Short answer:
You're fine, as far as the awd system, running it anything less than semi-permanently, even a few hundred miles if need be. The biggest consideration in that circumstance would be that it's not a matching tire so emergency handling may be compromised.

Long answer:
Tire size calculation puts the difference at .3 inches of diameter which is the equivalent of 5/32 tread depth difference if all tires are new. That number is at the outer edge or perhaps slightly outside of what is considered an acceptable difference by Toyota, however I'm aware of no explicit Toyota statement on the matter. I base it on what is implied by the same side tire rotation recommendation that applied to the 4th gen, too, but where the spare was also expected to be rotated in on one side. If you do the arithmetic on how much difference there could be in tread depth between the tires on opposite sides at the end of tire life, it's in the ball park of 1/4 or 4/32nds. This 4/32 number appears in other places, as well, when searches are done for various AWD systems and their tolerance to differences in tire sizes. And to state the obvious, as you wear down the tread on the in-service tires, the difference will shrink over time.

Great answer @JB! Once upon a time I calculated the difference of distance traveled from left to right side on a full lock turn and then converted it back into diameter difference of tires if going in a straight line. I forgot the results though and unfortunately I am off on Saturdays lol. Good answer though!
 
IMHO, I would change it out. You won't have to question if it's ok or the handling if your ever in a situation that you need it. I always change the spare especially when changing tire sizes.
 

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