4RunnerFan
New member
I'm wondering how many of you bought your 4Runner new and have your tires rotated. Do you include the spare in each rotation?
Rotate spare tire?
- Thread starter 4RunnerFan
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I don't know about the rest of you guys, but the finish on my spare wheel always seems to get damaged just from being stored under the 4Runner. I first noticed this with my stock Sport Edition wheel when I lowered it for the first time. Several of the spokes were gouged and I have no idea how that could have happened. Then I swapped out my Sport Edition wheels for a set of new FJ Cruiser wheels. I recently dropped the spare again and sure enough the finish on the new spare wheel has several gouges.
I'm not sure how it could be happening because the face of the wheel does not touch the underbody of the 4Runner. I checked to make sure. So since my spare wheel looks like crap now, I will not include it in the tire rotation and I'll only use it if I get a flat.
I'm not sure how it could be happening because the face of the wheel does not touch the underbody of the 4Runner. I checked to make sure. So since my spare wheel looks like crap now, I will not include it in the tire rotation and I'll only use it if I get a flat.
climb.on
New member
I have only taken my spare down once to swap it with one I scratched. My I had to remount the tires and I was good to go. The only thing I noticed on my spare (other than it being really dirty) was that the tire had some pretty good indents from being held up against the underbody. The rim was perfect.
I just rotate fronts and rears. I don't cross them or include the spare.
I just rotate fronts and rears. I don't cross them or include the spare.
riverider said:
Both times? Keep in mind this happened with two new rims, the original Sport Edition spare wheel and the FJ Cruiser wheels that I purchased later on.
And by the way I've also been using a spare tire lock to prevent theft, so it would be virtually impossible for anyone to steal my spare out from under my 4Runner.
darkie3495
Moderator
4RunnerFan said:
Always...every 5,000 miles.
riverider said:
I've never had my 4Runner back to the dealer from the day that I purchased it brand new. I don't know if I've just been lucky, but the only thing my 4Runner has needed is oil & filter changes, which I've done myself. Now that I'm out of the warranty period, it is highly unlikely that my 4Runner will ever see a dealership service bay!
But I still wish I knew how my spare wheel is getting damaged!!!
TechWrench
Senior Member
ABooker said:
With modern radial tires, the myth about cross rotating tires just doesn't fly any more. As long as the tire tread isn't directional, there is no good reason not to change tire rotation direction when crossing from one side to the other. If you check the Bridgestone site, they recommend a cross rotation pattern on 4wd vehicles, and recommend keeping the spare in the rotation. As long as the spare is the same type of tire as the other 4, there is no good reason not to use it. Rotating all 5 will allow the spare to wear at the same rate as the others, and if you do have to use it in an emergency, it will not affect the 4wd system at all. If you want to 'save' it, you are just wasting the tire, and your money.
4RunnerFan
New member
As the original poster of this thread, let me just say "Thanks!!" to all who responded.
The comments, varied as they were, led me to take drastic action. I broke out the owner's manual!
It says the tires are supposed to be rotated every 5,000 miles as follows:
- swap left front with left rear
- right front to be new spare
- right rear to right front
- spare to right rear
Sounds like the spare will always be rotated on the right side.
In my case, I had the tires swapped front to rear at 5,000, but did not include the spare. At 8,800 miles they still look new. I think at 10,000 miles I'll start including the spare per the above instructions.
Thing is, I have a service agreement at a local garage where I get 2 free tire rotations, and I'm sure it doesn't include getting that spare down and back up again (royal PITA), so I'll probably drop it down and put it in the trunk the day I go back and take what will be the new spare out of the trunk and back up again upon returning home.
BTW, I dropped the spare down last summer just to practice the exercise. At 5,000 miles or so it still looked in really good condition.
Thanks again everyone, and all the best. - Ken
The comments, varied as they were, led me to take drastic action. I broke out the owner's manual!
It says the tires are supposed to be rotated every 5,000 miles as follows:
- swap left front with left rear
- right front to be new spare
- right rear to right front
- spare to right rear
Sounds like the spare will always be rotated on the right side.
In my case, I had the tires swapped front to rear at 5,000, but did not include the spare. At 8,800 miles they still look new. I think at 10,000 miles I'll start including the spare per the above instructions.
Thing is, I have a service agreement at a local garage where I get 2 free tire rotations, and I'm sure it doesn't include getting that spare down and back up again (royal PITA), so I'll probably drop it down and put it in the trunk the day I go back and take what will be the new spare out of the trunk and back up again upon returning home.
BTW, I dropped the spare down last summer just to practice the exercise. At 5,000 miles or so it still looked in really good condition.
Thanks again everyone, and all the best. - Ken
martini
New member
I'm debating getting a set of 4 or 5 new tires soon so I dropped my spare to clean it off and it has lots of fine scratches as though sand has rubbed against it. Sounds like it's a common problem, for those of you that do a 5 tire rotation, how do you protect the spare from scratches, does a typical hand wax cover up the scratches? Also if you do a 5 tire rotation every 5000 miles do you get indents on the tire from the "U" looking bracket the tire presses against under there?
martini
New member
Thanks J.A, I keep your page bookmarked for quick reference. Do you have indents on the tire and/or scratches on the spare when you drop the spare to add to your rotation? I see that you've used Griot's Fine Hand Polish on your rims, if you do get scratches from the tire being stored underneath does the polish help?
