So, what about that spare?

[philsey]

I'm prepping for a several weeks-long road trip and decided it would be smart to check my spare - since I've never touched it since new.

Lesson #1: To assemble the tire-lowering crank/rod-thingy you'll need a pliers or phillips screwdriver, as the screws are painted shut. I mention this as I do not typically carry tools, and this might have been a show stopper at the side of the road. (Maybe I'll carry some basics beyond a Leatherman).

Lesson #2: The chain-winding mechanism is exposed to the elements, and it did work, but reluctantly. So a good hosing with WD40 was in order.

Lesson #3: The pressure in the spare was 15#. Plus the valve cap was missing, and the needle valve had crudded up and stuck open when I put my pressure gauge on it. So I disassembled that and cleaned it.

Lesson #3A: For those of you who mistakenly assume that the spare has TPMS, see #3.

I'm a firm believer in PM, but I guess the spare gets overlooked. Mine was.

 

[Avalanche]

Here is an excellent thread from a few years ago with pictures describing the spare and the various issues. I highly recommend getting the 3-piece thing out of the spare compartment and practice putting it together in the comfort of your own garage, or, better yet, just have it already put together and just part of the back with other safety gear. Sure beats trying to put it together in the dark on the side of the highway. Better safe than sorry.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/132890-not-wheel-change-i-had-mind-flat.html

 

[Intruder]

For the first part of #3, always carry a compressor. A $100 one will do fine for stock-sized P-rated tires and even LT tires in emergencies. I always go with the assumption that my spare will not be properly inflated if I need it.

 

[drewser]

For the first part of #3, always carry a compressor.

Amen. At the very least, hopefully it will let you quickly air up a flat for long enough to get the truck off a busy highway/freeway to safely change the tire.

 

[wfo9]

For the first part of #3, always carry a compressor. A $100 one will do fine for stock-sized P-rated tires and even LT tires in emergencies. I always go with the assumption that my spare will not be properly inflated if I need it.

And a tire plug kit to go along with that compressor. Always nice to have options.

 

[Intruder]

And a tire plug kit to go along with that compressor. Always nice to have options.

As long as you know how to use the plug kit properly. I've seen people lose a plug while driving because it wasn't done right.

 

[Bad_Influence]

If you are reading this and you don't have a philips screwdriver in your 4runner right now, stop and go put one in the spare tire jack kit. it is essential to changing a tire the right way with the stock kit toyota provided.
Of course, this only applies to folks who would actually change their own flat tires.

 

[1engineer]

Two things:
1. Thanks [MENTION=51186]philsey[/MENTION] for giving us a good "PSA" thread topic. There should be more of them.

2. Question: When was the last time someone here had a flat on the side of the road? Do not count off road.

Reasoning:
Vehicle manufacturers are basically doing away with spare tires on a lot of vehicles. Is it because
a. We are getting less flats due to better roads and better tires
b. Cost or profit
c. Space constraints
d. Too technical for the average driver.

Now, I have been off road in several countries while traveling for my job. Some of thoses places are a loooonnnnnng way away from anywhere so a flat could mean literally a difference between life or death. One of these places was the M53 section of the Trans Siberian highway about 20 years ago. These guys don't carry a compressor or a plug kit. They carry additional spares! The SUV I was riding in had three spare tires and around 40 gallons of fuel. Toyota LC BTW.

 

[Okki]

As long as you know how to use the plug kit properly. I've seen people lose a plug while driving because it wasn't done right.

Pick up a cheap/free junk rim + tire at a junk place and punch a hole in it in your garage. If you don't want to use your fancy kit, get some cheaper replacement parts for your tire plug kit and PRACTICE.... Better to learn how to do it in your warm garage than on the side of the road or trail in less than ideal conditions.

Just because your have the pretty (and adventurously cool) orange box in your truck doesn't mean you know how to use it. You can pay for education in the warm confines of your garage, or pay for painful lessons on the side of the road. The latter is usually more expensive and less comfortable.

Okki

 

[harkco]

Two things:
1. Thanks [MENTION=51186]philsey[/MENTION] for giving us a good "PSA" thread topic. There should be more of them.

2. Question: When was the last time someone here had a flat on the side of the road? Do not count off road.

Reasoning:
Vehicle manufacturers are basically doing away with spare tires on a lot of vehicles. Is it because
a. We are getting less flats due to better roads and better tires
b. Cost or profit
c. Space constraints
d. Americans have become so fat, lazy and disinterested that automakers have decided that changing a tire is way too complicated and tiresome for the average American.

Is this true? That is crazy! I can't imagine driving a vehicle without a spare. Just driving around the city, I bet I use a spare at least twice a year between my vehicle and my wife's GX. Of course the roads in Houston suck and are littered with construction debris.

 

[bpwwer]

I'm prepping for a several weeks-long road trip and decided it would be smart to check my spare - since I've never touched it since new.

Thanks for posting this. After getting my 2015 home, I looked in the compartment to verify that all the tire changing gear was there and added a few other safety items. But I assumed that it all worked pretty much the same as it did in my 2006.

My first tire change in the 2006 happened in the middle of nowhere Utah on a rough gravel road. I don't remember needing any other tools to get everything together for that. The most challenging part was trying to get the 4runner positioned so it wouldn't fall off the jack and roll down the ravine. When I had to do it again a couple of days later (the stock tires did not like Utah gravel roads) it was in a less precarious location and went much faster.

Now I'm going to go pull everything out again and make sure everything works since I'm back running stock tires on the new one.

 

[Intruder]

2. Question: When was the last time someone here had a flat on the side of the road? Do not count off road.

I think about 15+ years ago for me (full on flat, not counting slow leaks due to a nail or screw in the tire).

Reasoning:
Vehicle manufacturers are basically doing away with spare tires on a lot of vehicles. Is it because
a. We are getting less flats due to better roads and better tires
b. Cost or profit
c. Space constraints
d. Americans have become so fat, lazy and disinterested that automakers have decided that changing a tire is way too complicated and tiresome for the average American.

I think it's a combination of some of what you listed as well as shaving any weight to meet CAFE regulations and because of roadside assistance that comes with new vehicles.

Pick up a cheap/free junk rim + tire at a junk place and punch a hole in it in your garage. If you don't want to use your fancy kit, get some cheaper replacement parts for your tire plug kit and PRACTICE.... Better to learn how to do it in your warm garage than on the side of the road or trail in less than ideal conditions.

Yeah, this is how I learned. You also want to over inflate the tire after you've plugged it to make sure it holds. If not, time to start over until you get it right.

 

[blakjack23]

I remember the last time I had a car tire blow out. It was in my '95 Taurus SHO and the year was 1997.

However, I had a trailer tire blow last year and that sucked. Part of the bearing housing seized to the axle so I couldn't get a spare hub on the axle. 2 hours home to pickup friends bobcat trailer, 2 hours back to pick up broken trailer, then 2 hours back home again.

 

[philsey]

Question: When was the last time someone here had a flat on the side of the road? Do not count off road.
.

Good question. I cannot even remember the last time for me. The wifey ran over a bolt a couple years ago and the TPMS caught it in time to repair.

Vehicle manufacturers are basically doing away with spare tires on a lot of vehicles. Is it because
c. Space constraints
.

My BIL drives a Volvo Convert HT. His spare is a can of Fix-A-Flat. He ruined a low profile wheel and tire from a pothole and the F-A-F didn't work. That whole episode cost him, big-time.

 

[rochmpr]

Doing a 5 tire rotation at regular intervals and checking tire pressure at this time will eliminate all of that plus give you plenty of experience in using the "kit" to lower & raise the tire. But, I get the the spare is a steel wheel versus the stock aluminum, which makes it almost worth picking up an extra matching spare so this can be done. Keeps the tires in good condition and you get an extra couple of miles.

 

[jrandom]

Good reminder!

I try to remember to use that damn thing every so often. I had to cut the chain lift off my old truck with a torch, it had rust welded itself together, consider that lesson learned.

Reasoning:
Vehicle manufacturers are basically doing away with spare tires on a lot of vehicles. Is it because
a. We are getting less flats due to better roads and better tires
b. Cost or profit
c. Space constraints
d. Too technical for the average driver.

e. all of the above ?

Now, I have been off road in several countries while traveling for my job. Some of thoses places are a loooonnnnnng way away from anywhere so a flat could mean literally a difference between life or death. One of these places was the M53 section of the Trans Siberian highway about 20 years ago. These guys don't carry a compressor or a plug kit. They carry additional spares! The SUV I was riding in had three spare tires and around 40 gallons of fuel. Toyota LC BTW.

Old adage "two is one, one is none" comes to mind

 

[cjacob316]

I keep a full tool set including an impact driver in my runner for work, so I picked up a deep socket for the lugs to make things a little quicker for a tire change. I also have a simple, but nice full ratchet/driver set in a soft case my father gave me a long time ago that fits pretty much anywhere in the car including the glove box. I also keep two jacks in my vehicle at all times because I have had three different oem jacks break on me while changing a tire. Two of them the bottle style that comes with our 4runners, they decided they didn't want to go high enough to allow the new tire on the vehicle. The scissor jack flat out broke and dropped my suv, luckily I slowed the fall down enough to prevent damage. I also keep a small cheap slime brand pump from walmart in the back. It fit perfectly in the closed compartment in the rear of my 4th gen, and could reach any tire without being pulled out, it's not fast, but I was easily able to add 20 lbs to a tire with a leak a couple times before i could get new tires, well worth the small amount I paid for it. Do not trust built in gauge though.

Two things:
1. Thanks [MENTION=51186]philsey[/MENTION] for giving us a good "PSA" thread topic. There should be more of them.

2. Question: When was the last time someone here had a flat on the side of the road? Do not count off road.

I have gotten a few, we have some narrow roads with high curbs and sharp edges, especially on storm drains in this town so when I first moved here I had a habit of tearing sidewalls. I've also had my fair share of screws and nails, but the pump has been the most used tool in the last few years.

 

[1engineer]

Doing a 5 tire rotation at regular intervals and checking tire pressure at this time will eliminate all of that plus give you plenty of experience in using the "kit" to lower & raise the tire. But, I get the the spare is a steel wheel versus the stock aluminum, which makes it almost worth picking up an extra matching spare so this can be done. Keeps the tires in good condition and you get an extra couple of miles.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/130567-5-vs-4-tire-rotation.html

Here is a little analysis of 5 versus 4 tire rotations. You would lose money but gain in maintaining your spare tire apparatus.

 

[Lester Lugnut]

Philsey's post got me to thinking. Best to review this before it's needed.

Wife has the 4Runner today, so I went online to look at the owners manual.

Section -> If your vehicle needs to be towed

Page 433 -> If you have a flat tire

You will need the following item:

Phillips screwdriver


I take it Philsey's tool bag did not have a Phillips in it. How nice of Toyota to tell you this while you're on the side of the road reading the owners manual.

Yeah...I know...shoulda read it beforehand. Just sayin'.

Phillips goes in the bag when she gets home tonight.

 

[Magnetic4R]

I just had a sidewall blow out last week @5am, dark and cold. This was my first flat ever. I instantly realized this was not going to be fun changing out the driver side flat on the freeway when cars and semi going 65+ and it did not help when I discovered the tools was painted shut. I was very fortunate that a road side asst vehicle came by within 5mins and offer a free service. I was instantly relief. But yes, those are all valid point to keep in mind for future references. I'm looking for a tire compressor/inflator at the moment. Any recommendation? Viair 88P?