do you rotate your spare in with your other tires?

[chris777]

I went in to Discount Tires to buy a 5th BFG Mud Terrain and have them rotate my tires that only have 5k on them.

And they told me that you never mix in the spare tire into the rotation. I was surprised. Is that right?

If were to buy a 5th BFG Mud Terrain, and I hold onto these tires for 6 years, that spare will just sit and rot under my truck or on the back of my tailgate if I get a carrier, and might never be used before it is thrown away when I buy a new set in 6 years (I am only putting 4k, tops, a year on my truck).

 

[BG_TX]

I rotate my own tires (mud terrains) and include the spare in the rotation... I also do cross-rotation with no noticeable ill effects (at least not to me but I'm a nub so what do I know).This is the rotation pattern I use...http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xkFrXZhchqE/SYfJF3ohVUI/AAAAAAAAG-A/iJTW90v0V8Q/5TireRotation.jpg

 

[chris777]

thanks! they told me that if I put the spare into the rotation, it wouldn't match the other 3, because it has more tread.

 

[BG_TX]

I'm not sure of the impacts by adding a new tire to rotation 5k miles later, I wouldn't imagine it is a major issue but I guess it depends entirely on overall wear of the existing tires (but I'm not a 'tire guy'). I rotate mine when I change the oil (appr 3k miles) in hopes of getting a little more life out of them and the wear is fairly even on all of them.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

yeah...so maybe skip swapping the "spare" off the front drivers(when it's time) back to the spare position for a few rotations till the tread is closer to the other 4. Next set I get will be 5 matching and I will include the spare in the rotation.

 

[Heckraiser]

If you rotate them pretty frequently, the difference in tread will be negligible. However if you don't rotate the spare in, and then need to use it in 4 years from now, the difference in tread will be much bigger.

Rotate in the spare and don't let a good tire go to waste.

 

[BattleWagon]

I rotate my spare in, 33x10.5 BFG ATs. No issues.

 

[Mace]

It is "best" to be able to rotate the spare tire in. However, My spare rim is not the same as the rest of my wheels and the tire is a mud terrain instead of an all terrain. So, I don't do it.

I don't on my other vehicles as well. I don't see it as a huge issue either way..

If you are concerned about the tire rotting, put a cover on it.

Sun kills tires quickly, keeping the sunlight off of it will make it last a very long time.

 

[tperry616]

I probably wouldn't(because it's rotted and useless), even if I could get it out from under there.

 

[Biche]

I probably wouldn't(because it's rotted and useless), even if I could get it out from under there.

I remove mine this summer, for the first time since it came out of the factory. The spare tire holder just rust out in my hand and tire fell on the floor! Since I need a winter set and still have the stock size tire, I just put a winter tire for spare during summer, I won't try to run that tire that lived 25 years under my truck!

 

[chris777]

Tirerack.com says
Five (5) Tire Rotation

While many vehicles are equipped with temporary spares that cannot be included in a tire rotation program, if the vehicle’s four wheels and tires on the ground match the spare wheel and tire (if non-directional and not branded "for temporary use"), they should be included in the tire rotation pattern. Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended tire rotation procedures, or if not available, insert the spare in the right rear position at every rotation. Place the tire that would have gone to the right rear in the trunk as the spare until the next tire rotation.

Tire Tech Information - Tire Rotation Instructions

 

[Tapage]

I rotate my own tires (mud terrains) and include the spare in the rotation... I also do cross-rotation with no noticeable ill effects (at least not to me but I'm a nub so what do I know).This is the rotation pattern I use...http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xkFrXZhchqE/SYfJF3ohVUI/AAAAAAAAG-A/iJTW90v0V8Q/5TireRotation.jpg

I rotate mines with this diagram ( inverted ) as regular basis .. 10K km or year .. what happen first .. so far happy with results ..