Spare tire and AWD

[rs2k]

My four tires are close to needing to be replaced. They probably have about 2 mm before they hit the wear strip. The spare tire looks to have never been used before and is a different brand. If I get a flat will I ruin something if I use it? When I replace my tires should I replace 4 or 5 tires?

 

[Turdle]

IMO if the spare looks good, hide it back up there and get 4 tires. As long as you treat the spare like a spare, meaning you drive right to the tire shop to fix the flat, it should be fine. One thing of concern though would be the date code on the spare tire. If it is already over 6 years old, keep in mind it will have to live life under the truck for another few years. It may crack and become useless.

 

[koda2000]

i'd take your best old tire and mount that as your spare. your old spare is probably old and dry rotting. if you get a flat, you should be fine using the spare like you would a donut spare. the AWD system works best if all the tires are the same make/brand and are very close to the same thread depth. the big problem with AWD is that if you ruin one tire and the other three are 1/2 worn, it's recommended you buy 4 new tires. that sucks, and that's one reason why i'm not a big AWD fan.

 

[rs2k]

Would it matter if the spare tire is on the front or rear? For example, if I blow a front should I move a rear to the front and put the spare on the back?

 

[koda2000]

Would it matter if the spare tire is on the front or rear? For example, if I blow a front should I move a rear to the front and put the spare on the back?

i don't think it would make a difference.

 

[dcdyd]

My spare is original and 15 years old and I have never used it. I check tire pressure once every year and make sure that there is no leak of the air.

I should be OK to use it for a short period of time in case of a flat, right?

 

[rs2k]

I think my spare is the original. It looks to be in better shape than the tires that sit out in the weather though. I don't think I'd ever have to go more than 200 miles in the event of a flat.

 

[obie]

With the AWD, if you have one tire that's more than 3/32nds different in circumference, it can cause the viscous coupler in the transfer case to break. These are about $300 for just the part.

You might be able to get away with it for a very short distance, but is it worth the risk? Probably not. Your best bet in case of a flat is to get a tow to the tire shop and get 4 brand new tires. If your spare was the same exact tire as the other 4, and included in your tire rotation, then one tire going bad isn't a problem. With any AWD/4WD vehicle, the spare should be the exact same tire and included in every rotation. Otherwise, it's pretty much useless.

This is the downside to any AWD or 4WD vehicle. However, if your tires were new, and you had one go bad, you don't necessarily need 4 brand new tires. If you order another one of the same manufacturer, model, and size, there are shops that will do what is called tire shaving, where they will take your new tire to the exact size of the other three to prevent damage to your transfer case. Tire Rack does this, and you may have some other place near you that does as well. The downside to tire shaving is that it voids treadlife warranties.

 

[SoNic67]

A tire that stayed under car for 10 years or more is not to be trusted anymore. On this forum I read about somebody that put a similar "good looking" spare in place of a flat just to have an explosion a few miles latter...

 

[rs2k]

My dilemma is this:

I don't drive enough to justify buying 5 tires since they are going to get old before they wear out. An extra tire is close to the cost of the parts in the AWD they are supposed to protect (Don't care about labor. I do my own work.). I think keeping an old tire as a spare along with a tire patch kit and an air compressor (Already have both in the car at all times, along with an emergency tool box) will be more than adequate in my case. AAA might be a good idea as well.

 

[koda2000]

My dilemma is this:

I don't drive enough to justify buying 5 tires since they are going to get old before they wear out. An extra tire is close to the cost of the parts in the AWD they are supposed to protect (Don't care about labor. I do my own work.). I think keeping an old tire as a spare along with a tire patch kit and an air compressor (Already have both in the car at all times, along with an emergency tool box) will be more than adequate in my case. AAA might be a good idea as well.

i hear ya. i don't even carry a spare on my daily driver Mountianeer. i would if i were going on a trip, but 99% of my driving's around town and honestly, it's been over twenty years since i had a real flat (a few slow leaks yes) so i figure, why carry the extra weight around with me.

 

[FIND]

Get AAA

/thread

 

[drdoom]

Get five and do the five tire rotation, you cannot deny the obvious advantages IF you don't mind shelling out the extra coin.