We were having a discussion in our shop today re: 4 vs 5 tire rotations and the pros and cons of ea. We couldn't really reach a concensus. Most preferred only doing a 4 tire rotation - this was the most preferred option since it's quick and easy. Those that expressed a preference for a 5 tire rotation say that only rotating 4 means your spare never gets used and may have the sidewalls deformed from sitting in the spare holder for so long so rotating the spare in is better. I can see both sides..... I've always done the 5 tire rotation just so my spare is replaced when I replace the set. A bit more expensive I suppose but most tire mfg don't recommend using tire more than 5yrs old. There are a couple of guys that have 01's w/ 10yr old spares that have never been used - suppose that's ok.

One factor is whether or not your spare is the same rim style as what's on the truck. Most of the 4 tire guys have alum aftermarket rims w/ steel rim spares making a 5 tire rotation scheme a PITA. Those that are doing a 5 rotation have steel rims on the truck so putting the spare on is not a big deal.

Ok, opinions out there? 4 vs 5?

 

The obvious advantage to a 5 tire rotation, is you can get 20% more life out of a set of tires, theoretically.

But I do a 4 tire rotation. Reasons:
1. Spare often is not the same size tire. Only for emergencies.
2. I don't like to have to buy 5 new tires.
3. Spare wheel is not usually a fancy wheel, so rotating it would require dismounting the tires.

Seems to me 5 tire rotations are an old fashioned idea. The car manufacturers have obsoleted the practice by not giving us 5 matching wheels, and also the use of mini-spare tires.

 

I'm doing a 5 tire rotation - my rims all match (have steel rims)
My main reason - like was said above - more tire life. This discussion today was "lively"

 

You may get more tire life, but you lose it when you have to buy 5 tires. So it all comes out in the end.

I do a 4 tire rotation. It's just easier. To do a 5 decently, I'd have to buy another matching aluminum rim. And it seems like I'd almost always have uneven worn tires on the same axle, which I don't care for.

I have a '91 Camry parked out here that has the new Toyo in the spare tire slot that my Dad bought the first year he owned it, to replace the donut spare. The tire is as good as new and I'd have no concern putting it on the car.

 

Yeah. I bought 16 years old Mercedes with original spare.
Had to use it one time. Lasted less than a mile. I could hear the chunks of the thread banging against inner fender.

 

The other part of this debate was "when to rotate" - most guys said around 7k but since I'm rotating in the spare and want to keep the amount of tread as equal as I can so I'm rotating every 5k or close to it as possible. If I had mismatched rims I'd probably be in the 4 tire camp and have the spare mounted when the set was replaced keeping the best of the 4 as the spare so I only need to buy 3 tires until I'm on a 3rd set,

 

The book says 5k, which I don't think a lot of people realize. That's basically every oil change.

 

Another bonus of rotating more often - brakes and susp parts get inspected more often which could catch a problem before it becomes a bigger headache. The youngest truck we have is an 03 so age is definately becoming a factor that can't be ignored for us. Most are on there 3rd or 4th set of tires

 

Yep I run synthetic and change oil every 7500 miles and rotate my tires at that time. I would rotate 5 if they all matched but they don't so.........

 

I do 4 tires....simply because the spare does not match the rest of the tires, both in size and rim type. Same on my wifes sport trac.
But you should always check the air pressure on your spare. Just because you dont use it doesnt mean it wont loose air.

 

I've thought about this as well...

I thought a 5 tire rotaion would be easier... you only have to jack up 1 corner at a time since there is always an unmounted tire waiting for you to put on. I mean in a 4 tire rotation you have to jack one up to take it off, then another to put it on, and you got to wait till you go all the way around until you get the tire to go back on spot 1. Dont know if I explained that right. Guess easiest way is to have all 4 up in the air then no biggie but if your like me you dont have a whole lot of jack stands free at any one time!

I'll be buying my first set of replacement tires/wheels soon... I havent looked, I assume you cant put a much oversized tire under the bed. Does anyone know just how big will fit?

 

My stock tires only clear the spare holder by about two inches - a bigger tire will probably fit. Just not a lot bigger

 

I do the 4 tire rotation and have never had to use the spare on my last 2 trks. Each of them lasted 10-12 years. As was said you usually have a steel wheel for a spare but now with the tpms required they don't put one on the spare. That means having to spend the money to by another wheel and tpm if you want to rotate 5

 

I'm not sure why anyone rotates their own tires in the driveway. Free rotation comes with a set of tires just about everywhere. Why not use it. Get them balanced while you are at it. Your lady friends will thank you.

 

I take my truck in to the tire shop to have them rotated. Two guys, two air wrenches and 4 floor jacks and they're done in 5 minutes. And they have the torque wrench that I don't. The only problem I've had with them is occasionally they'll let one of the air wrenches put a lug nut on too tight. But that doesn't happen very often.

Edit: And while they're doing it, I stick my head under there and look at the brakes and stuff.