My plan was to rotate myself for this reason but man those 35's are heavy!The worst part of it is getting the tire shop to do it the same way every time. Seems there's not as much consensus on what position the spare rotates into.
My plan was to rotate myself for this reason but man those 35's are heavy!The worst part of it is getting the tire shop to do it the same way every time. Seems there's not as much consensus on what position the spare rotates into.
If your TJ is a daily, I think it is worth rotating the spare, particularly if you don't use a spare tire cover to shut out the UV and even if you do a tire comes with a DOT manufacture date stamped into it and once its over five years old it's not roadworthy here in AU and needs to be replaced. A tire fitter wont even fit a tire that's over five years old here in AU and that's a good thing, I've seen too many disintegrate from age, It's common over here to see trailers stranded because they didn't pay attention to the age of the tires.I don't rotate in the spare
Yeah, I know all about the date codes and UV issues. I have a motorhome as well which its even a bigger issue for as it can sit for long stretches in the sun without moving. I keep the spare covered so UV doesn't kill it. I look at the spare as more of something to get me off the road so I don't worry about it as much. Also, as you point out, my TJ isn't my daily, but then again, I don't rotate the spare on my daily either. I don't know if it's a thing in AU, but we have (or at least used to have, not sure about currently) these little donut spare tires which are limited to about 40mph. I'd rather have a full size older spare than one of those.If your TJ is a daily, I think it is worth rotating the spare, particularly if you don't use a spare tire cover to shut out the UV and even if you do a tire comes with a DOT manufacture date stamped into it and once its over five years old it's not roadworthy here in AU and needs to be replaced. A tire fitter wont even fit a tire that's over five years old here in AU and that's a good thing, I've seen too many disintegrate from age, It's common over here to see trailers stranded because they didn't pay attention to the age of the tires.
We all know running oversized tires exasperates the effects of poor handling but coupled with old or worn out tires posses a big risk so you might as well get some use out of the spare that you should be getting rid of once it's past its use by date.
That's it! if you are aware and can somewhat mitigate the risk then it's not so bad.This is just what I do and the risks I'm willing to take.
I am glad I do my own rotation.
...already thereuntil I am to damn old to lift a 35
I missed the bit about the "little donut spare" and I know it's a late post but I wanted to respond. Yes! they are a thing here and becoming commonplace but they come with more issues than running 35's on a TJ!I don't know if it's a thing in AU, but we have (or at least used to have, not sure about currently) these little donut spare tires which are limited to about 40mph. I'd rather have a full size older spare than one of those.
Yup, you and I are on the same page. Who knows what will happen. Maybe those "runflat" tires will become federally mandated in the states, or as a required option for manufacturers who don't want to supply a spare. I've used those little donut spares in a pinch when there was no other option. Good enough to limp you to where you are going, but ya gotta be careful. This comes back to knowing and understanding the risk you are taking. It always amazes me how many people survive on ignorance and luck.I missed the bit about the "little donut spare" and I know it's a late post but I wanted to respond. Yes! they are a thing here and becoming commonplace but they come with more issues than running 35's on a TJ!
Well, not quite but reality is...
The humble spare tire that was simple, practical and convenient has become complicated, potentially hazardous and unlawful.
Traffic authorities (in AU), say there is no legal requirement for car makers to provide spares, so if your driving a car with no spare and get a flat in a peak traffic area you wait hours for roadside assist.
Then you have the manufacturers that say they are under pressure by consumers to provide a spare but the safety issues - as you well point out - related to driving on a wheelbarrow tire have been in the foreground recently with our traffic authorities because it's unlawful for a car to run on a tyre of a different width, tread or diameter from the other three wheels attracting a fine and or defect notice.
A full-sized spare is often part of the rear crush system on many cars so eliminating it raises safety issues.
Insurance companies can avoid a claim if the vehicle is outside state laws so don't have a mishap if you need to fit one, that's an issue.
There was a Honda Civic that was tested with a donut spare and the speedometer error was out 10 percent rendering it unroadworthy in my state.
Storing the flat full sized tyre In some sports cars once the temporary spare has been fitted provides interesting problem solving skills - you've picked up your girlfriend, got a puncher, you put on the donut but the full size flat won't fit in the boot so you're going to find out if she loves you when you ask her to nurse your dirty old flat tire all the way home, Oh, and don't forget to disable the airbag because that could get seriously hazardous, better call Roadside assistance!
The percentage of drivers that can't or won't change a tire is so high and growing quickly - when the cupcake generation don't realise how easy it is to just fix it and get on your way instead of calling out roadside assist - that before long manufacturas will lose the spare all together in favor of more trunk space and fuel savings.
Although none of this affects me while I drive a TJ, I get the feeling that it's going to present the opportunity in the not too distant future to again utter the phrase "This wasn't never a problem with my generation".
Around 500-600 especially if the wheels are goodUgh, I hate making decisions. LOL
Related question, if I got new wheels/tires I'd sell what I've got. Which are 30x9.5 General Grabbers that were brand new a year ago, have maybe 5k miles on them. I didn't buy them, bought the TJ and that's what it came with. Spare is a matching OEM wheel, but not a matching tire. It's a Wrangler tire, same size at least.
What do you think I could get for the full set?
It's these wheels.
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Thats just an idiots guide to rotation. I hand it to whichever 19 yr old tech is doing it. Easier to not screw it up that way. Lol.I really dont think the exact pattern matters as much as getting each tire at each position and the patterns is consistent.
Around 500-600 especially if the wheels are good
Good luck.. like the color... those ravine wheels are nice!.. if you can keep them you might be glad down the road that u did!!Oh wow, nice. I may look into upgrading anyway then. The wheels on mine are so nice I suspect they might have been new as well. If the backspacing was right for wider tires I would just run them. I don't really care for spacers, would rather have the right wheels.
Anyway, thanks for the opinions. I think I'm going to stay with my original plan for a matching spare. Kinda like these wheels, if I'm buying new.
Random pic pulled from internet, mine is Khaki metallic.
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