Aside from the longer life, the ability to only need one jack to rotate is the biggest reason why I rotate all 5 around.I do.
I didn't have a matched spare when I got my Jeep. The dealship where I purchased had put new tires on the ground, but not the spare. I later matched the spare so I could do all 5 at the same time.
Rotating them all at the same time means I only have one tire removed at a time. No need to drag out jackstands; I just use a single floor jack and move around the Jeep to complete the rotations.
Edit: This is the process I use.
I dont have lockers anymore but if I ruin a tire, I still like to have one to replace it that matches as far as tread depth. Then the new replacement goes on the spare tire holder.I do a 5 tire rotation using that same pattern. Besides lasting longer, another reason to do a five tire rotation is the tires stay the same diameter. My rear detroit locker would not be happy with tires that are different sizes. And if the spare goes on the front the jeep tracks better with tires the same size.
why not put the new replacement at the right rear so the 4 other tires get a chance to ride spare while it tries to catch up? (assuming no auto locker in the rear)I dont have lockers anymore but if I ruin a tire, I still like to have one to replace it that matches as far as tread depth. Then the new replacement goes on the spare tire holder.
Good thinking. I'm sort of doing that on my Jeep now. Got two new tires. They are on the front and the older three get rotated onto the spare!why not put the new replacement at the right rear so the 4 other tires get a chance to ride spare while it tries to catch up? (assuming no auto locker in the rear)
In my 42 years of driving I have replaced a set of tires only once with the same brand and size and that was on my work truck. Every single time I replaced tires on my Jeep it was with either a different size or different brand. Not rotating the spare in would have been a waste every time.I rotate all five tires. It hurts my heart to see an unused spare and four bald tires. Besides, when you replace tires you inevitably get a different brand or size and the perfectly good old spare goes into a landfill along with the other tires.