I always rotate all my tires.
●A 5 tire rotation lasts 25% longer than a 4 tire rotation. 5 tires costs 25% more than 4 tires. $800 every 40k/4yr is the same as $1000 every 50k/5yr. Arguing cost is stupid.
●If you change patterns or sizes, you didn't waste money on the spare you never used.
●You never need to worry about using an old rotted spare.
●If you DO need your spare, the tread is always within 3k miles of your flat (I not convinced this matters).

IMO, it is a no-brainer. If you can't afford all 5 at once, just get 4 and save for the fifth before your next 3k rotation. If that's not possible, maybe Jeep ownership isn't for you.

 

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●If you DO need your spare, the tread is always within 3k miles of your flat (I not convinced this matters).

It matters a lot on newer AWD vehicles and vehicles with a AWD selection(like a Jeep with the 242 t-case).

Company's that make AWD's have a 3/32" tread depth difference max spec between all the tires.

 

personally when i bought my tires i planned on rotating in my spare that's why i bought 5 new tires. but recently i was reading opinions back and forth where people didn't for the reason i stated above. but i do agree with what you said. i just passed 3k miles since i put them on, have not rotated them yet, but will be doing it real soon.

 

When it's possible, I ALWAYS advocate a 5-tire rotation.

Sent from my phone

 

i can not see why you would not? I mean you are saving the spar for? after 5 years even unused it is at the point of rot anyway? at least out here the AZ sun eats things up. on many of these newer heeps i would bet that if a tire is off like 1/2 inch it might think you are in a skid. got 5 rotate em all.

 

It drives me crazy when I see mismatched spares on the back of 4x4's. A classic one these days is the fancy new JK on giant MT's (that probably never goes off-road, but that's a totally different issue) with a stock-sized highway tire on the back. FACEPALM

I have a set of 5 for 3 seasons, and they're all in rotation. I use my original set of 4 (since my XJ didn't come with a full-sized spare) for winter tires.

 

If I had a matching spare/wheel, I would for a reason not mentioned.

If you have 5 matching tires/wheels all with the same age/miles, and you damage a tire either by off-roading and a hiway road hazard, you have a ready to go match to put into service. Then buy something else used for a spare.

I have seen/read many times where people have been forced to buy or put into service a new tire to go with the other worn three, or buy a new set because the three they have remaining is not available, etc.

Like mentioned above, I have a F150 and Tahoe in the drive where the new spare rotted because of a rim that didn't match and could not be rotated in.

 

I rotate the spare if it's the same size and type as the other 4 tires.

 

BTW - I read somewhere that tires that aren't driven on crack and rot faster than tires that are driven on.

This because tires flex when driven and that (allegedly) works fresh protective oils, waxes, and UV protectants to the surface of the tread and sidewalls, which (allegedly) slows decay from ozone and UV.

So if that's true, driving on a tire delays decay/rot/cracks.

Even if that's not true, I guarantee an unused spare will eventually rot/crack and be wasted (regardless of the exact causes).

So if you don't rotate your spare in, it will eventually go to waste from cracks/rot, AND the other 4 tires tread will wear out 25% faster.

 

The real question to me is this. Is it worth buying a 5th tire? I'm undecided. I guess it depends on your finances.

 

In the long run, it doesn't cost you any more because rotating it in makes your tire set last longer than it would if it was just 4 in rotation. If you don't have a matching spare to begin with, it's just a one-time extra cost to purchase it in the short-term. Like someone said earlier--if you can't afford to buy 5 at one time, buy 4 and just buy the 5th one sometime before your first rotation.

• Makes your tire set last longer.
• Guarantees you'll never have to use an underpressured or rotting spare.
• Guarantees that you'll never have to use a spare that's too large or two small which is especially great if you find yourself needing 4wd.
• The only additional long-term cost is the mounting/balancing of a 5th tire every X years.
• For exterior-mounted spares, you won't look like a yuppie idiot poser with a tiny, mis-matched spare on the back/top of your rig.

Yeah: totally worth it.

 

Buying a 5th tire doesn't cost more in long run, but it does in the short run.

When money is tight, the short run matters.

 

Is a 242 tcase in Full Time 4wd really that sensitive to tread depth?

 

Yes,and also very sensitive to air pressure being equal also.It's not a direct shift t-case,it uses springs and check balls.

 

I have a 242 and I'm skeptical. I'm not convinced it's that sensitive, but I don't know for sure.

I guess it'd be a good thing to research to find out how sensitive it really is.

Tire stores never get air pressure the same in all 4 tires. Jeep must have taken that into account in the design.

The only way you ever get all 4 tires the same psi is DIY.

 

Just drop 1 front tire down 10-15psi then shift into full time 4wd(while driving) and drive around for a bit(with turns) and then try and shift back into 2wd(again while driving) and do some tight turns.You will find it will get stuck in part time 4wd and not shift back into 2wd right away,and in some cases when it does shift back into 2wd it will do so with a big clunk.

 

Who knew?

What does a driver do if one tire has to be removed from service when it and the other three tires have already worn to two-thirds to one-half of their original tread depth? Simply installing one new tire runs the risk of drivability problems or expensive driveline damage. Replacing the other three partially worn tires along with the damaged tire significantly increases the cost.
Tire Rack can provide a solution by matching the tread depth of the replacement tire to the tread depth of the partially worn tires that will remain on the vehicle by removing tread rubber from a new tire on a specialized machine that operates as a tire lathe. While this may seem counterintuitive, the value of the mileage sacrificed by the one replacement tire is considerably less than the cost of rebuilding worn driveline components.
Tire Rack has offered a tire shaving service that has been primarily used for preparing competition tires for racetrack use. This same service can also be used to remove tread rubber from new pairs or individual street tires used on four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles to allow them to match the remaining tread depth of the other partially worn tires that will remain on the vehicle. In addition to providing equivalent tread depth to eliminate driveline stress, shaved tires will also better match the traction and handling qualities of the remaining worn tires.
While the cost of our street tire shaving service will range from $25 to $35 for each tire, it is significantly less than the cost of unnecessarily replacing the remaining two or three good tires with lots of mileage still available from them.

 

Now I'm really freaking annoyed that my tire store is so sloppy about air checks. They never get the psi same for all tires. They are often off by a couple pounds from one tire to the next.

I'm hurt from a carwreck. Can't do my own pressure checks right now.

My cousin's boy is good at it though.