4-tire rotation vs 5-tire rotation

[ShadowsPapa]

I guess I've not worded things or responded with the intended thought processes and got in a hurry.
So many ask "is it worth it". Well, that's like asking "is it worth it" on certain other things.
It depends. It depends on your truck, your tires - the costs of said tires, your intentions for the truck, your personal finances today, in a year, in 2 years, how long will you keep the truck and other factors. It's worth it to me - it's worth it to others, maybe for the same reasons, maybe for different reasons.
But there are certain facts involved, check them out, consider them and then weigh your personal situation. Do you have cash now? Will you keep the truck? How long? What are your plans for tires in the future - will you have money in 2 or 3 years?
Here's the facts to lay out -
I presented the YT video - there are others.
Jeep's owner manuals (maybe not JT because it's specific and has no matching spare) such as Grand Cherokee say if the spare matches, rotate it in.
Tire Rack, Discount Tires and other tire vendors, researchers and sellers say to use 5 tire rotation (assuming you have it or are willing to get the wheel and tire)
So the experts agree - smoke 'em if you've got 'em.
Ask yourself - will you check the condition and tire pressure on your spare on a regular basis?
Will you check that spare carrier to make sure you can get to the spare if you need it?
Are you aware that most tire shops that are worth squat - those that care - won't touch a tire that is over 7 years old? (in one case I simply wanted the tire broke down from the rim so I could reseal the bead as my tire bead breaker was broken at the time. I told them it was for a car I was restoring and it would never see the street ever - nope, 2 shops - nope, won't even break it down)
Anyway, there's that......
And if you run your tires 35,000-40,000 miles and have a blow-out that can't be fixed, now you have a new spare that is actually larger than the other tires. Not a huge amount, but still........ where if you did a 5 tire rotation, it would basically match almost perfectly. And - you could get by fine.
If you are like some people and find your vehicle pulls to one side - they may find a tire is the cause. If that's the case then you can swap tires around more easily to get rid of the pull.
Just some thoughts - but it's up to you. It won't harm your truck no matter what you choose.

There is no reason to not do a 5 tire rotation if you have them,
the only reasons to not have them are personal to you, your preferences, your finances, not mechanically, not for any other reason.
It all depends on your personal choices, your personal finances, and how you intend to use your truck, how long you intend to keep it, the cost of your tires you choose and so on.
I got 5 A/T tires mounted and balanced for something like $1400 - tires, mounting and balancing and put on my truck, including putting the spare in place. I bough the wheel cheap on the market place here in this forum.
So figure is it worth it based on you because there's no mechanical or physical reasons not to.
It won't wear your differential, it won't make anything worse.
Sharpsicle (did I spell that right??) did hit one possible negative, money. But again, that's more of a personal thing - you decide.
Cars and trucks are personal choices.
Colors, tire type, brand, size - personal choices. Wheels - personal choices.

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[FitfulGoat]

Sharpsicle (did I spell that right??) did hit one possible negative, money. But again, that's more of a personal thing - you decide.
Cars and trucks are personal choices.
Colors, tire type, brand, size - personal choices. Wheels - personal choices.

This. It all comes down to a financial equation but the most economical in terms of the tires themselves is to rotate all 5.

 

[MyRight]

Along the same logic though, to be safe and for proper use you would have had to replace the spare once it takes the place of the damaged unit on the truck. The only other option other then to go without a spare (which is not worth the risk) is to end up in the same situation where you have a mismatched spare and it can no longer be used in a 5 tire rotation.

In other words the only thing that’s taking place here is possibly prolonging the financial burden at the risk of safety.

So what if you have a mismatched spare...at least you still have the use of the 4 good matching tires for the remainder of their life and there is no risk to safety.

 

[FitfulGoat]

So what if you have a mismatched spare...at least you still have the use of the 4 good matching tires for the remainder of their life and there is no risk to safety.

The way his story is worded the wheel had to be replaced not the tires. And if the new wheels have a different offset, backspacing, or width I don’t think anyone would recommend using that as a long term spare.

 

[MyRight]

The way his story is worded the wheel had to be replaced not the tires. And if the new wheels have a different offset, backspacing, or width I don’t think anyone would recommend using that as a long term spare.

That is where getting 5 matching wheels and tires is of benefit.
That is what I am doing...getting 5 matching Sahara take-offs for only $175. Even if I damage one, finding a replacement on the cheap will not be an issue.
I also plan on rotating every 5k so wear won't be as drastic between them.

 

[FitfulGoat]

That is where getting 5 matching wheels and tires is of benefit.
That is what I am doing...getting 5 matching Sahara take-offs for only $175. Even if I damage one, finding a replacement on the cheap will not be an issue.
I also plan on rotating every 5k so wear won't be as drastic between them.

You actually touch on a more important factor to consider with the whole dynamic and that’s the product life cycle and availability. Getting a more popular product will greatly improve replacement options future state. Getting anything one off comes with the added financial risk long term.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You actually touch on a more important factor to consider with the whole dynamic and that’s the product life cycle and availability. Getting a more popular product will greatly improve replacement options future state. Getting anything one off comes with the added financial risk long term.

I'm lucky, I guess. I love the overland wheels. I think personally they are the best looking of most of the stock JT wheels. It was simple to find a very reasonably priced single wheel because a guy with an Overland was selling them one at a time to people like me. (he was a smart seller!)
If I bust a wheel, finding another won't be too tough and if the market place here is bare and I'm in a hurry, I can always contact Benny and buy new from MOPAR (unlikely but hey, never say never - I busted a wheel on my Comanche! Yup, snapped the bead area (maybe bent it but since it didn't hold air I didn't both checking for bent!)
I had no trouble getting a wheel - by then even salvage yards had them.

Anyway, I think we see already - it boils down to personal finances, personal plans and other factors more than technical.
As far as size - don't even think about worrying about tire size differences over the course of 5-10,000 miles! It's not going to matter a lick. Don't sweat size differences. Maybe I'll find my other post where I did the math. If you wore the snot out of your tires and there was an 8/32" difference, then, maybe, but the normal wear you'd get in 5-10,000 miles? Naw, there's other things to worry about, like where you're going to get another ugly Christmas sweater.

 

[Choatecav]

I appreciate this thread as it touches on a point in which I am interested.

All things being equal, I would do the 5 tire, but while I usually do my own oil changes, I have left rotations to the mechanics due to having limited jack access. But the video in this thread seemed to clarify that you can do the five tire rotation with only one jack.

Question: How many of you rotate your own tires vs. letting someone else do it?

I may need to invest in a good jack and stand and rethink this thing.

 

[Jeep-A-Kneez]

I would say that if'n U-N&All done got some big $ tires on your sled and trying to get da most out of'm, then y'all might be need'n ta spend some extra time & effort ta do M-R 5 tire ro-me-tation. Some folk b hav'n xtra moo-la and trow da cabbage away, MMM-K fo u.

 

[FitfulGoat]

I'm lucky, I guess. I love the overland wheels. I think personally they are the best looking of most of the stock JT wheels. It was simple to find a very reasonably priced single wheel because a guy with an Overland was selling them one at a time to people like me. (he was a smart seller!)
If I bust a wheel, finding another won't be too tough and if the market place here is bare and I'm in a hurry, I can always contact Benny and buy new from MOPAR (unlikely but hey, never say never - I busted a wheel on my Comanche! Yup, snapped the bead area (maybe bent it but since it didn't hold air I didn't both checking for bent!)
I had no trouble getting a wheel - by then even salvage yards had them.

Anyway, I think we see already - it boils down to personal finances, personal plans and other factors more than technical.
As far as size - don't even think about worrying about tire size differences over the course of 5-10,000 miles! It's not going to matter a lick. Don't sweat size differences. Maybe I'll find my other post where I did the math. If you wore the snot out of your tires and there was an 8/32" difference, then, maybe, but the normal wear you'd get in 5-10,000 miles? Naw, there's other things to worry about, like where you're going to get another ugly Christmas sweater.

I was more so thinking of the alignment and handling characteristics of say one wheel sitting an inch further out due to offset differences than the rolling diameter.

I love finding a product that works, looks good, and is readily available and relatively inexpensive. I just wish Jeep offered wider wheels on more vehicles stock!

 

[FitfulGoat]

I appreciate this thread as it touches on a point in which I am interested.

All things being equal, I would do the 5 tire, but while I usually do my own oil changes, I have left rotations to the mechanics due to having limited jack access. But the video in this thread seemed to clarify that you can do the five tire rotation with only one jack.

Question: How many of you rotate your own tires vs. letting someone else do it?

I may need to invest in a good jack and stand and rethink this thing.

Yes, with a 5 tire rotation it’s very easy to start with the current spare and finish with the wheel going in the spare spot.

I’m 5-6 years in on my Napa branded high lift floor Jack and love it!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I appreciate this thread as it touches on a point in which I am interested.

All things being equal, I would do the 5 tire, but while I usually do my own oil changes, I have left rotations to the mechanics due to having limited jack access. But the video in this thread seemed to clarify that you can do the five tire rotation with only one jack.

Question: How many of you rotate your own tires vs. letting someone else do it?

I may need to invest in a good jack and stand and rethink this thing.

I let the dealer when it's free, otherwise I do my own. I have had 3 vehicles for which there's no signing up for anything (1973, 1982 and 2004 - sold the 1970) so you do your own.
On the cars it was a 4 wheel as there's no way to afford or even find wheels like I have. Rare and unique. On the truck it's a piece of cake - a single simple jack - even HF or Northern will do there) and a decent jack stand.
That video shows how it simplifies rotations for those who don't have a shop full of 4 jacks and 12 jack stands.
My rotations are done, wave is used up, will be doing my own again.
@FitfulGoat - which NAPA jack do you have?
A couple of mine are getting worn and I tried to get parts or even a jack repair place to refurbish them but they laughed and said they haven't seen jacks like that in decades....... makes sense, I suspect they were old when I was in college.

 

[wannajeep]

Or am I overthinking it (I am a motorcycle rider, so in my mind tires are important) and 4-tire rotation is perfectly fine?

Yes, over thinking. With all the tradeoffs and variables involved, either 4 or 5 rotation is fine and generally amounts to the same. Only difference here is you would need to buy a new wheel, tire and TPMS sensor, plus time/effort/cost to mount, balance, maybe calibrate. That would likely tip scales in favor of the 4 wheel rotation.

 

[LostWoods]

A spare should last 10 years under the truck. I suspect most people here won't keep their Gladiator that long.

Hard disagree. Not only here in AZ where it's maybe half that but in general, tires are not designed to last 10 years in the sealed trunk of a car let alone exposed to the elements under a truck.

 

[FitfulGoat]

@ShadowsPapa I couldn’t say which model as most of the stickers have deteriorated. Looks a lot like This one just without the carlyle branding.

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