Using a matching wheel for spare tire

[bill61]

Hello all,
Has anyone used a matching wheel as a spare tire? I read that I’ll have to also install a TPM sensor.
Were there any issues such as no center cap so the system can mount it? How big of a hassle is switching the center cap when performing a 5 tire rotation?
Will the wheel get scratched when stored in the spare tire location?
I want to perform 5 tire rotations when performing maintenance. Thank you in advance.

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[Flyin6]

I do. I have five identical wheels/tires and do a 5-tire rotation.

 

[RobbertCole]

I often wonder how this happens.

Like if a guy is at the point he understands a 5 tire rotation on a 4wd vehicle, and can actually perform the task physically...why is he wondering about how center caps work.

 

[Bruticus Maximus]

I have 5 matching wheels/tires and I rotate them regularly. The center cap is easy to move from the "new soon-to-be-spare" to the "old spare" (I guess it could depend on the wheel manufacturer.) I put the spare on facing up, so as no scratching to the face of the wheel. It does get very dirty/muddy under the truck so I usually have to spray the old spare down before mounting it.

 

[robinja]

I do. I did I write up on storage and protecting some time ago in this forum. I'm OM at the moment so can't find a link, but you should be able to search my past posts.

 

[bill61]

I often wonder how this happens.

Like if a guy is at the point he understands a 5 tire rotation on a 4wd vehicle, and can actually perform the task physically...why is he wondering about how center caps work.

I have a Wrangler that I have been doing 5 tire rotations on for years, but I see that my Gladiator has to go through the center of the wheel to stow the spare. That is why I ask if the center cap of a stock wheel is difficult to remove and replace every rotation. I realize they pop in and out, but do they tend to get damaged after a few removals?

 

[robinja]

Link to short post I made on topic. Somewhere there's a longer post floating around.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...-on-18-inch-wheel-for-spare.28626/post-474485

 

[XraytecH]

Hello all,
Has anyone used a matching wheel as a spare tire? I read that I’ll have to also install a TPM sensor.
Were there any issues such as no center cap so the system can mount it? How big of a hassle is switching the center cap when performing a 5 tire rotation?
Will the wheel get scratched when stored in the spare tire location?
I want to perform 5 tire rotations when performing maintenance. Thank you in advance.

- I have 5 aftermarket 17" wheels & 35" tires, all came with TPMS
- All 5 have center caps. Caps pop off just fine with a few taps from the back side
- I stow the spare "Pretty Side" up. Out side the occasional case of butter fingers, stowing the spare this way will not scratch the finish on the wheel
- I do a 5 tire rotation every oil change, no bother

 

[Medical_Bartender]

I also do a 5 tire rotation with aftermarket wheels. Since I live in a snowy region where they put a bunch of crap on the roads I elected to keep the stock spare in it’s regular location and store the aftermarket wheel in the garage for the rotation. also, getting on my back to pull and re-install a spare under the bed is a pain with larger tires. YMMV

Regarding center caps, the method wheels I have use plastic center caps that slide in. I’ve had to replace one so far since they are plastic and tend to get brittle and crack at the base after a while. So I’d try to to choose a wheel with an aluminum center cap if possible.

TPMS will work, your call if you want to switch the factory or buy aftermarket.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

I've been meaning to mount my matching spare but found out the previous owner removed the spare tire tool kit so I have no way to lower the factory spare. I have some old Toyota kits laying around so I'm gonna try those, but it's been too damn cold. I too have been worried about marring the wheel up but sounds like face up will be just fine.

 

[Sweetums]

Hello all,
Has anyone used a matching wheel as a spare tire? I read that I’ll have to also install a TPM sensor.
Were there any issues such as no center cap so the system can mount it? How big of a hassle is switching the center cap when performing a 5 tire rotation?
Will the wheel get scratched when stored in the spare tire location?
I want to perform 5 tire rotations when performing maintenance. Thank you in advance.

I have a matched spare, the center cap on my Methods just pops out for mounting under the bed. I haven't done a rotation yet since the tires just went on a couple months ago.

 

[bill61]

I have the stock wheels and tires that came with my Gladiator. I have less than 200 miles on my rig but I’m thinking for when the time comes for the first rotation. I see the center caps appear to be aluminum.

 

[Idlethunder]

I have the stock wheels and tires that came with my Gladiator. I have less than 200 miles on my rig but I’m thinking for when the time comes for the first rotation. I see the center caps appear to be aluminum.

The round center section of those should pop right out by pushing it from the rear, at least they did on my original wheels as well as a set of Wrangler take offs I have

 

[Splenda]

I have a Wrangler that I have been doing 5 tire rotations on for years, but I see that my Gladiator has to go through the center of the wheel to stow the spare. That is why I ask if the center cap of a stock wheel is difficult to remove and replace every rotation. I realize they pop in and out, but do they tend to get damaged after a few removals?

The center cap on the stock wheels simply pops out when you push it from the back side. They don't get damaged when they are removed. You will have to add a TPMS sensor to the spare if you're going to do 5-tire rotations, since the Gladiator spare does not have one.

 

[Lochsa]

Got my Gladiator a little over a month ago. I bought 5 takeoff hardrock wheels from a JK, Had them wrapped with with Falken Wildpeak AT4s in 35x11.5x17. When America's Tire installed the tires I gave them 5 preprogrammed Autel MX TPMS sensors so I didn't have to go through the hassle of installing them myself. (Selling take-offs with TPMS) Note the stock spare does not have a TPMS. I have an Autel TPMS programmer (runs about $300, each sensor is about $40). The center caps are plastic and pop out easily from behind. I store the wheel face up, so shouldn't get any damage.

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