When is it time to replace spare on tow vehicle?

[dewey02]

We purchased a 2002 Dodge 2500 as a tow vehicle a few years back. The truck had brand new rubber on it when we bought it in in late 2010 (the receipt for the tires was in the paperwork). And the tires are in good condition with most of their tread.

I admit I never checked the spare in those intervening 3 1/2 years as it was a tuck under and it never crossed my mind. However, as we are taking a western trip this summer, I thought I'd better crank it down and check it out.

Well, good news and maybe some bad. Good pressure, excellent tread. It has been used a bit, as there were several small rocks lodged in the tread. There are no sidewall cracks that I can see at all.

The maybe bad news...it is an original issue tire, dated Nov. 2002.
So my question to knowledgeable forum folks is this: Do I replace the spare with a new or at least newer spare? Or is this tire good enough as a spare?
I know the simple answer is to get a new one, but that is an expense I'd rather not incur if I don't need to, although my use of the spare would only be to get me to the tire shop to fix or replace my 2010 tire.

[Rustic Eagle]

Well, since it's a tow vehicle and the possibility of having to use that 14 year old spare when under increased load conditions when towing....., I would replace it.

Bob

[wwsmith111]

Ditto, replace it! Peace of mind is worth a lot. An old spare could ruin your trip. Better yet buy a new tire on a different rim and carry that as a spare to your spare. That way you aren't wasting what might be a perfectly good tire and would have two working spares (at least one good one for sure).

[norty1]

How about consider putting a new tire on the tire with most wear and use it for the (new) spare?

My second choice would be a newer used tire.

[Ela1948]

I usually replace the spare tire with one of the old tires when I put all new rubber on the truck. I usually select the best looking tire and put it on for a spare. It keeps the spare reasonably new as far as age goes. I don't get too worried about minimal tread depth as its only used in emergency situations. I am only using it long enough to get a replacement. Spare tires are one those things thats out of sight and out of mind. By routinely replacing it with a tire thats coming off the truck, it keeps your spare pretty fresh.

[wwsmith111]

<snip> Tires don't age well. The rubber compounds breakdown with age and are affected by may factors including sunlight, temp. etc. An old tire that looks good may not be at all. I wouldn't trust and old tire any farther that I could spit.

[norty1]

It appears to me that everyone is saying replace it with a newer spare somehow.

[mcfarmall]

I concur with wwsmith111. If you use the same logic for the tires on your TV as the ones on your TT then you would replace the spare every time you replace the set. The best solution in my opinion is to get a matching rim for the spare and perform the 5 tire rotation method. On my truck I have machined aluminum rims (4) and one steel rim on the spare...it would look silly with one steel rim and 3 aluminum ones!

[Ela1948]

Originally Posted by wwsmith111

Many seem to be missing the point. Tires don't age well. The rubber compounds breakdown with age and are affected by may factors including sunlight, temp. etc. An old tire that looks good may not be at all. I wouldn't trust and old tire any farther that I could spit.

My point was if you put your spare in your tire rotation, your spare is never older then 4 years old. I normally put on fresh rubber ever other year. Thats why the spare is never older then 4 years old.

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by norty1

How about consider putting a new tire on the tire with most wear and use it for the (new) spare?

My second choice would be a newer used tire.

Dont do that... tires on an axle should have the same wear on them esp 4x4 units. Even a slight difference in wear can cause your diff to howl..
All tires come with a DOT code stamped on them the first 2 numbers are the week of manufacture the second two are the year. The tires are good for a MAX of 7 years from that date.. most people towing replace at 5 years do to the stress towing puts on the tires. Michelin has good info on tire age on their website.