Feb
10
2010
Q: I have a 2000 Toyota truck with a full sized spare underneath the bed of the truck. I have never taken this tire off or had it checked.
Would you think the tire is still usable after 10 years? And I cannot imagine how hard it may be to get it
off after so many years.
What should I have done maybe years ago and what should I do at this point, since I may experience a flat some time?
A: A good question! This event plays out over and over.
Try to remove the spare, if successful, inspect the tire for any signs of cracks or dry rot. Inspect the valve core in the same manner. Inspect the tread, looking for any deviations. If you do not feel comfortable inspecting your tire yourself, take it to a reputable tire facility for professional inspection.
In the future if you find yourself with a new truck, opt for the full size spare option. Start a 5 tire rotation schedule, rotating your spare into normal use. This way you will wear down all the tires equally, get overall worn mileage on all of them. You get more mileage out of your tires (since you use one extra) and you won’t have to throw out a never used, dry rotted spare tire after a few years (which is a waste).
