Sidewall has a leak, what to do?

When i bought my wife's 4 runner one of the tires had a small leak when i had it at the dealer they said there was a small hole in the sidewall and can't fix it, i don't see any damage or hear any air leaking and the dealer has not lied to me in the past, i always check there work.

It's been this way for about a year and a half but in the beginning i only had to put air in it maybe once a month but now it needs air 2-3 times a week. It still has the stock tires and they are only wore down to 5-6mm, i believe when they are new they are 8mm.

I don't know if i should just buy all new tires or just replace the one. Not sure if 2-3mm difference affect driving. Anyway i noticed the spare is full size and thought about switching it out to save money but then would have a flat spare.

I always keep a air compressor in the back so it's no big deal but when a tire needs air 2-3 times a week i start to worry about safety

It came with the Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 and they have just over 30,000 miles on them. The reviews of that tire is crap, i still hate to replace tires that still have 50 percent of there life left.

 

I replaced my Dunlops with 1300 miles on them. My vote would be to get a better set of tires. But, I know tires aren't cheap.

Or...

Maybe get the spare tire moved to that wheel and get a replacement for the spare. Or, just replace that one tire and keep it on the front?

 

It's a easy $1,000 for new tires. You must have hated the stocks, i don't drive it much so i don't know.

 

They weren't good in snow. If I'd have been in the south, I might have kept them longer.

 

I ditched my Dunlops with 7 miles on the odometer. Made an appointment and stopped by America's Tire on the way home from the dealership. Big-ass sharp rocks everywhere off-road here and we get snow. Stock Dunlops were like tits on a bull to me.

 

If you can find an identical tire on eBay and throw it on, that’ll be what I’d choose. (and have chosen)

Had to replace one, then another of my tires but I wanted to keep the others each time. Bought a matching (in every spec including tread wear) tire online then threw it on at a used tire shop and I’m off to the races.

If it’s 2WD, you could just toss a new one on the front and ignore it too.

You could use the spare, but no TPMS unless you have Limited trim.

You don’t usually see date codes on the listings so watch out for that.

 

or check your local Craig's List. I replaced my stock Bridgestones w/about 2K on them. Priced them well and sold them next day...you may find your same stock tire there...

 

Even with part time 4wd, I wouldn't be worried about it.

 

Technically you cant repair sidewall damage/leaking safely so that was kind of shady for the dealer to suggest it was okay.

2 best options.

1- Get a new cheap spare and swap the old spare in with the leaking one.

2- Buy 4 new awesome tires.

 

If you’re in Illinois, I’ll give you a new tire. Will be available on Monday. It’s the OEM Dunlop.

 

I took a nail in the sidewall of an almost new tire. Tire dealers won't fix it. They will put an inner tube in it which solved the leak problem. I drove it until it wore out and when it was replaced I found that the tire store had sold me a very old inner tube with several patches in it and charged me for a new one. Florida; gotta love the rip offs.

If your spare is a good one then you can swap it with the inner tube tire

 

Tires and brakes are two things I don't cheap out on. Your vehicle carries precious cargo (you and your family). At 30k, I'd consider the Dunlop's to be spent, they were never a great tire to begin with. Go get a good set of tires and don't look back.

 

I got rid of my AT20’s at 900 miles . All perfect and I couldn’t even give them away . They went into a used tire dumpster.

 

I'd be hesitant to run any tire with a sidewall flaw. At the very least get the spare mounted to that location then deal with the spare as you see fit. Personally I would try to decide what tire wanted next and have one of those placed for your spare.
Otherwise:
Run no spare.
Throw a cheapy on the spare.
Run the flawed tire as a spare and refill as needed. But remember when you need it you are placing a flawed tire on your vehicle.

 

Take the spare tire and replace the leaky tire and find a cheap or free used tire to use as a spare.

 

Don't mean to be rude...but man your wife is potentially driving with a seriously defective tire. Enough with the run around of putting air in it a few times a week. Don't run that tire anymore. Do the right thing. That tire needs to be placed out of service.