Tire Rotation on a Limited All Wheel Drive

I also don’t claim to be an expert (although I do have an automotive degree, not a gear specialist by any means), I’m genuinely curious on the topic, but would never run different size tires for any significant length, I even bought a new off-road wheel so I can run a 5-tire rotation on my next set for all the reasons mentioned.

However, I would think the spider gears are always under “load” while moving. You’re never driving “perfectly” straight, and even if you are, I think the gears would still be loaded to spin the axles. I imagine a car could drive in circles for days with no issue to the differential or spider gears.

But these are things I think and imagine and would love to learn the facts and truth behind this.

 

How often I fall prey to this! Yes, I’d love to know the facts too. And you’re right the gears are always loaded, but with different size tires I imagine that they would be loaded such that wear would be asymmetrical, and I imagine that would be bad.

 

Like you guys, I too am not an expert (although I am a mechanical engineer and do have some understanding of what we are discussing). It was not the intent of any of my previous posts to say that, under no circumstances, should you use a spare tire on a full time 4WD vehicle that has not been rotated in with the other tires. If you have a spare tire with no wear on it, and you get a flat, I don't think you will have any big problems with installing the spare to get you going. I just wouldn't drive around like that for a long time. I think Captain Spalding has described it right. It wouldn't cause immediate damage/wear - but it would cause asymmetrical wear on your drivetrain - and that would be bad if happening long term. I am saying that full time 4WD Limited owners should rotate in their matching spare wheel/tire for this reason. Yes, you'll have to buy 5 new tires when they wear out - but they will last 25% longer. You will also always have a matching spare that is not dry-rotted and unsafe to use years down the road.

 

the day after i bought my 23 limited, i replaced the stock 20s with 17s and 265 tires. i still have the 20" spare though. i need to find just a cheap spare 17 rim and 265 tire. i do carry a plug kit and air pump but it makes me nervous. do you guys think i could slap on the stock spare just to make it to home or a tire shop?

 

yes all my vehicles using the tires of the X tires .......rotations .................right/left,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, front /rear ........... X ....................
now the right tires are worn .... then the left tires are not much .....I was doing it over 50 years .. the snow is the rocks/sand of the right road .............worn out of the right tires ..

you are very good !

the 4wd ,,,,,,,the spare tire is the 60-70K miles , use the 3 new tires and the spare tire .... then the old worn spare tire is ....

 

You’d be fine with that.