Help me decide about my spare

So, I got a really good deal on a set of Toyo Open Country R/Ts 295/70/17. I got 5 tires, one was brand new (only mounted as a spare on a Jeep, but never touched pavement). The other 4 have about 7k miles on them. The truck currently has OEM steelies that are 18 inches. I'll be putting the new tires on 17 inch ICON rebounds. If I keep the 5th tire as a spare, I'll have to get another 17" wheel. If I want to be able to rotate it in with the others, it means getting another ICON to the tune of roughly $225.00. It would also mean that I have an ICON wheel riding around under the truck taking all of the abuse that it would be exposed to there.

My initial thought was to just mount the 4 that are already used and sell the new one. The spare that came with the truck isn't that much smaller should I ever really need it.....and its already dedicated as a spare, so no worry about it getting nasty riding around under the truck.

What do y'all think? Have I missed anything in my thought process?

 

I would say use that 5th wheel in spare location- I did same with 17" Method and 295/70/17. I put in stock spare location and have the face of wheel up- there is no contact with wheel on truck only rubber contact.

 

Whatever wheel is on your 5th with the matching tire, make sure you carry the lugs and socket for it if not using a 5th ICON. Also, if it's a different offset and rubs in the front, you'll have to install it in the back and do some shuffling if your front tire is the one blown.

Depends how close the existing spare, I'd either use the same 5th tire or similar height tire. ^ that's a great idea facing the wheel up, or get a cheap 17" steel wheel. The OCD in me hopes to never end up using that spare as a regular tire, keeping the existing 4 in symmetrical X up/down rotation wear. But the same could be said if you keep rotating in the 5th+ICON, all 5 will be closer in wear.

Either way it's just to get you to a shop sooner than later to fix or replace the tire, you always want a ready spare.