Spare Tire Cover

I am seriously considering to upgrading my tires to 285/65R18 Toyo Open Country Mt's. From other posts here I believe these will fit on my stock wheels on my Gen 2 - 2012 Tundra 4x4 with the TRD Offroad package without modification (feel free to confirm that most basic repetitive question once more if you would like. I will likely be nervous about that until I see it for myself).

In considering this next upgrade, it occurred to me that I should probably get 5 new tires because my current spare will be smaller than my new tires which will cause all sort of issues if I ever actually need to use it.

However, because the new tires are a bit pricey I thought maybe I would rotate the spare through to get the most out of the entire new set (to last 20% longer in theory). In order to do this, I think it would be best if I got another stock (nice looking) wheel so that I don't have to take the tires on and off the wheels to rotate them, or use the old (not nice looking) spare tire wheel.

One of my friends suggested that the stock (nice looking) wheel that was under the truck would likely get scratched up.

My Questions: Does anybody carry a stock (nice looking) wheel as a spare so that they can easily rotate all 5 wheels. If so, does it get scratched up or does the tire sufficiently protected the wheel.

And finally, does anyone put a cover over the spare tire that rides underneath the truck. Does that product even exist? Would it be beneficial at all?

 

The sun is what kills the tires. So the spare is the safest

 

Yeah, I know the sun is what wrecks the actual tire but would a nice looking wheel get scratched if cranked up under the truck? I assume it would be nice surface facing up.

Does anybody have experience with a nice wheel under the truck and/or rotating the spare though.

 

I bought a matching T-Force 20" wheel/tire for my 2015 and it is mounted in the stock location. It has not gotten scratched up, but if you are concerned about that possibility, you can buy some heater hose, split some sections length-wise and then zip tie them to the spare mount contact points. Should keep it in fine shape barring hitting some road debris. I am not aware of any spare tire covers that would work in the stock location since the chain used to mount the spare has to pass through the center of the wheel.

 

This.

We just rotated our 5th matching wheel from under the truck, there was no damage.

We have considered some rubber to go between it and the mounting of the truck, to prevent rubber on metal wear. But there was minimal for that 8k kms.

 

I imagine the sidewall if the tire is what is contacting the truck

 

Yes.

It's cranked up there tight, but still shifts and moves a bit. Ours had a bit of "shine" and very slight impression the first time we dropped it, to check on it. I used pool noodles the next time as a temp fix. Now that it's on the truck, you can't tell which was the 5th.

My plan is to make a rubber mat donut, that I can put on the top of the tire, before I crank it up. To alleviate some of the rubbing. I figure that is easier than attaching the rubber to various parts of the underside of the truck.

I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

Thanks for the input. I was considering buying a heavy duty wheel cover like you might use to cover a spare on the back of a jeep and then poke a hole in the middle for the chain.

like this:

$12 Moonet Spare Tire Cover Thickening Leather Universal Fit for Jeep, Trailer, RV, SUV, Truck, Tough Tire Wheel Soft Cover (Fits for Tire Diameter 19”-21“, Tire Width 9")

https://www.amazon.com/MOONET-Thick...1008&sprefix=sapre+tire+cover,aps,160&sr=8-19

 

Be careful with the possibility of getting flammable material near the hot exhaust. Last thing you want is wind shredding something and it flopping around and getting near the hot exhaust system with lots of air flow. Should it catch fire and then ignite the spare, you could quickly lose the truck.

 

Thank you...that's is a very serious consideration I hadn't ever considered! That why asking the group helps i guess.

 

I feel like the cover will hold moisture and dirt and cause the tire to always be damp and under a constant state of abrasion from dirt within the cover.

Also the flammable thing as @2mchfun said scares me.

The other option is to save your money on a fifth matching rim and tire, and buy a tire (used even) that matches your new tire diameter size and toss that on the spare rim. At least if needed, the spare would then be the same rotational size.

That’s what I did, and it was worth the $35 (from a member here actually)