Tire rotation -- rotate 4 or 5 tires? Include spare tire?

[Kaddy]

I’m over 7500 miles, and waiting for a call back to schedule service. Do you all recommend rotating 4 tires or 5, and moving the spare into rotation?

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[ndmiller]

I've never done 5 in any vehicle with a full size spare, even though I know it extends tire life of the whole set. Just too much work if you have anything in the vehicle you need to remove to get to the spare. I also had a much cheaper tire as the spare.

 

[FrankieJ]

I’m over 7500 miles, and waiting for a call back to schedule service. Do you all recommend rotating 4 tires or 5, and moving the spare into rotation?

I have always done a 4 tire rotation. The first time you have to buy new tires use your new spare, buy 3 new tires and use the best of your used tires as a spare. Also, the spare in my R1T weighs a ton and is a pain to include in a 5 tire rotation.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

If you have a full size spare with the same tire as on the other four, it's recommended to rotate all 5. It will evenly wear all tires, and prolong your overall set's tire life. It also prevents you from neglecting the full size spare until you need it and find your spare has dry rotted or otherwise unusable.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

Is it more convenient to rotate only 4 tires? Yes. Is it even more convenient to skip rotating tires in general? Sure. Does that mean it's the best option? Nope.

 

[VSG]

I have my R1T tires rotated at the Rivian service center. They will do the 5 tire rotation. The advantage is I don't have to worry about jack pucks or techs who think they know how to lift a Rivian but really don't, and of course the Rivian techs know how to remove the spare from bed without gouging the wheel on that retaining rod. And if by chance they screw up anything by mistake, they have access to the parts and means to fix anything, unlike a tire shop. It's worth the $60 to me and it takes less than an hour. And despite the fact that service centers are very busy, it seems they dedicate some amount of appointments to routine service like rotations, so I've always been able to schedule rotation no more than two weeks out, but usually the same week.

I have found the service center also takes the opportunity to check on other things - for example last time in they also serviced my portable charger because they had a service bulletin for it.

 

[Kaddy]

I have my R1T tires rotated at the Rivian service center. They will do the 5 tire rotation. The advantage is I don't have to worry about jack pucks or techs who think they know how to lift a Rivian but really don't, and of course the Rivian techs know how to remove the spare from bed without gouging the wheel on that retaining rod. And if by chance they screw up anything by mistake, they have access to the parts and means to fix anything, unlike a tire shop. It's worth the $60 to me and it takes less than an hour. And despite the fact that service centers are very busy, it seems they dedicate some amount of appointments to routine service like rotations, so I've always been able to schedule rotation no more than two weeks out, but usually the same week.

I have found the service center also takes the opportunity to check on other things - for example last time in they also serviced my portable charger because they had a service bulletin for it.

That would be great, by the closest service center to me is 300 miles.

 

[HyperionMark]

I have always done a 4 tire rotation. The first time you have to buy new tires use your new spare, buy 3 new tires and use the best of your used tires as a spare. Also, the spare in my R1T weighs a ton and is a pain to include in a 5 tire rotation.

I would highly recommend against this. Tires also have an age component to their life, not just miles. Unless that spare tire is less than 2 years old you are matching a much older tire to the new ones. Also, you'd be stuck with getting the exact same tire instead of other options. Lastly, the temp in the spare tire bay during summer has to get crazy hot. This cannot do good things for tire longevity.

 

[beatle]

I think 5 tire rotation is actually easier in that you only need a single jack to do it. I have a spare on order and plan to rotate through all 5.

 

[madgrey]

I think 5 tire rotation is actually easier in that you only need a single jack to do it. I have a spare on order and plan to rotate through all 5.

Yes, exactly. If you DIY your rotation (like I do), doing 5 is less work unless you have a way to lift the entire vehicle using the lift-points. Doing 4+spare means you only need to lift each wheel one time.

If you DIY only 4 with jacks, you need two jacks and need to perform 3 partial rotations to properly do a rearward cross pattern.

 

[Riviaenz]

Rivian recommends 4 tire rotation (see your Owner‘s Guide) to preserve the condition of the spare.

 

[beatle]

I disagree with the guide. It's not like the spare needs to be a tire with 100% tread anyway. Better off having a tire that's as close to what's on the vehicle already, and if you're doing 5 tire rotations, it'll be that much closer since it'll be worn approximately the same as the other tires (and is more likely to be checked and inflated). If the spare is worn, the other 4 tires are worn and should all be replaced.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

If you have a full size spare with the same tire as on the other four, it's recommended to rotate all 5. It will evenly wear all tires, and prolong your overall set's tire life. It also prevents you from neglecting the full size spare until you need it and find your spare has dry rotted or otherwise unusable.

This ? And I’ll add that in a five tire rotation all of your wheels take turns being the spare.

 

[dgennetten]

I’m over 7500 miles, and waiting for a call back to schedule service. Do you all recommend rotating 4 tires or 5, and moving the spare into rotation?

One advantage not mentioned is five tire is a much easier DIY task. You only have to jack up one wheel at a time

 

[moosetags]

I have never done rotations in the past to include the spare. In my Silverados, the spare is always on a steel wheel and does not match the other wheels. I'll have to consider this on Opal since the the spare wheel matches the other wheels.

Brian

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