I currently have 95K miles on the original BFG Rugged Trail T/As. I figure about 5K to 10K miles left before I need new tires. My thoughts were to buy 3 new ones and put the spare on the ground to save a few bucks. I called Discount Tire and asked their thoughts on using the spare and they did not recommend it because that tire was over 4 years old. They said it would still be fine for use as a spare, but putting it on the ground for every day use was not a good thing due to the rubber drying out.

Has anyone else ever put their spare on the ground or been told the same thing that Discount Tire told me?

All thoughts welcome, thanks.

 

I have never used a spare to start a new set of tires having only to buy 3 new ones.

I have a friend who did that. The spare was 6 years old. It lasted about a 2month before it came apart. He was smart and put it on the rear. It tore the side of the truck up bad. Ripped the fuel door off, damaged the quarter panel, tore the side mirror off the truck. Black marks everywhere.

That was a Michelin LTX 265x75x16 (E) Tire.

 

Thanks for the feedback CoastalDav, that would certainly support what Discount Tire told me.