RX_brain

I'm just curious about the spare tire/wheel, does the spare wheel match the others? I guess I can drop my spare and check. But short of doing that, I'd try this forum first. I have graphite wheels, so it would be nice to have another graphite spare.

Grumpa72

My '05 330s wheel and tire set match the spare exactly. In fact, my owner's manual suggests that a five tire rotation will increase the life of my tires. The dealer did the first oil and filter change along with a FOUR tire rotation. I always do the five tire rotation every 5000 miles which also gives me an opportunity to clean the back side of the wheels too.

Gary

32kcolors

According to the do-it-yourself maintenance section in the manual, it recommends a scheme that rotates the spare tire/wheel so I assume it must match.

tfischer

If you have not dropped the spare and checked, you should do that.

I do that whenever I get a new car to be sure all the tools needed to change the tire are there, that I know where they are and know how to use them. This is especially true when you have the tricky little system in the RX to lower the tire from its perch between the rear wheels. Learning how to do this on the side of the road at night in the rain will not be fun. Throw a pair of gloves into the tool area -- and most jack handles make lously lug wrenches because they are too short to give you the necessary leverage to break loose a tight nut. For this, I have a "cheater" in the car: a pipe that slips over the wrench handle to add about 24" more to its length.

I have not had to use it on my own car, but did use it to help a firend with his spare one day, and he went right over to Home Depot and got his own. I don't leave home without it.

Highly recommended.

salimshah

At least once a year (if not more) check the air pressure of the spare.

Salim

4482

I just dropped the spare in my 05 RX last week for the first time. Both the tire and rim were identical to the other four wheels on the car. The tire pressure was 40 lbs., much to my surprise.

dhamaka127

How do you get the spare tire down?

(I thought I ask here..b/c I am going thru some boxes since I moved recently)

Thanks for the help!

tfischer

The above question just amazes me.

DakotaRX

Your RX is equiped with traction control and stability control and so all tires must be the same manufacturer, size and design (tread). This means that the spare must be the same as the 4 tires installed on the vehicle. Of course Lexus could put a plain jane steel rim on the 5th tire, but hey, this is a quality company so you get a matching rim. As for how to get to the spare, read the manual! Actually, when we purchased our RX the sales person went over the entire vehicle showing us all the features and giving us pointers on various things. He showed us where the spare was located, how to lower the spare and all that good stuff. Then he said, you have road side assistance for the next 4 years, why do it yourself. Still, it is good to know how to do those things as you might do things like rotate the tires yourself or you may have the vehicle longer than the roadside assistance lasts so you will have to do it yourself.

2005 RX330 Thundercloud, Thundercloud Mist, Grey/Black interior with Black Birdseye Maple, NAV, ML, HID w/AFS, Rain Sensing Wipers, Tow Package with OEM Hitch, Thundercloud rims with Michelin MXV 4's.

RX_brain

Our dealer also went over about dropping the spare tire, but out of excitement, I forgot to ask him if the spare would have a matching graphite wheels. Thanks to everyone for their inputs. I would definitely try lowering the spare my self soon.

Tammy

My 2000 RX300 was delivered with factory chrome wheels.

The spare is a black steel wheel of the exact same size with the fifth tire matching the original four.

I don't rotate the spare, it's original, never on the road. I'll need to scrap it in a few years. I keep it coated with 303, so it looks good.

My understanding is the aluminum painted wheel are currently provided with the chrome wheel option.