Spare Tire TPMS Question

I am fitting my 4R with a full size spare. Is it possible to fit the spare with a TPMS monitor, or will having 5 wheels with TPMS cause an error?

The reason for putting a TPMS sensor in, is so I could rotate a tire out every 3 months and extend the life of my tires.

 

I'm confused. All 4Runners come with full-sized spares mounted underneath the vehicle. Certainly your 2020 does. There have been other posts on the forum about TPMS in the spare and I'm afraid I don't recall what they said. You might do a search. But I don't remember anyone saying that their spare didn't have it. Just that some models (at least the Limited) show you the spare's pressure on the MultiInformation Display on the dash, while others only show you the pressure in the four mounted wheels. Hope this helps.

 

The full size spare is not the same as my Nitto Terra Grapler. I have purchased a matching tire and TRD off-road rim, which will be mounted on a rear tire carrier. I suppose I could check the current spare, and take the TPMS sensor from it.

 

Will not work unless you have a Limited. This is what I have read on the forums. I have a 2020 Pro and tried adding a tpms sensor to the spare and it did not work.

 

Yeahh.. probably do-able, but a nightmare, to retrofit the TPWS from a Limited to a non-Limited.

@Glenn Goodlett did you go through the TPWS "reset procedure" in the owner's manual after adding the 5th sensor? My guess is that non-Limiteds are programmed to look only for 4 sensors during reset / initialization.

 

I tried the reset, but, no joy.

 

Looking into this now. Saw a post in different chat group where dealer added the 5th tire pressure to non Limited 4Runner. I am going to add a TPMS to my spare when I put bigger tire on and will let you know what dealer says.

 

The newer ones have a five channel TPMS, the older ones don’t.

 

i don't think the limited has a different TPMS, just the programing is different or the dash display.

 

I have a 2022 TRD Sport. I recently changed wheels/tires from Tire Rack. I also have TR installed TPMS on the wheels I got from them. I assume that TR did not install oem TPMS on the wheels I got from them. All 5 wheels are being recognized in my truck.

 

VERY, VERY year specific, like LandCruiser said. My 2017 Limited has TPMS in the spare. Back then, there were only four channels and the spare was a copy of one of the other four. The dash did not tell you which corner or which tire, just a warning light. You could not reset the codes for winter tires. Usually my light comes on once or twice each winter around 10 below, because the spare is low.

I don't know when it changed, but it seems that there are a couple of big differences now. Firstly, you can reset your TPMS yourself if you change wheels. Secondly, it can read five sensors at a time I believe on all models, even if your spare did not come with a TPMS.

On the "other" 4Runner forum, someone had five summer wheels and five winter wheels on a 2021 TRD Off Road. He changed them twice a year, pressed some buttons on the dash, and good to go.

For the original post, check your manual under TPMS regarding resetting the codes. It may have a footnote about a fifth code. I doubt the Limited has different software in the dash program.

 

UPDATE

I know it is the internet, but I am going to admit I was wrong. The dealer and tire shop have told me for years that my 2017 Limited can only read four codes, and the spare is just a duplicate of one of the others. On the 2017, there is just a warning light, no pressure or which corner information.

So, out of curiosity this morning, I went to the tire shop and asked them to read all five codes. Just read them, nothing else. There are five different codes, all working and communicating with the computer on my 2017 Limited.

 

You may want to take a second look at this. My '21 TRD Pro should be the same as yours. I verified that the spare tire sensor/reader was installed from the factory on the trunk floor under the carpet when I removed all that trim to install Dynamat. I had my independent mechanic fit an OEM Toyota TPMS sensor on the steel wheel of the spare tire and they used their Snap On programmer to activate the receiver on the trunk floor. We put the spare back in place with the valve facing down so air can be added as needed more easily. Works great!

 

I have a 2020 ORP mounted a 5th TPS sensor in my spare and Costco was able to program it. the 5th wheel now shows on my dash.

 

Well hell, it's getting real old dropping the spare to add a sensor to it, but, maybe, third time is a charm.

 

I have had a lot of trucks over the years, and the first thing I do is take the spare out from underneath the truck and put it in the back of the bed (SUVs, not pickups). The best was my 1984 Blazer, where the spare was vertical mounted in the back.

In Alaska, there is no way you can get that thing out in the dark and snow from underneath. The tire pressure drops too much from the cold, too. Also, over the years, the chains and cranks, and lowering devices rust (as well as the wheel). They are also stolen a lot on pickups up here.

On our 2017, it took me quite a while to take it out on a sunny warm day. So I removed it, tied up the chains underneath, and placed it in the back. Takes up some room, but it is warm and available when I (or my wife) need it.

I told a guy at work I did this, and he looked at his 2015 Ford pickup spare. It was flat, rusty, and very hard to drop down, since there was 6 years of road grime on everything.

 

Is it a Toyota TPMS or aftermarket? Looking to do this asap.

 

I used an OEM toyota in my factory steel spare. Works perfect. Part Number 42607-48010

 

https://www.tpms.com/Toyota-4-Runner-OEM-Pacific-TPMS-Sensor-p/p0106-toyota-4runner.htm

I ordered these. They say OEM, they work great

 

I had a warning light on the other day, and added some air to my spare, and it went out. Came on again, added some air, and it went out for a week. Tire is not leaking. Took it to a local shop, and he said they sometimes go bad. Not failing, not low battery, just bad and give false readings. Shop said Toyota and Dodge TPMS do that, and last about five years. My 2017 does not show details, just the warning light.

He cloned the code and frequency on a new sensor (shop brand) in the spare, installed it and it works fine now. $80, 10 minutes, not too bad.