Local Spare Tire Thefts

Who the fvck goes around stealing spare tires these days? There is currently a rash of spare tire thefts occurring in the vicinity, involving trucks or SUVs, where the spares are stowed under the vehicle.

We keep our vehicles locked in our garage when they are home at night, so no worries there, but some tire thefts are also occurring in store parking lots, mainly at night.

For now, until they catch these fvckers, or the “fad” dies off, I’ve removed the spare from underneath my T4R, and am stowing it inside the vehicle, in the rear cargo area. But that’s already proving to be an inconvenience.

I’m entertaining the notion of just removing the spare from the vehicle completely, at least when I’m driving locally. It’ll just be gambling that I don’t get a flat while I’m out driving around.

I’m pushing 71, and, have never had a flat out on the open road in all my driving days. Twice during all this time, I’ve come out to my vehicles in the garage at home, to be greeted by a flat tire right there at home, which I had to change out, but never on the open road, knock on wood.

Of course, sure as h_ll, as soon as I completely remove my spare from my vehicle, that’s when I’ll get my first ever flat tire away from home.

Is there a kit available, or a method, to secure the spare from theft under the vehicle on these 5th gen’s?

The only other benefit of running without the spare would be some weight savings. I don’t know if it would translate to any noticeable improvement in fuel economy though.

Is anyone else running without a spare to fall back on?

 

Rick - I hear you about the theft but Id leave it mounted up underneath and run a cable and lock around it and latch it to the hitch.

 

Ah another Ricky G thread that every fiber of my being screams at me to not reply to and somehow here I am, sitting on the toilet, hacking out a response and a shit.

Are these thefts of stock steel wheels from underneath SUVs? Because that juice isn't worth the squeeze for Johnny McMeth - the things are worthless-ish. Aftermarket wheels mounted on the back of Jeeps or similar, yeah maybe.

Let's just say that there is a rash of stock steel 4R wheels getting stolen... if it's desirable and you remove it and then put it in the cargo area, I would argue it's more likely to be stolen since all that's keeping it "secure" is a piece of glass.

And before you go running a log chain around your frame to try and keep the bad man at bay... You know that the metal brace that holds the spare up has a protrusion that goes through a lug hole that allows the use of a padlock to secure the spare, yes? Just use that.

I wouldn't really worry about running without a spare locally, but getting a flat could turn into a $300 tow so as long as you're okay with that, do what you got to do.

 

Lmao is this what old people are scared of???
Holy sh....

 

I am 55. I can tell you that as you age you become more focused on "risk". I remember when my wife and i did stuff on a whim, we still have fun but we think through and prepare for what could go wrong.

 

In order to get to the "hole" so you can insert the tool to lower the spare tire you have to OPEN THE TAILGATE.

I doubt a thief is going to take the time to find a way to pop the rear hatch, find the tool to lower the spare, put that tool together and then in 3 - 5 minutes....lower the spare out of my truck. Thieves are lazy. That's why they're thieves. They want a quick job to make a quick buck. Stealing a spare tire seems like a lot of work.

Now, I'm not saying they won't at all. But I'm not going to hide my spare tire. That's just being paranoid. If someone finds the time to do all the things mentioned above, fuck it...he earned my spare tire. I have lowered the spare before and it's not an easy task. Ya' gotta want it.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmfMKZGxQ4U

 

Most people wouldn’t even notice a missing spare tire..

The tweakers around here will take anything. They have battery powered saws and grinders to make things quick. And 4 spares from 5th gen 4Runners is the best set of new tires most tweakermobiles will ever see.

Lucky for me, we have a really good PD that keeps the bad guys uncomfortable.. my spare is staying under the car..

 

My old Sienna had a recall where part of the hoist rusts out and it falls off wherever it is, wondering if similar failure is contributing to the impression of theft.

Why steal the spare when the other, worth (a little) more wheels are right there and even easier to grab?

The usual wheel locks and the car being on the ground are solved problems for thieves already.

 

The simple solution is to leave your vehicle at home and ride around in your friends cramped back seats instead.

 

$30 Trimax ST30 - Trimaflex Spare Tire Cable Lock (Round Key) for Boat Trailers, Motor Homes, Trucks, Jeeps, Vans, More - 36" x 12mm - Black/Chrome

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000ATZD5

Back when I had a Tacoma this saved my 5th Method wheel spare multiple times

 

I'm 61 and don't give a fugg about anything but my family. If you want my spare tire, take it, I have a rear dash cam, I'll get to see how you actually got it off of my truck and maybe have a good laugh. It wouldn't be an easy or quick job. Material things can be replaced, enjoy the time you have left with your family, it goes by way too fast.

 

As people get into more precarious economic circumstances some of these people resort to more desperate measures. I can't say I wouldn't go stealing spare tires at night if that what it took to feed my kids.

 

AMEN. Take the tire. I am more worried about damaging the spare off roading than being stolen. But yeah, life goes by way too quick to focus on material items

 

The thieves target pickup trucks where the crank hole is accessible without opening the tailgate, so it's an easy score. The tailgate itself is also commonly stolen.

With the 4Runner there are more valuable parts with faster removal than the spare, like the road wheels, millwave radar, headlights, cats... In fact, I'd wager @Rick G. 's 4Runner is more likely to be stolen awhole than his spare tire.

 

The last thing I worry about is a stolen spare tire.

Unless your Runner is brand new the spare is usually the best tire left over after tire replacement and its on a steel wheel. So it's basically shot. Who's gonna buy it and for how much? How is the thief going to get the tailgate up to remove the spare in the first place?

And unless you have protected them, you've got cat converters that can be removed in less than a minute with a saws-all. And they can sell for enough to get several shots of dope.

I worry more that a crazed jeep driver will T-bone me while trying to pick up a rubber duck from the floor...

 

I love a good @Rick G. thread.

 

Yup. Good luck selling my 8 year old tire and steel wheel that’s rusty as hell.

 

I was told in a another thread that the youth are apathetic so I guess I don't care about my spare tire.

 

I don't do the duck thang but, I might go for a Snickers or french fries.

 

I kinda want a lock for mine.

 

Hmm. If I had to resort to theft to feed my kids, I’d cut out the middle man and steal food. C’mon now. Guys who are stealing tires aren’t trying to feed their kids.

 

Threads about possible stolen cats were all the rage a while back. Now that there's so many shields available, I guess we've moved on to other possibilities for stolen items.

 

I wouldn't put it past @Rick G. if this was an elaborate ploy to make people aware of his new spare tire skid company.

 

cRapper lights....

 

Just thinking about this - Maybe a thief would be doing me a favor by stealing my eight year old spare tire and force me to replace it with a new one.

 

Youre supposed to drop your spare once a year to check it

 

Yep. And I usually try to remind myself when I go in for a tire rotation to have the guys look at it and check the pressure and condition while the truck is up on the rack.

 

We could really get this thread going discussing the merits of having or not having a full-sized spare.

 

Unlike the rest of you peasants, with my Limited I can just check the tire pressure for my spare on my dash.

 

I chose to be a peasant on purpose. I ran out and bought a pre-2020 4Runner to avoid the expense and maintenance of all of the nanny crap that you have on yours.
I drive the old-fashioned way - by paying attention.