JB74 - Gen.4 5 wheel Tyre rotation

Hello all,

I've got a question for all fellow Gen. 4 owners regarding tyre rotation. I'm of the understanding that that the spare on the Gen.4 doesn't have a TPMS sensor fitted. Does this mean that you'll have an error light displayed whilst the spare is fitted in a rotation situation? Or as others online seem to suggest, the spare won't transmit a pressure signal - but the wheel now mounted on the spare rack (with a TPMS sensor fitted and correctly inflated) will keep the system behaving?

I was hoping someone has conducted a real life test. I want carry out a 5 wheel rotation as I feel its best practice - I do relatively high millage on the tarmac but also use the car off road frequently whilst at the local shoot. I figure it'll be the best way to prolong the life of my tyres whilst also being mechanically sympathetic to the AWD system.

It would be a real nuisance if carrying out a 5 wheel rotation would mean you've got to persevere with a highly irritating warning light on the dash.

Yeah, sorry that's the deal. You put the spare on and a few miles down the road the dash turns red. Life saving technology apparently. Chris

I have heard different stories from Gen 4 owners saying the spare does not have a TPMS sensor, That is one of the reasons I chose not to rotate my tyres, the other being the fact my tyre wear is pretty even, see below. That is at 12 month service with 12900 mile on the clock.



Then recently people have said there is a sensor in the spare. So not sure if some have and some haven't or what?

I do know that it is only wheel rotation that activates the TPMS sensor, so a sensor sat in the spare will do nothing to keep the system happy.

The Jimny is 4wd, not AWD. You won't have any issues with uneven tyre wear affecting the transmission if you use it in accordance to the manufacturers guidance.

Thanks for that Soeley. The owners manual does state that the spare ISN'T fitted with a TPMS. I feared as much, little bit frustrating that the owners manual recommends tyre rotation 4/5 - but the TPMS sytem makes the reality a nuisance. Your real world experience is positive though and seems to suggest it may not be as important as I'd thought. I'll measure my tred depth AM as a comparison.

Busta wrote: The Jimny is 4wd, not AWD. You won't have any issues with uneven tyre wear affecting the transmission if you use it in accordance to the manufacturers guidance.

Busta, we might have our wires crossed here. What I meant was, the Gen.4 zook is selectable 4WD with essentially a fixed/locked 2wd/4wd transfer box. There's no centre differential to compensate for a difference in tyre size (and therefore wheel speed) front axle to back - therefore it's more important to ensure tyre wear is even. My understanding is that the risk is even greater with these auto/electronic 4WD systems on modern SUV's.

BMW & Audi use a wet viscous coupling centre Diff/Haldex that would compensate for this.

More traditional 4WD's with a mechanical centre differential also compensate for a difference in tyre size front/rear axle.