Depends on how old/worn the tires are???

Used tires with various tread depths are available on eBay!

 

I would say they are about half tread left. We've been using them since 2014, but they're snows so I swapped out all seasons the first two years, until I got tired of doing that.

I'm just wondering about this particular AWD system and if this an issue, i.e. is it limited slip between one or all of the wheels.

 

If it's a puncture, plug it yourself... or pay a place $25-$65 to plug it..
Tire hustlers will allway try to sell you more.. go by tread wear..

so long as the hole isint on the sidewall you can plug this yourself...



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I found this info from the Tire Rack website. I hope this will offer some help.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=18

 

From a company that wants to sell tires.. Too bad they did not include some practical advice.. like how much the diameter of the tire changes depending on inflation pressure.. or.. on a curved road.. like most are.. how many more / less revolutions per mile does each tire revolve. Every tire tracks a different path each time you turn.. I am sure this is considered in the design of the AWD.

Unless your manual has something to effect "do not use your spare.. if your existing tires are worn more than 20%" I.. think the problem is overstated.

 

Ralph,
I was thinking exactly that today- the vehicle is always turning slightly this way and that.

The manual is a pile of junk. It gives very little info on anything, but that is probably because it's the age we live in. It does recommend using the spare in the tire rotation, but if it gives any information on the relationship of the AWD system and tires, I am unable to find it.

There is a section where it recommends tire chains for snow and to make sure your area allows them. I would think THAT would be more of a shock to the system than one tire that's a fraction of an inch off.

I don't know. We'll see what they say tomorrow.

Thanks.

 

I downloaded a PDF owner manual yesterday on the 2012 Highlander and poured through it online. I was going googly eyed but there is a section showing tire rotation with the OEM convention spare! this works if its the same original tire still on the vehicle. If you changed the running tires just keep it as a virgin spare.

I read the manual quickly in areas of interest in preparation to reassess a used 2012 4WD at a dealer.

 

As above just get the tire repair as long as you did not drive flat for long and chew the sidewalls up inside, which will happen. A patch anywhere on the thread sole will be fine a high tech vulcanize patch could be placed over the hole on the inside if the shop is dismounting the tire of the rim.
Either was that's it. If your tires are quite well worn a matching pair maybe required on one axle but anything along that line get the thread depth data first before committing to anything but a repair. New verses old and you should be using the same make/model/size as you replace. Don't mix brands or models.

 

The only time I'd worry would be if the difference between the new tire and the old tire on the same axle was too great. Then replace both on the same axle.

 

Bump, and what I said as well.

 

Thanks for all the help, folks. They were able to patch it and I'm out just over $5.

I do have to say that the hoisting system they have for lowering the tire is the best one I've used to date. It minimizes the amount of crawling around and there was ZERO swearing (other than the initial reaction to the flat). There is that little socket that is used over the winch nut. I didn't even need to look in the manual- it was intuitive.

The same cannot be said of the Chevrolet Silverado for the past 10 years.

 

Oh wow that was cheap for patching. Glad it really worked out for you.