Should I use the spare tire/wheel?

[exsterminator]

Having literally replaced all 4 tires on Saturday, it crossed my mind that perhaps I ought to get the aligment guy to switch out one of the new tires with the spare wheel. The reason for this is all of the new tires have production date of 0509 but the spare is XX03, 6 years ago. I recall reading somewhere that you should be very wary of using tires beyond 6 years so what are your thoughts about making use of the spare tire and putting one of the new wheels (tires) in the trunk as a spare????

Thoughts appreciated as have alignment scheduled for tomorrow . . .

[motordavid]

I would leave that spare as a spare; use it if/when you have to.
And, why mix in that tire with 3 new, fresh ones?

Lately, I have read some snippets on the web that suggest the
whole tire dating system may be a little overdone and fodder
for the handwringing, OCD in many of us.

I wouldn't put 6 or 7 or, 8 year old "new" tires on one of my
motorcycles or, on a car for a cross country trip, but I am
beginning to feel the tire "use by" dating is partially more
gov't meddling and lobby pressure. All, imo.
GL,mD

[cobra94563]

I guess you could... if you bought the same model/size tires as the spare. But I would not mix different tire brands on the same axle. So if that is the case, keep the spare as the spare.
I understand the tire age issue is because the sun, light, ozone ages the rubber, and can lead to cracks in the rubber (which you can see). In storage compartment, the spare would not have that problem. I have some 15 year old tires on a show car, but it's mosty under cover and in a garage, and the tires are fine.

My '05 came with 18in, but my spare is 17in. So I'll never rotate it in.

[Werewolf]

Tires age differently. Check the spare for imperfections / dry rot / etc.

If you're gonna use it, put it on the back not the front. Michelins are very well made tires; might be worth a go.

[bgsquad]

is it of the same make/type?