it's only necessary for Syncro vanagons.

us 2WDer's are fine as long as there is a good safe spare tire, with
suffecient air in it . It doesn't have to match perfectly ...just be good
enough.

I like a medium worn not old tire for a spare myself.
However, if I started out with 5 new ones..
I'd rotate the spare since it would be a shame to see a brand new tire
wasting away unused as a spare while the others wear..
but for ordinary use....as long as it's a good solid not-too-old tire ..
just check the air pressure in it once in a while, and don't let it get too
old.
And rotate the four on the ground as desired.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Edward Maglott" <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2011 7:32 AM
Subject: 5 tire rotation was: How to get spare tire out

>I haven't done it 5 tire style since about 1983.  Anybody else
> including the spare in their rotation?
> Edward
>
>
> At 09:58 AM 3/6/2011, Dave Mcneely wrote:
>>If you are including the spare in the rotation (I certainly do),
>>then you are automatically pulling the spare every few months to a
>>year or so.  I suppose it just seems really weird to me that a spare
>>tire would not have even been looked at in a ten year period.  But,
>>different folks .................. .  mcneely
>>
>>---- Rob <becida@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>> > The 19 has always fit mine fine... Try a 3/4? Actually if you have
>> > not been in there in 10 years it's probably flat anyway, get a can of
>> > fix-a-flat or a 'different' spare. Oh, this was written at 1030 this
>> > morning... This has been solved one way or another...
>> >
>> > I try and pull mine every year or so just to check the air psi and
>> > dump out the rocks..
>> >
>> > Rob
>> > becida@comcast.net
>> >
>> >
>> > At  3/5/2011 10:34 AM,David M wrote:
>> > >Nut looks to be like 19mm but my 19mm socket is a bit loose. Nut is
>> > >very tight has not been removed in over 10 years but I desperately
>> > >need to get my spare tire out and mounted. I tried WD40 but its real
>> > >diffuicult to apply it and so far it refuses to yield and the socket
>> > >continually slips. Anyone got any ideas? Personally, I think the
>> > >whole concept of needing a special tool to access the spare tire is
>> > >a dumb design.
>>
>>--
>>David McNeely