'02 ES: Strange tire rotation pattern
 

The '02 ES comes with a full size spare tire with alloy wheel. The owner's manual says to incorporate the spare tire into the tire rotation, by rotating the spare tire onto the right side of the car. The specific rotation pattern is:
Exchange left front tire with left rear tire.
Rotate spare tire onto right front, move right front tire to right rear, and put right rear tire into the "spare" position.

Why would you want to do that? Wouldn't there be uneven wear on the right and left side tires then? And you'd end up replacing all 5 tires anyways when the ones on the left side wear down, right?

It seems better to just leave the spare in the trunk. And I thought with FWD you're supposed to criss-cross the left and right tires?

Don't know the exact loc., but in my dads 99 GS3, he has the full size spare (w/ wheels that matches his stockones) and i know that when he gets the tires/wheels rotated, he also must rotate his spare.

It's to maximize the life of all 5 tires. If you don't want the hassle of dealing with spare tire, just stick to the usual routine. Older Toyota manuals give you that option of a 5 tire rotation, as well as other manufacturers.

Thanks for the replies.
5-tire rotation makes sense if all 5 of the tires got worked into the spare tire spot.
But the Lexus owner's manual is saying to rotate the spare tire in on only the right side, meaning the left side tires only get exchanged front and rear without ever going into the spare tire spot.

There is a reason why they have the spare tire placed in the right front It's the tire that is the fastest wearing turn. Most people make more right turns than lefts.