If you havent periodically lowered the spare tire, try. Penetrating lube the mechanism, wd40 to flush, and then apply your favorite rust protector like fluid film or surface shield. Thing will move like butta. That being said, i assume tire carriers need replacement since ebay is full of them being sold used.

Lexus does say to do a 5 sided tire rotation for the GX, but getting a shop or dealer to follow that recommendation isnt automatic or implied.

 

Yes, you always have to specify a 5 tire rotation or they'll go with 4. The price is the same.

 

a squirt of lube while youre doing the oil change can prevent any issues.

 

I would run 50 psi cold, but have heard that might set off the tpms (any extreme psi low or high). I have heard, folks who tracked their 2nd gens to and from port, reporting higher then max, but i guess tpms was in transport mode.

 

... on my FJ Cruiser ... running LTX-E tires at 55-psi ... TPMS does not care. Also on GX460 ... running LTX-E tires at 46-psi ... TPMS does not care. Run 60-psi on both for spare tire ... TPMS does not care.

 

I agree it’s probably best to lower the spare fill it with air and lube the hoist mechanism periodically.

Having said that, it’s not fast or easy. I have the hardest time centering the tire when lifting it back up into the well.

I’ve added an extension to the valve stem that mounts on the trailer hitch so I can check tire pressure much more easily throughout the year. Roughly once a year I lower it to lube the hoist.

OP also if you’ve never changed your TPMS sensors yet you’re about due. You can bring your own in to Costco and they’ll mount them for you for like $10 each.

 

Thanks for the Costco tip. My GX is a 2011, so I would expect the batteries to fail fairly soon.

Is there a “go to” site for buying the TPMS replacements? I just bought a new set of winter GX floor mats on sale with free shipping from Prestige Lexus in New Jersey. I think that annual Lexus sale may have ended however.

Are aftermarket sensors available and advisable?

Thanks.

 

^ ... beware ... many shops will not install customer supplied parts unless they are specialty ... they don't wnt to be responsible for something not working that is parts related. In the inverse, I would think one would want to hold the shop accountable for the end result ... comprised of Parts and Labor. Yes, the shops would like to have the parts markup ... but this approach does protect all parties. Also, while some shops will install customer provided parts, many then offset loss of parts markup on the Labor side of the quote.

Also, unless Amazon is an Authorized Distributor ... there is absolutely no warranty coverage provided by the Manufacturer or Amazon ...

 

its probably a battery on one or more of the TPMS sensors has gone out. But just to double check, did you check the pressure in the spare it has a sensor too?

On my ‘12 i just recently bought 5 OEM sensors off of ebay and had costco install them for like $10 each. I wouldn't wait till you replace the tires it wont save you anything. Costco can diagnose which sensor has gone bad and just replace one, i just didnt want to fix one by one since the batteries on all of them were getting old.

 

Costco’s policy is only to install their own sensors. You got lucky