How fast can you drive on a donut spare tire


How Fast Can You Drive On A Donut?

A spare donut tire is essential to prevent flat tires on the road. This type of tire does not have all the standard wheel functions, especially with limited speed.

So, how fast can you drive on a donut? You can only run up to 50 – 70 mph. If this limit exceeds, some damage can happen to your vehicle’s system!

In a flat tire on the road, spare donut tires become very useful and meaningful. The following article will help you better understand this issue.

How Fast Can You Drive On A Donut?

As mentioned above, you can drive on a donut up to 50 – 70 mph. You should follow these rules for using tires to ensure safety when participating in traffic.

Driving speed depends mainly on the quality of the donut. Although there is variation between brands, the average travel speed data is around 50 mph.

To properly determine the essential parameters, you can monitor manufacturers’ information printed on the packaging. They are often in easy-to-see places in large letters.

These are all the same knowledge in the user manual if you look closely. Different spare tire manufacturers also have different travel speeds, mainly due to other materials and application technology.

To be on the safe side, you should carefully review the missing information both on the wheel and the manual or consult a professional. If the recommendations are not clear, you should drive at 50mph or below to stay safe on the road.

How Should You Drive With A Donut Tire?

The problem is quite similar to the one above. We should understand why it is a spare tire because it is only in the event of a rare incident.

Many of you will think that both tires are the same, which seems to be a misconception. Donut has a smaller design, thinner wall, and much less performance than a regular one, so it is unsuitable for long-term use.

As a recommendation for safety, you should not drive more than 70 miles and exceed 50mph.

What Will Happen If You Drive Too Fast On A Donut Spare Tire?

Driving too fast with a donut spare tire is dangerous and increases the cost.

Dangerous situations will occur when you drive with the spare tire at a fast speed for a long time. The significant risk for the above problem is tire failure.

Traveling beyond 50 miles will not cause immediate consequences, but will certainly affect driving safety and many other dangers.

Unlike regular tires, a damaged donut can be worse than you think. With a limited design in many aspects, the risk of losing control of the vehicle’s power causes consequences for the rotating shafts and other parts of the car.

Although no country has yet issued an official regulation on spare tires, some traffic violations related to the donut also cost you a lot of money.

Notes When Driving With Donut Tires?

First, master the skills when using tire donuts, such as controlling the vehicle’s speedwell and not exceeding the allowed travel number, especially when turning or braking sharply. Sudden acceleration or turning will make the system not adaptive, putting pressure on the controller, causing equipment damage.

Choose the right spare tire for each vehicle type. There are two main products on the market: light tires and flat wheels. The weight is not too heavy for small cars like BMW or MINI, which tend to be donuts.

In contrast to heavy trucks such as containers or excavators, flat wheels are a reasonable choice because they have a large design, good gravity support, and can even be on the road in the absence of air pressure.

Besides, although the car can run from 50-70 miles, if you want to be suitable, quickly find a service center to put the standard tire back in place.

FAQs

Can I go 70mph on a donut?

You can drive 70 mph, but this speed is not recommended. Exceeding the allowable travel speed is extremely dangerous because it can cause serious consequences such as tire explosion, loss of control from wheel wear.
Although the speed figure depends on how the manufacturers manufacture, it ranges from 50-100 miles. However, you should limit the challenge and strictly follow the expert’s recommendations to be safe.

Do donuts hurt your car?

Some of the consequences of donuts cause to the car such as:
– Car heating
– Loss of power in the steering system
– Hanging system
– Burn the wall
– Damage to the transmission of the steering unit.

Can you drive faster than 50mph on a donut?

You can do so, but we always advise against this. If you think that speeding does not affect you too much in a short time, this seems to be a completely wrong assumption. And no one can predict the future, so overusing tires can make you sick dangerously in traffic.

Are donuts legal?

The short answer is yes. It is widely available worldwide. And almost if anyone owns a car, there is a tire available.
However, if you arbitrarily produce donut tires without the permission of the competent authority, you are violating the law on illegal activities.

Conclusion

Understanding the usage procedure and the notes to avoid will make it easier to control a car with a donut. Factors from the outside environment also impact spare tires, so the priority solution is always to find a tire repair shop soon.

We hope that this information will help you understand this matter. If you have any other related questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment in the section below. We will try to help clarify these questions in a timely manner!

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

This post was last updated on

How Fast Can You Drive on a Spare Tire? Things to Know!

A spare tire may come in handy in emergency cases like a flat tire. However, it should be used as a temporary option only because you cannot expect the same vehicle performance as regular tires provide.

So, how fast can you drive on a spare tire? The maximum speed of a spare tire is 50 mph, and you must not drive farther than 70 miles.

Else, it would cause vehicle issues like tire wear, tire blowout, flat tire, or damage to car parts.

Table of Contents

  • How Fast Can You Go on a Spare Tire?
  • Reasons Why You Cannot Go Fast on Spare Tire
  • What Should You Prepare: a Full-size Spare Tire or a Donut Tire
  • How to Safely Use a Spare Tire?
  • What Will Happen if You Drive Too Fast on a Donut Spare Tire?
  • What is the Optimal Speed for Driving on a Donut Tire?
  • Conclusion

How Fast Can You Go on a Spare Tire?

A spare tire is an additional tire carried on the trunk of a car. It can be a full-size spare tire or a donut tire.

1. With a full-size spare tire

A full size spare tire can be a matching spare tire of your traditional tires. Meaning they have the same size, weight, and perhaps, even brand.

Therefore, they don’t have specific limits, especially on the highway. You might be able to drive more than 70 miles without lowering the speed.

The max speed on spare tire will be 90 miles if you have to stretch a little to reach the destination as soon as possible.

2. With a donut tire

A donut tire, also known as a donut spare, is smaller than regular tires because it was designed to be light, space-saving, and portable. Its primary purpose is to replace a flat tire and bring your vehicle to the nearest repair shop.

Donut spares are small, light, and have minor tread construction than regular tires. Therefore, to be safe, the fastest you can go on a donut spare is 50 mph, and the farthest you can drive is not more than 70 miles.

This limitation makes it unsafe to drive on a donut on the highway.

Reasons Why You Cannot Go Fast on Spare Tire

1. Tire Wear

Donut spares are smaller, lighter, and have little tread, so driving faster than 50mph will cause the wheel to work harder and lead to tire wear quickly.

2. Tire blowout

Since donut tires do not have the significant features of regular tires, exceeding spare tire speed limit will cause the tire to blow out and lose control of the vehicle.

Worst, it may lead to an accident like a car crash, vehicle collision, or hitting pedestrians.

3. Flat Tire

Donut tires are constructed with less resistance to bumps, road hazards, or projectiles. So driving them faster and longer than their service design may put them at risk for another flat tire emergency.

4. Damage to car parts

In general, when donut tires are overused, they cause damage to car parts such as:

  • Transmission
  • Suspension
  • Brakes
  • Car heating
  • Steering system

What Should You Prepare: a Full-size Spare Tire or a Donut Tire

Safety and Convenience

Suppose your full-size spare tire matches the current specifications of your regular tires. In that case, you can drive safely without worrying about another emergency.

On the other hand, when you drive on a donut, it is advisable to quickly visit the nearest auto repair shop.

Cost

Donut spare tires cost around $50-300, while full-size spare tire may start at $100 or have the same price as your regular tires.

How to Safely Use a Spare Tire?

Don’t use the spare tire if you experience a flat tire on one of the driving wheels. Instead, get the replacement from the non-driving wheel.

Replace the tire in the non-driving wheel with the full-size spare tire. As a result, you won’t feel a big difference in ride quality.

If you put a donut tire on a driving wheel, there is a huge shift in handling because it is undersized. It may throw you off the road when you turn or slide when you brake because there is much weight to carry.

If you don’t have a choice but to use the donut tire in front, drive a short distance. Don’t take other risks. Calling a towing service is a safer option if there’s a long way to go.

What Will Happen if You Drive Too Fast on a Donut Spare Tire?

Driving too fast on a donut spare tire can cause flat tires, tire wear, or tire blowout, leading to loss of vehicle control and road accidents. It may also damage vehicle parts such as the brakes, steering system, suspension, and transmission.

What is the Optimal Speed for Driving on a Donut Tire?

The optimal speed for driving on a donut tire is 50 mph. Reddit users attest that driving more than 70mph is dangerous.

Can I drive a spare tire on the highway?

Indeed, driving on a spare tire on the highway is dangerous because the average speed required is 50mph.

If there is no other way, you might drive on a full-size spare tire and not a donut tire.

Conclusion

Not knowing how fast can you drive on a spare tire is dangerous.

Driving spare tires at more than the recommended speed of 50 mph and mileage of 70 miles will cause more damage to the vehicle, not limited to flat tires or tire blowout. Worst of all, accidents may happen.

Although full-size spare tires are ideal, they are not available for small-sized vehicles. Even if donut spare tires are not for long-term use, they are reliable for short distances.

If you want to know more about fixing flat tires, don’t hesitate to ask some questions.

How long can you drive on a spare tire? leaving on the road. The presence of a spare wheel gives the driver confidence that in the event of a puncture or damage to the main wheel, he will not wait on the road, waste time, ask other drivers for help. nine0003

The spare wheel, at first glance, is no different from the wheels that are installed on cars. But it turns out that not all spare wheels can be used as main wheels for a long time.

Contents

  • Which wheels to put in
  • Donut in the trunk that you can't eat
  • Standard wheels as spares

Which wheels to put in

main wheels. In addition, their service life is much lower. Visually similar to the main ones, they differ in structure. The sides are made of rubber with one layer of polyester and just two bands of steel. The protector also consists of a single layer of polyester. Such tires are short-lived and quickly become unusable when driving. We will look at the two main types of spare wheels and their distinctive features. nine0003

A donut in the trunk that you can't eat

Often, in factories, car manufacturers are equipped with spare wheels, which in our country are called "donuts" because of their small size and shape. In English-speaking countries, they are called Space Savers, which means "saving space." They fell in love with car owners because of their small size and practicality. They have advantages, but they also have disadvantages.

Donut benefits:

  • Take up little space in the trunk. Trunk volume is one of the important characteristics of a car. Especially for a large family. A large wheel in the trunk "steals" so sometimes the necessary space.
  • Lightweight. Such a wheel really weighs much less than the standard main one. This is important when a person of low physical strength or a woman changes the wheel. Raise and install the "donut" under the force of any driver.

Doughnut Disadvantages:

  • Low strength and stability. The spare wheel has a thinner-walled lightweight rim and the same tire. A lighter wheel behaves on the road in a completely different way than the main one. The driver who has installed such a spare tire must not exceed the speed of 90 km/h. And avoid falling into holes and potholes.
  • Low resource. These wheels are not durable. They are only needed to get to the nearest workshop. On average, it is possible to drive 80 km on such a tire. In some cases, on a good road 110 km. This is enough to get to the store or service. The tire is not subject to further use, as it is rubbed to holes. nine0014
  • "Donut" will help out in a difficult situation, but is not suitable for full-fledged operation. When going to an area where service shops are not often found, replace the donut with a full-fledged standard spare tire.

Standard wheels as spares

Some manufacturers provide full-size, durable wheels on vehicles. They are bigger and heavier than donuts, but they can be ridden for just as long as the main wheels. The only exception may be the tread pattern, composition and width of the tire, which may differ from the main wheels. All of these can affect handling. After the driver has installed the spare tire, he must fill the empty space in the trunk with a new one as soon as possible. The problem with the wheel can happen in a year, maybe tomorrow. You must always be ready for this. nine0003

How long can I drive on the spare tire?

Spare tires are useful insurance, but most are not designed to replace a flat tire indefinitely.

Not all spare wheels are created equal, and to better understand which spare tire your vehicle is equipped with, please refer to your vehicle owner's manual. Temporary spare tires generally do not have the life expectancy that regular tires do. Unlike a normal car tyre, spare tires can only have one polyester ply in the sidewall and two steel belts with a ply of polyester in the tread, meaning they can't provide half the performance and safety that an average tire can provide. nine0003

In this article we will try to describe all types of spare wheels available, and tell you how long you can drive on each of them.

DONUTS OR SPACE SAVERS

These little spare tires are commonly referred to as donuts or space savers. They are very popular because they are lightweight and do not take up much space in the luggage compartment of your car. Due to the low weight, even a person who is not at all predisposed to physical activity will not find it difficult to lift and install such a spare wheel. By the way, how to do it in the field, without the help of specialists, read here. nine0003

However, because the "doughnuts " are smaller and lighter, they lack two key features of conventional tires: strength and stability. Most of these spare tires have a speed limit of up to 90 km/h. With such a spare tire, you can expect to cover a distance of 80 km, some of them can cover up to 110 km. This should be enough to find the nearest tire shop and fix the damaged tire, or find a shop where you can buy a brand new tire if the previous one is no longer repairable. nine0003

From the above, we can conclude that the donut spare wheel is not recommended for long trips or pulling with its replacement with a normal, standard wheel.

FULL SIZE SPARE TIRES

Some car manufacturers fit their vehicles with full size spare tires. They are, of course, heavier than space savers and take up much more space in the trunk, but they are more durable and durable. They are able to last you much longer than donuts. However, these tires may have a different tread pattern or rubber compound than a conventional tire. This can affect overall handling and safety on the road. nine0003

Although these tires are more durable, they are primarily designed to get you to your destination before you deal with the tire problem. In addition, do not forget that the place for the spare wheel in the car is empty, and it should be filled as soon as possible before another tire is punctured.

DO NOT HAVE A SPARE TIRE?

If you do not have a spare tire in your vehicle, then your vehicle may be equipped with run-flat tires. BMW and MINI typically install these tires during production. This type of tire is tougher than other tires and can withstand a puncture and keep going. However, they are also not designed to be ridden forever. nine0003

Most run-flat tires recommend replacing as soon as you notice a puncture. As a rule, they are designed for a distance of up to 100 km in a punctured state, then they must be replaced. Compared to regular tyres, running-flat replacements are not cheap. Some craftsmen can patch run-flat tires, but manufacturers do not recommend going down this path.

One of the advantages of these tires is that you can get to the nearest car wheel shop at speeds up to 80 km/h, i.


Learn more