Editor’s Note: This blog has been updated in 2021 to reflect current industry standards.
In older cars, every model came with a spare tire that matched the tires already on the vehicle. Over the years, car manufacturers have realized the spare tire is used so infrequently, it does not make much sense to equip every car with a full-sized spare. For this reason, manufacturers began leaving a space-saver spare (otherwise known as a donut) in place of a full-size spare.
Nowadays, spare tires should never be a permanent replacement, begging the question, how long can you really drive on a spare tire? The type of spare tire in your vehicle makes a difference in how long and how far you can drive before fixing your tire or buying a new tire.
These narrow, compact spares are designed to save space and weight in the vehicle, allowing the manufacturers to build a smaller car. However, the tire itself is not built to last. Your owner’s manual will give recommendations for driving time and speed. A general rule of thumb is to drive no farther than 70 miles and no faster than 50 miles per hour before replacing your donut with a new tire.
The biggest reason why you should avoid prolonged use of space-saver or donut tires is that they have little to no tread, making the spare vulnerable to road hazards and projectiles. It is also much smaller than the other 3 tires, making it spin faster to keep up with the moving car.
Run-flat tires are becoming more common as manufacturers realize they cost less to maintain than traditional tires. If you drive a recent model BMW or a MINI, your car likely came with run-flat tires. These tires are tougher than most tires but are not designed to last forever, such as a full-spare tire.
Rather than including a spare tire, these run-flat tires are built to withstand most road hazards, including punctures.
Rather than going flat or blowing out (as traditional tires do), a run-flat tire can continue to drive after punctured for about 50 miles before needing to be replaced
. However, these tires cost more to replace than traditional tires.
While you have a bit more room to travel on these types of tires, it is important to inspect your tire as soon as you are aware of any change in tire pressure. This gives you an idea of how long you have until you have no choice but to have your tire replaced.
How Long Can You Drive on a Full-Size Spare Tire?
For years, cars were built with spare tire wells capable of carrying a full-size spare. On many older cars (and a few newer models), this is still the case. If you bought a truck, SUV, or another large vehicle, your car probably is equipped with a full-size spare. While a full-size spare is heavier and requires a larger space for storage, these tires are more durable and can handle a drive similar to a regular tire.
Once you have taken your vehicle to an auto repair shop and learned that the punctured tire is irreparable, you can request the spare tire to be put on the original rim. It is important to note that a full-size spare tire is usually not produced by the same manufacturer as the rest of the tires on your vehicle, meaning it will handle differently than the other tires. We suggest buying a new tire as soon as you can afford to, but this can easily buy you some time.
Christian Brothers Automotive was born out of the idea of not just being an auto repair shop, but also a neighbor. Our mission is simple: to take root in the local communities we serve and to create an uncommonly great experience for customers in need of auto service and repair. To have your tires inspected or to replace a spare tire, please do not hesitate to call or visit your local Christian Brothers Automotive shop. We have 240 plus locations nationwide that are locally owned and operated, providing complete auto care and repair solutions near you.
Written by Steven Schiller
Fact checked by Henry Speciale
Given the recent changes made by manufacturers regarding spare tires, driving using it can surely be a hassle, and then a question will pop into your mind, prompting you to go on Reddit and ask, how long can you drive on a spare tire?
According to manufacturers, it is only recommended to ride on a spare tire for 50 miles and at about 50 miles per hour. Read on to find out more about the safety tips for when your tire is flat.
Table of Contents
A spare tire mileage is around 70 miles and a donut tire is 50 miles, which can be long enough until you can get to a repair shop where they can fix or inspect your flat tire.
While it is not recommended, the max speed on a donut is 70 mph, especially if you are in a hurry. However, by doing so, there is a risk of damaging other parts, such as the transmission.
Read this article for more max speed when you drive with a spare tire and the risk that comes with it.
Just remember to stay in the slow lane to avoid accidents that might occur when you are doing this.
Donut tires are usually small and light and typically have a minor tread construction compared to regular tires. Therefore, 50 miles is how far you should and can drive on a donut.
Can I drive on a spare tire for a week?
If your spare tire is in good condition and relatively just like the original tires, it can go for another week, depending on usage.
But if it is not the same as your old tires, then changing your spare tire must be done as soon as possible.
Can I drive 200 miles using a spare tire?
Most often than not, a spare tire is light and small compared to your original tires. Driving 200 miles using a spare is highly discouraged because it is not safe. Fifty miles is the recommended range, and it should be enough for you to find a repair shop nearby.
What should I do if my donut tire is flat?
The smart thing to do is to pull over in a safe space and ask other people passing by to get help. If this is not applicable, you can call a nearby tire shop. Also, ask for your car to be towed by a tow truck and have it brought to the nearest shop to be fixed.
It is your responsibility to know the details and the limitations of the spare tire to avoid more significant problems regarding your safety.
Always keep in mind the safe mileage of a spare tire and the safest speed limit you can use while using this. Remember that it is called a “spare” for a reason. We hope that this article answers your question about how long can you drive on a spare tire.
Categories FAQsI'm Henry, the content writer for PPMC Transport. We build our site entirely on experience and extensive market and customer research. My goal is to create a trusted platform where people can go to determine what is best for their vehicles in terms of safety and convenience. Keep an eye out for our useful guide!
- Speciale Henry
A spare wheel is needed in case any of the car's tires is accidentally damaged. This is especially true when driving frequently on bad roads. In modern conditions, the spare wheel is represented by several varieties. Among them:
The car can also be equipped with a repair kit.
The car can be equipped with a complete spare wheel, which in terms of its parameters does not differ from the standard wheels in the main set. Experts recommend taking it with you if you have a long journey ahead. A full-fledged spare tire in the event of a main wheel failure allows you to continue driving without worrying about driving safety.
When choosing a full-fledged spare tire, it is advisable to buy one that has the same size and model as the main ones. If such a purchase is not possible, it is necessary to purchase a tire of the same size, which provides an opportunity to get to the nearest point of sale or tire fitting.
Here it is worth mentioning the organizer. This accessory allows you to conveniently place around and in the spare tire itself tools, washer, warning triangle and more. The spare tire organizer can consist of a different number of compartments, and can also be designed for a specific brand of car.
The main purpose of "dokatka" can be understood from the name itself. Its function is that the driver can easily get to the nearest service center. It can be driven at a speed of no more than 80 km / h, since the parameters of such a spare tire do not match the characteristics of the tires from the kit. "Dokatka" has the following differences from the standard wheel:
The smaller dimensions are needed so that the spare tire takes up less space in the boot. But at the same time, the car owner will have to put up with a deterioration in handling due to the difference in grip with the roadway.
The repair kit is a standard kit that includes the following items:
When pumping, the can is connected to the hose. Air enters the tire along with the sealant, which hardens and “fills” the hole. The repair kit is only suitable for repairing pinholes, and only on the tread. If the cut is on the sidewall, it will not be possible to repair the tire in this way.
If the spare wheel for a car is represented by a "stowaway", then the car's handling is reduced. This is due to the fact that the level of grip of the tire with the road changes. Its contact patch is smaller than a full-fledged wheel from the kit. It leaves much to be desired and the comfort of movement - all for the same obvious reasons.
In most cases, manufacturers complete cars with one spare tire. Perhaps a full-fledged spare tire, designed for summer driving.
In winter, they can lead to some difficulties in driving a car. Depending on the installation location, different handling problems may be observed:
Here, with strong braking, a rotating effect occurs - the car simply turns around a smaller diameter tire ("stowaway") or a tire with a different seasonality.
In this case, you must beware of possible drifts. The rear axle is unloaded, which is why when braking and entering turns, the rear of the car can skid.
The reason for such handling problems is different rubber composition and tread pattern. Summer tires are stiffer and harden in the cold, which is why it cannot provide the necessary grip. Winter is softer and has a more "dissected" pattern, so it clings well to snow and ice.
In the case of a complete winter spare tire, it is important that it matches exactly with the main wheels in the kit. If the tires are different, you will immediately feel it from the very first meters of driving.
Especially with the difference between a studded set and a non-studded tire.
If you still have to use a summer spare tire or a “stowaway” in winter, it is better to install them on the rear axle. This rule applies even if the front wheel is damaged. We'll have to rearrange the rear in its place, and instead of the rear - the spare tire.
It is not recommended to travel long distances with a "dock". Maximum - to the nearest service center. It is also permissible to move with such a spare wheel along the short route "work - home", if suddenly it is not yet possible to purchase a new one.
Wheel Change Safety
Spare wheel for the car must be stored in the trunk. The shelf life of a spare tire is equal to the service life of the standard car wheels, even if you have never used it. Outwardly, the tire may look normal, but rubber still loses its properties over the years, and it will be dangerous to ride on it.
Tangled courtyards around a colony on the outskirts of the city, documents for an auction for the supply of meat and 7 minutes to get them to the checkpoint. And at this moment I hook the metal pin with the wheel, the rubber instantly falls off, I leave the car and run with the documents to the entrance to the colony.
Everything worked out, but instead of a triumph, I had to install a spare wheel, and I only imagined how to put a spare tire. Imagine my surprise when a new, but smaller wheel was found in the trunk. At that moment I did not know yet that it is rare which spare tire matches the standard tires.
A spare wheel is almost always included in new vehicles. And when the owner opens the trunk and looks into the pallet, 4 scenarios await him. Of course, if, like me, they did not pay attention to it in the showroom. There are also cars with a spare wheel in the back.
This is a rim with a smaller diameter tire, typically 1 inch from the main wheels. It cannot be considered a spare in the full sense, it is intended for temporary use in order to get to the nearest tire shop or shop where you can make a tire selection. Disks on the dokatka are usually steel. The whole point of such a wheel is to reduce the cost of completing a car in production. Many people also talk about reducing the weight of the equipped car, but this is a completely uncritical effect.
So, before installation, check the pressure in the dokatka. If possible, they pump up more than regular wheels, up to 4-4.2 atmospheres. According to the operating rules, you cannot drive on different diameters, but you can move to the place of repair. Installing a spare tire will take time, and in order to shorten it, it is good to store the stowage assembled and already inflated.
Equipped with the same tire as the vehicle itself. The disk can be simpler, the so-called basin or pan. If the rest of the wheels are cast, then it is also not recommended to use the spare wheel “on steel” for a long time. Different weight load on the axle, uneven running gear wear. What spare tire is suitable for constant driving? Only a full-fledged fifth wheel identical to the rest, and in two versions - winter and summer.
This is designed to quickly repair a punctured wheel, but will not help with significant damage. It is the case when it is better to play it safe - you still need an independent selection of tires.
Spare wheel discs can be used the cheapest.
Fitting this spare tire mainly on luxury cars, they don't need spares. The composition of the rubber and the design of the cord are such that they allow the car to drive before repair even with a flat tire: the tire will not fall off, the grip will remain.
If there is a space for storing a spare wheel in a special compartment in the trunk, on the roof or on the tailgate, then it must be included in the package of a new car. Used cars can be in a different condition, but they usually have a spare tire available. What should be the spare wheel so that it can be used as quickly as possible?
1. Existing. That is, in principle, it should be. There are drivers who do not even know what kind of spare tire is in their car and whether it is at all. Nevertheless, informed means armed, everyone knows this.
2. Pumped up. It is recommended to check the pressure in it monthly along with the diagnostics of standard wheels.
