How Long Can You Drive On a Spare Tire?

So, How long can you drive on a spare tire? If you have a flat tire, you know how frustrating a process it is to get your car back to its regular operation. It disrupts your travel, but it also takes time and money to replace a flat tire with a new tire. After you change the flat tire and install your spare tire, you might be wondering: how long can you drive on it?

You can drive to the nearest repair shop with the spare tire to have the flat tire inspected and fixed or replace the tire as soon as possible. With a donut-style spare tire, you should not drive faster than 50 mph to make sure that it does not spin more quickly than the normal speed or for more than 50 miles. Long-distance driving on a spare tire can cause damage to other automotive components, including the transmission.

What Is a Donut Tire?

The prospect of having a flat tire is something that most drivers fear. Keeping our tires in good condition helps, but one can’t always avoid a flat. It happens infrequently, yet almost everyone who owns a car have experienced it at some point. So we’d go to the trunk, pull out the spare tire, install it, and drive away.

A donut tire is a spare tire intended to be used only for a limited period. If you acquire a flat tire, you can jack up your automobile, remove the flat tire, and replace it with your donut tires. You’ll note that your donut tire is usually much smaller than your standard tire.

However, it will assist you in driving your automobile to your local tire shop, where you may get your flat tire patched or tire replaced with a new one. Make sure you drive safely. You should only utilize your donut tire for a short period (more on that in a moment! ), but it will keep you from becoming stranded.

Are Spare Tires Safe?

The amount of time you can drive on a spare tire is determined by the tire. Spare tires come in various sizes and shapes, including a full-size tire, a space-saver spare tire, donuts, and run-flat tires.

Full-size spare tires, both matching and non-matching, are the same size as the tires on your vehicle. A matching full-size spare tire matches your car’s other tires exactly, whereas a non-matching spare tire is simply the same size as the tires of the cars.

On the other hand, donut spare tires are narrow and compact and are designed to fit in the trunk of most vehicles. Donut spare tires are designed to last 50 to 70 miles, and you should not drive at high speeds when they are in use.

How Far Can You Drive on a Flat Tire?

Run-flat tires can maintain pressure even after a puncture. While there are benefits to run-flat tires, there are also a few issues to keep in mind:

• Remains inflated for about 50 miles following a puncture
• Tougher than a space-saver tire or full-size spare
• Often costs more than a standard tire

If you have a run-flat tire and your tire pressure monitor shows that it’s running low, it is good to stop when safe to see if your tire has suffered a puncture.

It is not a good idea to continue driving your vehicle while having a flat tire. Tires offer friction and a pleasant ride, but they also protect the wheels of your car. If you drive on a flat tire, you risk injuring your car’s wheels, compromising vehicle control, and jeopardizing your and others’ safety.

It’s best to pull over and check the damage as soon as possible. Traveling more than a few hundred yards will destroy your tire and cause significant damage to your wheel. As soon as you notice the tire is broken, turn on your hazards and come to a complete stop when it is safe to do so. You should also look after tire service regularly to avoid this kind of situation.

How Far Can You Drive on Spare Tires?

Spare tires are frequently given a 50-mile rating, indicating that you can safely drive for up to 50 miles with one of these spare tires on your automobile. Some tire companies also sell extra tires that can last up to 70 miles. Check the mileage rating on your tires to be sure.

How far you can travel on your spare tire is determined by its quality. For example, a donut spare tire is typically less durable than a full-size matching or non-matching spare tire, regardless of the same manufacturer. As a result, if you’re driving a long distance, a donut spare tire is more vulnerable to damage than a full-size option.

How Long Can You Drive on a Full-Size Spare Tire?

Of course, a spare tire comes in handy when your regular tires blow out, but leaving it on for longer than the manufacturer recommends might cause a slew of issues. To begin with, a temporary spare tire isn’t as durable as a regular tire.

A basic space-saver spare tire contains only one layer of polyester in the sidewall and two steel belts with a layer of polyester in the tread (about half the plies of a regular tire). Puncture resistance and cornering ability are severely limited as a result of this.

Furthermore, as the name implies, space-saver tires are designed to save space in smaller vehicles and crossover trunks, allowing for deeper trunks. As a result, the contact patch is smaller, and the tires are narrower. This causes less traction of tires and long distances, making handling unpredictable in emergency movements.

What Is the Maximum Distance You Should Drive on a Spare Tire?

A full-size spare tire commonly comes with new trucks and SUVs, and while it can last longer than a space-saver, you should replace it as soon as possible. The spare tire will almost certainly be a different type of tire with a different tread pattern than the other larger vehicles, resulting in poor traction and handling.

You should visit the Cadillac of Beverly Hills as soon as possible to select a tire that fits better. Our team will assist you in deciphering the numbers on your tire sidewall to choose the best tire for your car. You should not drive on space-saver spare tires for more than 70 miles.

How Fast Can You Drive on a Spare Tire?

The fastest speed you should go on a spare tire is 50 mph. Although some manufacturers indicate that their tires can travel faster than 50 mph, doing so increases the risk of a blowout, especially if you have already utilized the spare tire. As a result, until you can change your spare tire, you should strive to keep your driving speed below 50 mph.

What Happens if You Drive on a Spare Tire Too Long?

Another blowout or flat is the number one risk of driving too long on a spare tire. Extended driving will quickly wear out the tread because spare tires aren’t built to last. Spare tires are also not very long-lasting, and road hazards such as potholes or debris can rapidly destroy them, resulting in a dangerous blowout. Furthermore, unless you have another spare on hand, you will be unable to move again.

Final Words – How Long Can You Drive On a Spare Tire?

Remember that driving on a spare tire for an extended period can cause additional wear and tear on other parts of your car, such as the transmission, differential, axles, brakes, and suspension. Every component of your vehicle is meant to function in unison, and a tire that is smaller than the others, forces some components to work harder than they should to balance out the workload.

Also, if you are wondering how long do tires last, don’t think too much because we have you covered!