What is the spare tire in a car called?
A: If your car has a spare tire, it will usually be one of two types: a full-size spare tire, which is just like the regular wheels and tires on your car, or a temporary spare tire, also known as a donut. The donut is a tire that is relatively narrow and smaller than your car’s standard tires. Spare Tires Are Not Built to Last They’re more vulnerable to road hazards like potholes, nails, or sharp debris. Driving too long on a donut increases your chances of a second flat, which could leave you stranded without a backup. Even full-size spares can have problems if they’ve been sitting unused for years.Driving Limitations on Spare Tires Compact spare tires, also known as donut spares, are designed for short-term use only. Most manufacturers recommend not exceeding 50 miles and driving no faster than 50 mph due to their reduced traction, which can affect handling and braking.Temporary spare tires have limited tread life. Keeping it on your car for a day or two until your first opportunity to get to the tire store might be OK, but only if you limit driving to less than 50 miles during that time. Do not let the tread wear down to the tread wear indicators built into the spare.Temporary spares should only be driven around 50 miles (and less if you can help it). If you drive too far on a temporary spare, you can not only end up with another flat, but also damage your car.
Can I keep my spare tire after using it?
Reusing a Spare Tire Spare tires are typically smaller than regular tires, and their tread depths can cause an imbalance in the vehicle’s suspension system and other tires. Only drive on spare tires for emergency transportation, and replace them with permanent tires as soon as possible. When it comes to temporary spare tires, you should not go over 50 mph. This is because if you go any faster than the recommended mph, you can expect too much heat on the tire causing it to potentially blow out.After you’ve replaced your defective tire with a temporary spare, it’s important to remember the rule of 50. You shouldn’t drive more than 50 miles on a temporary tire or go faster than 50 mph. Spares are not meant to replace a tire and are exactly as they sound — temporary.Typical Distance Limits Most temporary spare tires are designed to last for about 50 miles (80 kilometers). This is just enough distance to get you to a repair shop or tire store. However, if you need to push it, some spares can stretch up to 70 miles (112 kilometers), but that’s generally not advisable.
How long can a car stay on a spare tire?
You should drive no more than 50 miles on a temporary or donut spare tire if possible. If you absolutely must go longer than 50 miles, avoid driving on it longer than 70 miles. A spare tire isn’t meant to completely replace a tire, rather, its purpose is to tide you over until you can properly replace it. You either have a full-size spare tire or a temporary spare tire, much smaller in size and commonly referred to as a donut. If you have a full-size spare, you can drive up to 30,000 miles or more without a problem. However, if you have a donut, most experts recommend driving no more than 70 miles.As a rule of thumb, your spare tyre should last for about 50 miles at 50 miles per hour as they are designed as a temporary measure and are not to be driven on for long distances.Call for roadside assistance If you find yourself stranded and without a spare tyre following a puncture, don’t panic. Even if you didn’t invest in run flats or a tyre repair kit, finding a safe place to stop and requesting roadside assistance is the best option to get you moving once more.In most cases the spare is replaced with a repair kit that is designed to get you back on the road and to somewhere where you can buy a replacement tyre.If you have absolutely no other options, and you’re only driving a short distance (only a few blocks), then you’re usually safe attaching a front spare tire—just make sure you drive defensively and refrain from taking any further risks.
Will a spare tire fit any car?
You can’t just borrow someone’s spare tire and expect it to fit unless you have the exact same vehicle, or a vehicle with the same bolt pattern, hub bore size, weight requirements and even lug nut sizes. The main reason manufacturers are removing spare tires is tough new government fuel economy standards. A spare tire, vehicle jack and related tools can weigh 30 pounds or more.To Save Weight Spare tires are heavy. Along with the tools to change them, they can add 30 to 50 pounds to a car. By removing the spare tire, cars become lighter. A lighter car uses less fuel, which helps improve gas mileage.The other important thing to remember about spare tires is that they are only meant to be a very temporary solution. A spare tires should only be used to get the vehicle to a place where the regular tires can be repaired or replaced, no further than 96 km away.Because weight is the enemy of fuel economy. A spare tire plus a jack and lug wrench can weigh 50 pounds or more. Eliminating the spare also frees up extra cargo room—and saves automakers a few bucks. Auto and tire companies have devised substitutes for the traditional full-size spare.
Why do new cars no longer have spare tires?
Most new cars omit a full-size spare for a combination of engineering, cost, regulatory and consumer-priorities reasons. The decision reflects trade-offs between weight, space, fuel economy, cost, and the availability of alternative solutions. And finally, the weight of the spare tire, wheel, jack and tools reduce fuel economy throughout the vehicle’s life. Sure, it may not be detectable on any one tank of fuel, but a 50-pound spare tire, wheel, jack and tools can reduce the vehicle’s fuel economy by up to 1%.Carmakers are skipping the spare because of regulatory pressure to squeeze more miles out of every gallon of fuel. Ditching the 50 or 60 pounds that a tire, wheel, and jack usually add to a car’s weight helps to increase fuel economy slightly.
What are the rules for spare tires?
Check the Spare’s Limitations The golden rule for donut spare is 50/50. This means no more than 50 miles of driving and a speed limit of no more than 50 miles per hour. With this rule, you won’t push the donut past its limitations, which could cause your spare tire to malfunction. While spare and donut tires are good for emergencies, they should never be considered permanent or semi-permanent replacements. The typical limit for most spares and donuts is about 50 miles, assuming the vehicle doesn’t travel over 50 mph.In general, you should not drive more than 50 miles with a donut. Donut spares are not the same size as the rest of your tires. They are smaller and have thinner contact patches, which could make your car handle unusually. Driving on a donut for prolonged periods can even damage your transmission and suspension.Spare tires, especially compact donut types, are designed for short-term use and have specific distance and speed limits. Typically, you should drive 80 to 160 kilometers (50 to 100 miles) on a spare tire and avoid exceeding 80 km/h (50 mph) speeds.They lack the traction and durability of regular tires and can’t handle high speeds. Obey warnings about your spare to help avoid tire failure and loss of vehicle control. Follow this 50-50 rule of thumb when using a temporary emergency spare tire: Drive less than 50 miles, and keep your speed under 50 mph.Still, many factors influence how long you can and should drive on a spare tire, including what kind of spare your vehicle includes. A full-size spare provides the longest life, but most space-saver spares require replacement at around 70 miles.
Is it okay to drive without a spare tire?
If you live in an urban area with 24-hour towing, and you’re doing mostly daytime driving, you may be good with no spare. Just be sure you have roadside assistance coverage included in your auto insurance policy or another service. Without it, a standard tow (around 5 miles) can cost you over $100. If you get a flat and your car doesn’t have a spare, it might be best to call a tow truck or roadside assistance if you have it depending on your comfort levels and safety; do not exit your car if you are in an unsafe spot on the road.