How long can a spare tire last

How Long Will Your Spare Tire Last?

The tires on your car or truck are designed to tackle miles of pavement, gravel, dirt, and all sorts of weather conditions. But every so often, you’re going to run over an object that could cause a flat tire. When that happens and you install your spare, how long can you drive and still make it safely to the tire shop? We have some answers to help you save money and stay safe on the road.

Your Spare is NOT a Long Term Solution

According to most vehicle manufacturers, a temporary spare tire (also known as a donut spare) should only be used to get from where you discovered your flat tire to the nearest tire repair shop. While there are different sizes and types of spares, we suggest you keep speeds at or below 50 miles per hour and drive no more than 50 miles on a spare tire before getting your flat fixed. Some full-size spare tires, or spare tires that are designed to match the other 4 tires on the vehicle, can be installed and used for longer distances, at normal speeds. Since these spares may not be used often, just make sure the air pressure is set to the manufacturer's specification, and the tire doesn't have any visible issues before hitting the road. If there are any concerns, proceed with caution or seek advice from a tire professional.

Why? Because your temporary spare tire may be smaller than your everyday tires. This makes it spin faster than the rest of the wheels. Plus, the tread can be vastly different, or the tire may not be designed for long distances. Regardless, those differences can decrease your control, reduce stopping power, cause hydroplaning on wet roads, and can damage your transmission and other parts of your vehicle. See your owner’s manual or the side of your spare tire for recommended safe driving speeds and distances.

Les Schwab Tip: Whether you drive a handful of miles every day or hundreds of miles a week, it’s important to learn how to change a tire. It’s easy and can save you from paying and/or waiting for roadside assistance.

What is a Space-Saver Spare?

Also known as a donut spare, the space-saver spare tire was designed to save space in smaller vehicles. If you drive a compact or smaller vehicle, you may have a space-saver spare. These tires have less traction than your regular tires, are smaller, should not be driven at speeds over 50 miles per hour, and should not be used for more than 50 miles. That’s enough to get you to your nearest Les Schwab Tires for a free flat repair when you have our tires on your vehicle.

What is a Full-Size Spare?

Many vehicles, including sedans, SUVs and larger trucks have a full-size spare. As the name implies, they are the same size as the other tires on your vehicle. However, the tread on the spare may be different. If there is far more tread on the spare, you may notice decreased control and comfort while driving. And if the spare has minimized tread, you could experience hydroplaning on wet roads or reduced stopping distance. Either way, it’s a good idea to get to Les Schwab when you have a flat. That way you can reduce your time driving on a spare.

What are Expandable/Inflatable Spare Tires?

Expandable/inflatable spare tires are available in some vehicles, including Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Ferrari models. These spares come with a non-inflated tire mounted to the rim and an air compressor. Once you inflate and install the spare, it’s ready to get you to the nearest Les Schwab.

What About Run-Flat Tires?

You may wonder if you even need a spare tire at all. The answer is maybe. Run-flat tires are designed to withstand punctures and remain mostly inflated. However, if you do begin to lose tire pressure, these tires need to be inspected and repaired quickly to avoid a full replacement.

Les Schwab Knows Tires (and Spares)

The distances between tire service can be long. Spare tires, as well as run-flat tires need attention, just like your regular tires. Not sure what kind of spare you have or if it’s even properly inflated? Schedule a Les Schwab free pre-trip safety check. We’ll give everything a visual inspection and show you what to do the next time you get a flat.

If you have a flat tire, you know how frustrating a process it is to get your car back to its normal operation. Not only does it disrupt your travel, it also takes time and money to replace a flat. After you change the flat tire and install your spare, you might be wondering: how long can you drive on it?

In this article, we’ll tell you just how far you can drive on a spare tire, what the key differences in types of spare tires are, and best practices for driving on a spare tire.

Let’s jump right in by answering your main question: 

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.

Additionally, you shouldn’t drive faster than 50 mph on a temporary or donut spare tire, as they have far less traction and durability than a standard tire. You probably wouldn’t want to drive longer or faster on a spare anyway, as the typical spare can make your vehicle feel more like an airplane ambling down a runway than a car driving down a highway.

Once you are driving your spare, you should replace it with a proper full-size tire as quickly as possible to stay safe on the roads.

Types of Spare Tires:

There are several kinds of spare tires, but which one you will use mostly depends on the type of vehicle you’re driving.

• Compact and Midsize Cars: Small to midsize cars often use compact temporary spares, often referred to as ‘donut’ tires. These are small tires that usually fit inside your vehicle, beneath the floor of the trunk. These tires not only differ from regular tires in their shape and size, but also in their required tire pressure. While most tires for smaller vehicles require a tire pressure around 35 PSI or so, these spare tires often require around 60 PSI.
• SUVS, Crossovers, and Trucks: Larger vehicles will often come equipped with a full-size spare tire. These vehicles are significantly heavier than most sedans and mid-sized cars, so the spare tires are usually larger to support the vehicle’s full load, and possibly additional cargo or items being towed.

Full-size spares are typically much better quality than a donut spare; however, they still should be replaced as soon as possible. These spares often aren’t as durable, may have narrower wheels than the standard tires, and may not be produced by the same manufacturer as your other tires.

Full-size spare tires should be regularly inspected too, especially if they are secured to the bottom of the vehicle and therefore may be exposed to harsher elements.

How to drive safely on a spare tire

Regardless of whether your spare is a donut or a full-size spare, you’ll want to be careful while driving on it. To drive safely on your spare tire, follow these best practices:

• Check your spare tire’s pressure regularly when it isn’t in use. Spare tires often have different inflation pressure needs than your regular tires, so it’s wise to check them for proper inflation. Plus, a spare tire isn’t much help if it has low pressure.
• Give yourself extra space and time to brake. Using a spare tire can cause your vehicle’s anti-lock brake system (ABS) light to turn on, or for your ABS to not function properly. Additionally, a donut spare can lead to inaccuracies in some vehicles’ speedometers. Braking early and with extra space between you and other vehicles can ensure you’re not in for surprises.
• Be extra careful when driving in inclement weather. Spare tires don’t have advanced treads, so they aren’t able to provide the traction your regular tires would. Spares are therefore more susceptible to slipping or hydroplaning (sliding across the surface of puddles). 
• Replace your spare when necessary. Replacement will depend on the type of spare you have; check your vehicle’s owner manual, or inspect the spare for more information on how frequently you should replace it. Many spare tires have a lifetime of about eight years.

Stay Safe and be Prepared with Top Driver

As the Midwest’s premier driving school, Top Driver takes pride in preparing our students for everything they encounter on the road and with their vehicle.

With more than 40 locations throughout Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio, Top Driver is your best resource for driver education. Each year we provide countless hours of in-vehicle training and classes, not to mention our free blog covering best practices for road safety. If you’re looking for teen programs for new drivers, adult, or remedial courses, Top Driver has you covered.

We’re also going the extra mile to ensure a safe learning space for our students and instructors by providing remote classroom education opportunities and implementing a coronavirus vehicle sanitization process.

Call 1 (800) 374-8373 or enroll online today!

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