You can drive a full-size spare almost like a normal tire (but still get it checked/replaced soon). For a temporary "donut" spare, drive cautiously for a short distance, typically under 80-100 km (50-70 miles), and under 80 km/h (50 mph), as they're for getting to a shop, not long trips, to avoid damage to the spare and your car's drivetrain.
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.
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.
Temporary: Our Clermont Toyota car care experts recommend no further than 50 miles with a temporary spare tire. If you decide to drive too far on a temporary, you can get damage on your spare and your car as it is smaller than the other tires. This causes your car to have stress and damage to your transmission.
Check the maximum speed and distance
Space savers have a maximum speed of 50mph, so you should avoid driving on dual carriageways and motorways when one is fitted to your vehicle. They also shouldn't be used for more than 50 - 300 miles, depending on the manufacturer's guidelines.
Stick to the Speed Limit: Most space-saver spares aren't designed for speeds over 80 km/h. Going faster increases the risk of losing control or damaging the tyre. Limit Your Driving Distance: Temporary spare tyres aren't built for long trips—100–150 km is the maximum (depending on the spare).
Simply put, based on our test fleet, about 45 percent of new cars today don't come with a spare tire, though they might be equipped with a compressor and sealant kit to temporarily fix a flat tire. Carmakers are skipping the spare because of regulatory pressure to squeeze more miles out of every gallon of fuel.
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.
Driving too long on a spare tire causes excessive wear on various parts, plus an increased chance of blowout and tire damage. Spare tires come in different types, like donut tires, folding temporary tires, and run-flat tires. You can safely drive for 50 miles on a run-flat tire.
Studies have shown that driving on your space-saver tyre for too long can compromise the performance, functionality and emergency handling of a vehicle. As a rule of thumb the maximum distance manufacturers advise travelling on space-saver tyres is 80km.
Also, the most you should drive on a temporary tire is around 50 miles or less if you can. If you drive too far on a temporary spare, you can not only end up with another flat but also damage your car.
No, it is not illegal to drive without a spare tyre in Australia, as there's no national law mandating one; many modern cars come without them, using run-flats or sealant kits instead, but if you do carry one, it must be roadworthy, and using a space-saver spare has strict rules. The key is that if your car originally had one and it's removed, or if you use a temporary spare, you must ensure compliance with roadworthiness rules, especially regarding safety and condition.
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. That's a huge difference, so let's tell you why such a disparity exists and how to proceed with each type of spare tire.
If you've used your spare tire before, or are actively using it now, tread depth is a crucial consideration. A deeper tread provides better traction, especially in adverse weather conditions like rain, snow, or ice. If the spare tire's tread depth is too low, it might compromise your vehicle's stability and handling.
Being that spare tires can weigh up to 50 pounds, the stated reasoning is that removing this excess weight can help improve fuel economy.
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.
Limit your mileage on donut tires; if you drive on it for a few miles, it's perfectly safe to return it to the trunk after installing regular tires. Should the need arise, you can reuse a donut tire.
So, how fast can you go on a spare tire? A space-saver, or “donut” spare, is typically rated for driving at 50 mph or less.
The "3% tire rule" is a guideline for replacing tires, stating that the new tire's overall diameter should not vary more than ±3% from the original to maintain speedometer accuracy, proper handling, and function of safety systems like ABS and traction control. Going outside this range can cause speedometer errors, clearance issues, and strain on the engine and transmission, while a separate (and false) "3-tire rule" rumor suggests insurance won't cover vandalism if only three tires are damaged.
Your spare tire should hover around 35 to 60 pounds per square inch (PSI), but the actual amount depends on the spare tire. Spare tires have a higher air pressure than regular tires because they lose air over time and they're stored for long periods. You should only use your spare tire for 70 miles or less.
Driving on a spare for too long can lead to serious damage to your vehicle and even put your safety at risk. If you've got a spare tire on your vehicle right now, here's why it's crucial to replace it with a proper tire as soon as possible.
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 tyre sealant is an adhesive gel that is injected into the punctured tyre via the valve. Sometimes referred to as “tyre-weld” the sealant works by filling the tyre with sticky adhesive and sealing the puncture. The tyre repair kit will contain a cannister of sealant and a compressor to reinflate the tyre.
If you have a flat tire and no spare, your best options are to use a tire sealant/inflator kit (if you have one), call roadside assistance for a tow or on-site repair, or, for minor punctures, use a portable inflator to slowly drive to a tire shop, remembering to prioritize safety by pulling over to a secure location first.