If you drive too fast, the impact can be significantly greater and you can cause significant damage to your car as a result. The spare tire also has very little grip - this means that your ability to control the car and steer will be jeopardized and even more so if the conditions are wet, cold or icy.
Driving too fast on a donut spare tire can cause flat tires, tire wear, or tire blowout, leading to loss of vehicle control and road accidents. It may also damage vehicle parts such as the brakes, steering system, suspension, and transmission.
Space saver wheels are not designed for high speeds as they have less grip (and therefore less stopping and cornering ability). 80kph is the maximum speed allowed on a space saver tyre.
Space saver tyres should not be used at speeds of more than 80kph, and they don't grip the road as well as a normal tyre. Your car's stability, traction, and braking distance may all be affected. That's why it's important for this tyre to be swapped out for a regular tyre as soon as possible.
You should not drive over 50 mph and no more than 50 miles with a donut-type spare tire. Driving for long distances on a spare tire can potentially cause damage to other car parts, including the transmission.
This type of spare tyre should only be used temporarily until you've driven to the nearest car tyre dealer, whereas a full-size matching spare can be driven further. There's no hard and fast rule about the distance you can drive on a spare tyre, but a general rule of thumb is about 50 miles at a maximum speed of 50mph.
Do not exceed more than 50 miles per hour speed on a spare tire. Driving too fast on a spare tire is very dangerous and can lead to very expensive (and unnecessary) repairs - this is one of the reasons why many states actually have laws governing max speeds for vehicles using spare tires.
When you're driving on a temporary spare tyre, it's really important to keep an eye on your speed. The speed limit for these tyres is usually capped at 50mph because their smaller size means that they unbalance the vehicle. The higher your speed, the harder your car becomes to control.
If your vehicle is rear wheel drive with a limited slip differential (LSD), using a space saver on a front tyre can cause damage to the LSD. So it is recommended to put a space saver on the front and drive extremely slowly and cautiously, particularly in the wet, as it there is a much higher risk of wheelspin.
Your Spare is NOT a Long Term Solution
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.
Of course, it isn't illegal to not have a spare in your car, but the benefits are obvious. If you know how to even change a spare tyre, then carrying one will help you get out of any tricky situation should you find yourself in the event of a puncture or blowout on the side of the road.
Typically, tyre foam or sealant will last between 50 - 100 miles before it starts to become ineffective. It's essential that you get your tyre fixed or replaced properly as soon as possible – ideally, on the same day.
“Unless specified, you should get a new spare tire at 10 years to ensure it is safe to use,” says Ryan Pszczolkowski, CR's tire program manager. “You should inspect your spare tire periodically to look for any cracking or dry rot.” This task can be done when you're checking the tire pressure.
A drive of 200 miles would likely exceed the tire's design limits, leading to excessive wear and an increased risk of tire failure. Impacts on Vehicle Handling: Driving for extended distances on a donut spare can also lead to impaired vehicle handling.
Unlike your four regular tires, compact spare tires typically should be inflated to around 60 pounds per square inch; PSI far short of that level could fail and damage the wheel, as well.
Tread depth rules apply to space saver wheels in the same way as they do to standard tyres. Can space saver wheels be used front and back: Check your handbook, because some vehicles have restrictions on where they can be used for safety reasons. Never use more than one space saver wheel on a vehicle at any one time.
Use space-saver tyres only in an emergency - they're not designed to be used over long distances. Drive carefully and at no more than 80km/h when using a space-saver tyre. Your car's handling may be different when one is fitted. Never fit more than one space-saver tyre to a vehicle.
As a space saver tyre is typically thinner and smaller, it naturally won't run as well as a regular tyre – it will wear down much faster for one thing and it can be less easy to keep a grip on the road.
Being thinner, space savers have less tread in contact with the road at any given moment, which means they have less grip (and are therefore limited to a speed of 80km/h). This difference in size compared to the other tyres also makes the vehicle unbalanced overall.
Gone are the days of every car having a full size spare. Space saver tyres take up less room inside the car, leaving more room for interior storage space. They also weigh less, and that means that space savers are technically more fuel efficient to carry around with you until the time that they're needed.
SLOW DOWN YOUR SPEED.
Getting to a repair shop as soon as possible may be the priority, but you don't want to risk driving faster than your spare tire can handle. Try not to exceed 50 mph on your newly installed compact spare tire.
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.
Operating restrictions
Space-saver wheels are designed for temporary use, to get you to a place of repair. There's no maximum distance but the speed restriction, limited tread (only 3mm from new) and softer rubber compound mean that the distance covered before repair shouldn't be excessive.
Generally, you can only travel for about 50 miles on a spare. If you drive any further, then there is a substantial risk the spare will blow out, and you will need to get a new spare as well as a new permanent tire.
Space-saver tyres have a limited travel distance because manufacturers design space-saver tyres as emergency equipment. The tyres only have a range of 100-450kms before they become worn out and need to be replaced. Space saver tyres are only good for speeds up to 80km/h.