Let’s pretend you’re on a nice, long drive. Suddenly, disaster strikes, and you end up with a flat tire!
Having a flat can be incredibly frustrating and challenging. Most cars have an attached tire to rely upon in emergencies which can work well for a while. But, every car manufacturer and an expert would tell you that such tires have a short lifespan, despite their long-term efficiency.
If you’re ever asked yourself, ‘’For How long can you drive on a spare tire?’’, then this article is for you! We delineate the types of tires best for a spare along with other nifty hacks!
So, When Should You Change a Tire?
The answer is that you should change your tire as soon as possible.
Even if you have the best tires for long road trips, you would inevitably come across a situation with a flat tire.
In such scenarios, a full-size tire is an ideal replacement for your spare. However, the car’s mileage, engine power, and strength can greatly impact the durability of the tires.
Which Are the Best Types of Spare Tires?
There are many types of spare tires in the market to choose from! However, the four main types to look out for are:
A Space-Saver or Donut Spare Tire
These compact tires are the most popular form of replacement for most types of cars. These tires are generally smaller than most of their counterparts and the vehicle.
Such donut tires are a convenient accessory for all vehicles due to their nifty size and movability.
When it comes to routine, new tires can last for nearly ten years! However, if in use, such tires can become prone to breakdowns and damage. In addition, chemical reactions, leakage, and road abuse can make the temporary tire susceptible to damage.
Some of its cardinal features are:
- Vehicles attached with such tires can’t drive beyond 50 miles per hour.
- If driven over 70 miles per hour, there’s a high risk of the lubricants breaking down, causing undue wear and damage.
- Such tires have lesser traction than their full-sized counterparts.
Pros
- Such tires are ideal for everyday use
- It is small, lightweight, and easy to fix
- It is less costly to replace
Cons
- It breaks down easily due to chemical reactions and damage
- Inferior quality rubber
Full-Size Spare
If you drive an SUV or truck, you’ll most probably have a full-sized tire. These tires most likely match the settings in your original car or are extremely similar.
Full-size tires have incredible durability, resistance, and a longer lifespan. Due to the tires’ large size, they don’t necessarily interfere with the wheel or traction control. Most tires come in lightweight sizes and don’t interfere with other car sizes.
Such tires are ideal for drivers who enjoy driving long distances or far heavier vehicles. Additionally, those who enjoy safety and peace of mind can be benefitted from the rides as well!
Features
- It provides great durability and strength to the car
- One should try their best to drive within 70 miles and no faster than 50 miles per hour.
Pros
- Since they’re in large sizes, they don’t disrupt the all-wheel drive and traction control.
- The lightweight size doesn’t add unnecessary weight to the vehicle
Cons
- The large size requires more storage
- They take a longer time to set up
Run Flat Tire
A run-flat tire is increasing in popularity as they’re a cost-efficient solution to traditional tires.
Devised with reinforced sidewalls, these tires possess enough pressure to continue on the road even with punctures!
However, while these tires are more durable than most, they can still be difficult to maintain despite their size.
Rather than acting as a spare tire, run-flat tires can deal with most road hazards, as well as punctures.
Such tires can continue to drive on the road for even 50 miles while remaining punctured. However, due to their durability, they’re pricier to replace.
With such a great type of tire, you may be wondering, ’How long can you drive on this spare tire?’ Sadly, the response would still be to replace the run-flat tire as soon as possible.
High-end cars such as BMWs come with such tires.
Features
- Such tires stay inflated even 50 miles after a puncture
- Tougher and more durable than regular spares
- Often costs more than a standard tire
Pros
- Better fuel mileage
- Allows you to replace the tire in safer environments
- Doesn’t take up much space
- The overall weight of the vehicle can drop
Cons
- The rigid sidewalls tend to create bumps while driving
- With a punctured tire, you can travel only up to 80 km/hr, which isn’t as much of a long-distance
- Repairs aren’t possible for every flat tire, and it’s very expensive to replace
Flat Tire Repair Kits
A flat tire repair kit is a great alternative to tires since they’re inexpensive. They take up less space than a full-fledged tire, as well!
The kit includes many handy gadgets and tools such as plugs, patches, wrenches, and more. The better the kit, the handier and beneficial it’ll be at fixing the tire.
Such flat tires are a great and short-term fix. However, many kits would vary in their components, such as a pump sealant for pumping back air into a flat tire or a sealant that can repair small holes.
Tire chains are an important investment, too, especially for winter driving.
Even though the best solution to a flat or spare tire is to buy a full-fledge full-size tire, such kits are pretty beneficial, as well!
Which Are the Best Tires That Act as a Replacement?
For a long-term solution, a full space tire is the most useful. However, as an emergency fix, a spare or donut tire works great!
If you have the monetary means, a run-flat tire proves the most beneficial. Lastly, for pathing up small mistakes and quick fixes, a repair kit is the most useful!
Conclusion
Replacing a flat tire is no fun task. However, you can make life easier by investing in the best spare tires, such as Bridgestone Blizzak or Hankook tires.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, ‘How long can you drive on a spare tire?’, then experts recommend replacing a spare tire with a permanent one as soon as possible. In cases of emergencies, you can use different spare tires or kits. Of course, this fact depends on the car model, mileage, and more!
Taking care of your tires and car is crucial for maintaining the longevity of ant vehicle parts.
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