How Many Miles Can You Put on a Donut Tire?

Donut tires are the most popular type of spare tire to keep in your car. A smaller type of tire and only meant for temporary use, a donut tire can save you a lot of trouble if you end up with a blown tire on the side of the road. Today, I’ll explain the answer to the question: how many miles can you put on a donut tire?

How Long Can I Drive on My Donut Tire?

A donut tire is not meant to be driven on for a long period of time. In fact, experts recommend you don’t drive any farther than 70 miles on a donut tire.

As soon as you can get into town and find an auto mechanic, you should replace the donut with a regular tire for your vehicle. This is long enough for you to get the car to safety without wearing out the donut tire.

The main reason why you shouldn’t drive too long on a donut tire is that they lack the necessary treads. Some of the donut tires for bigger vehicles may have more treads, but nowhere near the amount you need for extended distances.

Also, donut tires are much smaller than regular tires.

This makes them easier to store in your vehicle (just make sure you check their tire pressure regularly), but they’re not good at carrying the weight of your vehicle for very long. A donut tire has to spin much faster than normal in order to keep up with the other tires, too.

In other words, it’s for emergency use. It’s meant for you to be able to drive to a mechanic for help, but not over long distances. Once you find a mechanic, get a new full-size tire put on right away.

Donut tires simply don’t have enough traction or surface area for you to drive many miles.

You’ve got to limit your speed to stay safe when driving on a donut tire. You shouldn’t go faster than 50 miles per hour.

How Long Can I Use a Run Flat Tire?

Another type of spare tire that you may get in your vehicle is known as a run flat tire. These are becoming more common because they cost less for maintenance than traditional tires. A recent model MINI or BMW will likely have some of these tires. They are tougher than some of the donut tires you may choose to buy, but they will not last as long as a full-size tire.

These tires are going to be used rather than having a spare tire. They can withstand most of the hazards on the road, including some punctures.

Instead of blowing out or going flat like some of the traditional tires, these run flat tires are able to get a puncture in them and still continue to drive for another 50 miles before you need to replace them. This can keep you safe and prevents you from having to change out the tires.

These tires will cost more to replace compared to traditional tires. They will also not be as sturdy as some of the traditional tires. It is generally best to have a traditional tire and a donut spare tire to help you out.

How Long Can a Full-Size Spare Tire Drive?

Most cars are not going to come with a full-size spare tire in them. These take up a lot of room and can add extra weight to the vehicle overall. However, these can be nice because you can replace the tire when it blows out and not have to head to a repair shop when done.

While the full-size spare is going to take more space for storage and is generally heavier, they are also going to have more durability. They will also be able to handle a drive that is similar to a regular tire. You will not need to replace it right away to get the best results.

Can I Drive a Donut Tire on the Highway?

You need to use caution when deciding to drive your donut tire on the highway. You do not want to go faster than 50 miles per hour on a donut tire, or it will not be able to keep up and could blowout on you.

Depending on how fast the speed limit is on the highway, this could be too slow and may put you in danger.

If the speed limit is close to 60 miles per hour, then you are probably safe to drive with the donut tire.

But if you are on the interstate and able to go 75 or more miles per hour, then you will have to use extreme caution. Do not try to push the donut tire to go faster as this can cause more danger along the way.

For those who do not have any choice but to stay on the highway, you can utilize your warning lights. Keep below 50 miles per hour, but keep the warning lights on to let others know that you will go slowly.

Will My Donut Tire Fit Any Car?

No, a donut tire is not designed to work on each vehicle because there are so many sizes and types. Every tire and frame has to fit to a specific measurement.

There are times when similar vehicles could use a similar type of donut tire, but this does not mean that you can use the same donut tire for each type of vehicle.

You will need to find the specific sizing for a donut tire that will work on your vehicle to keep it safe. This will help you when there is a blow out or another type of puncture on the road.

You can ask an auto repair technician for help on choosing the right donut tire to fit your car.

Should I Repair My Donut Spare?

Your donut spare is meant to be a temporary tire to use when in an emergency.

It is not made out of the same materials that a traditional tire is and should never be used more than 70 miles total or at speeds higher than 50 miles per hour. If something goes wrong with your donut spare, you should not try to repair it.

Always remember that the spare tire is just a simple solution to help in an emergency. It is not easy to repair the donut spare and attempting to do this can lead to some dangers on the road.

Once the donut tire is no longer usable, you need to dispose of it and get a new tire. If you are ever uncertain about whether the donut tire is in good working order, it is still a good idea to replace it.

You can also check the donut tire on occasion. Check to see whether the PSI is at the right level at least two times a year to keep you safe.

The PSI on these tires often needs to be a little higher than the ideal tire pressure for traditional tires to help it support the weight of the vehicle, so check your vehicle to see what the recommendations are.

The tire is also going to have a lifespan on it. Tires don’t last forever. You should consider replacing the donut spare every 6 to 10 years, regardless of whether you have been able to use it or not. This will ensure the spare is ready for you to use at any time.

Don’t Drive Further Than 70 Miles on a Donut Tire

You shouldn’t drive further than 70 miles on a donut tire. It’s potentially unsafe to try to push it further than that.

Remember, a donut spare is just for emergencies. It’s meant to be there in case you get a blown-out tire and need a temporary replacement just good enough to get to a mechanic.