How many miles (approx) can I drive with a spare tire?

[ocean11]

Thanks guys ANY reply appreciated...

[GreyGoose006]

the general rule for a compact spare is 50-50. that is 50 miles at no more than 50mph.

if it is a full size spare, then you can drive however many miles you wish, as fast as you wish (while not going over the tires rating). unless the full size spare is a different size than the rest of your tires, you should be fine.
to check this look at the numbers on the sidewall of the tire. look for something like 205/75R/15. it dosent matter what they are, but they all have to be the same.

[TheSilentChamber]

I'v logged probably 1500 miles on a donut before.

[KingDiamond]

Ive gotten bout 2500 before one blew on me. it probably woulda lasted a wee bit longer if I didnt hit a big rock in the road. Tread was just about gone though.

[Moppie]

Originally Posted by TheSilentChamber

I'v logged probably 1500 miles on a donut before.

They are surprisingly tough little tyres, I know people who have used them on cranes in wrecking yards, or put them on cars to recover them after they've been stolen and had the original wheels pinched.

Of course Iv also seen people spin out at ridiculously low speeds with them on, and I know quite a few people who have popped diffs trying to drive long distances with them on the drive axle.

[TheSilentChamber]

I used some in a burnout competition and they lasted about a minute and half before there was nothing left

[UncleBob]

the vehicle in question is a big question. If it is AWD or posi differential, then you want to drive it as little as possible. Rebuilding a transfer case or differential is a lot more expensive than the tire you're avoiding buying.

There is also the same point as above, if you have 3 very worn tires and put a new tire on the 4th rim, you can cause the same thing, assuming you could even find a tire shop that would be willing to do it, because if they are paying attention, they won't

[GreyGoose006]

this is for those who say "I've driven 2000 miles on a donut"

WHY! new tires are like 75-150 dollars. if a donut blew while you were on the highway, you could die (its a possibility).

look ocean,
drive just as far as you need to on a donut. get a new tire and get on with your life.

(donuts are good for burnouts tho. especially in the rain)

[TheSilentChamber]

I think the people who said that, we wernt talking one solid trip, but a collective miles. recently I drove almost 600 miles on one, why? because I was headed home from a trip and the rim I had was cracked.

[ocean11]

Originally Posted by ocean11

Thanks guys ANY reply appreciated...

thank you gentlemen... now the only question is... why do you call it a 'donut'?

SOrry I know little about cars.... I drive a chevy Aveo 2006

[Moppie]

Because they are soft and chewy

[MagicRat]

A few years ago there was a Car and Driver article that quoted a tire manufacturer rep (Goodyear, I think) that said the compact spare tires are designed for a lifespan of about 3000 miles.

[bluevp00]

Originally Posted by ocean11

thank you gentlemen... now the only question is... why do you call it a 'donut'?

Because they're smaller than the regular size tires. And the smooth steel shape makes it look like a donut...sort of.

[Igovert500]

Same here, I've logged probably about a thousand or so miles on mine collectively at 50-55mph, over the course of a few 200 mile trips w/ flat tires...but I got AWD so it's not something I would have done unless it was necessary. As said above though, it is meant to be a bandaid not a solution...so get some new tires. www.tirerack.com is a good place.