How Long Can a Spare Tire Be Used on the Highway?
2 Answers
There is no mileage restriction for using a spare tire on the highway. Below is an introduction to highways: 1. Introduction: Highways are classified as high-grade roads, abbreviated as expressways. 2. Regulations: According to the "Technical Standards for Highway Engineering" by the Ministry of Transport of China, a highway is defined as "a road that can accommodate an annual average daily traffic volume of over 25,000 small passenger vehicles, is exclusively for high-speed divided lane driving, and has fully controlled access." 3. Development: Although different countries have varying names for highways, they all refer to roads with at least four lanes, separated directional traffic, fully controlled access, and all-grade interchanges. Additionally, many countries also classify certain direct trunk roads with partially controlled access and not entirely grade-separated as highways.
Last time I had a flat tire and used the spare tire on the highway, keeping the speed below 80 km/h. It was extremely bumpy, and the whole car felt like it was wobbling. I drove for a short distance before finding a shop to replace it. Spare tires are just for temporary emergencies, designed with lower speed limits and limited distance. My car manual states not to exceed 50 km/h, as prolonged use could damage the wheel rim or even cause a blowout—way too risky. That time, I couldn’t stand it for even half an hour; the tire got extremely hot, and the noise was unbearable. Any longer, and it might have led to an accident. My advice: if you must use a spare tire on the highway, slow down and drive carefully, covering no more than a few dozen kilometers before immediately navigating to a repair shop to replace it with a proper tire. Safety first—don’t cut corners and risk your safety.
