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. Definition of a Spare Tire: A spare tire refers to the backup tire for a car, typically matching the specifications of the original tires. However, some vehicles use spare tires with special-colored rims, compact spares, foldable spares, or run-flat tires to remind owners to inspect and replace faulty tires promptly. Types of Spare Tires: There are three types of spare tires: full-size spares, non-full-size spares, and run-flat tires. A full-size spare has identical specifications to the other four tires on the vehicle and can replace any temporarily or permanently unusable tire. A non-full-size spare has a slightly smaller diameter and width compared to the other four tires, making it suitable only for temporary use and exclusively for non-drive wheels. Run-flat tires, also known as safety tires or colloquially as "anti-blowout tires," are officially termed "tire pressure monitoring tires" in the industry.
Driving on a spare tire on the highway should absolutely not be done for too long—I believe this is a critical matter concerning life safety. Spare tires are usually much smaller than regular tires, with different tire pressure and material composition, designed only for emergency low-speed driving. On the highway, the higher speed leads to rapid friction-generated heat, which can easily cause the tire to deform or even burst. If a loss of control occurs while driving, the consequences could be unimaginable. I recommend that once you switch to a spare tire, immediately reduce your speed to below 80 km/h and avoid driving more than 100 kilometers. Head straight to the nearest repair shop or service area to replace it with a regular tire. Also, don’t leave a spare tire unused for too long, as tire aging increases the risk. In short, safety comes first—don’t take risks for convenience. The best approach is to address the issue as soon as possible.
