Is it allowed to drive without a spare tire?
4 Answers
Driving a car without a spare tire does not violate any regulations, as there are no traffic laws that prohibit driving without a spare tire. Here is some relevant information about spare tires: 1. Full-size spare tire: More reliable compared to non-full-size spare tires, the width of a full-size spare tire is the same as that of a regular tire. 2. Non-full-size spare tire: The driving speed with a non-full-size spare tire should not exceed 80 kilometers per hour. 3. Run-flat tires: Serve the same purpose as spare tires and are safer than regular tires. They allow driving up to approximately 80 kilometers at a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour after a tire blowout, providing sufficient distance to reach the nearest service center for assistance.
Last week before hitting the highway, I checked my spare tire only to find it was flat, so I specifically consulted a repair shop mechanic. He said current traffic regulations don’t mandate carrying a spare, but for long trips, it’s better to be safe than sorry. For daily city commutes, using a mobile app to call roadside assistance is quite convenient, with help arriving in about half an hour. However, it’s important to note that the factory-provided tire sealant can only handle small punctures—it’s useless against large cracks or blowouts. My neighbor last month had a sidewall tear and had to limp eight kilometers to the shop on run-flat tires, which ended up scratching the rims and costing over 2,000 RMB in repairs. He recommended keeping at least an air pump handy and advised not to push it if the tire pressure drops below 1.8 bar.
As a veteran driver with ten years of experience, I always keep a full-size spare tire in my car. Last year, I ran over gravel on a mountain road and had a blowout. With no cell signal, I would have been stranded in the wilderness without that spare tire. Statistics show that on roads below Grade 2 nationwide, there's only one repair shop every 50 kilometers on average. Many cars now come with run-flat tires, but if a nail punctures the sidewall, you still need to call a tow truck. Run-flat tires can only go up to 80 kilometers at a maximum speed of 80 km/h, beyond which the wheel rim may deform. For those who really don’t want to carry a spare, at least invest in an electric jack and air pump combo—it can save you half an hour of manual labor when changing a tire.
My electric vehicle doesn't have a spare tire compartment at all, and the manufacturer provided a tire repair sealant kit. I actually used it once and found that the sealant corrodes the tire pressure sensors. The repair shop told me it would cost 300 to clean the adhesive. Now I've learned my lesson and keep a mushroom plug tire repair kit, which can temporarily handle nail punctures. Spare tires are indeed rarely needed for urban commuting, but I recommend that beginners keep reflective warning triangles and an air pump in the fixed trunk space. In emergencies, inflating the tire first can help you make it to the repair shop.
