Spare Tire Question

Hello,

Would appreciate your opinions on this, please:

How "safe" is it running on the 'toy' spare tire that is
pretty much standard these days for cars, to go e.g. 50 miles at no more
than 45 mph (highway) ?

The spare is of course of a smaller diameter, hence the concern.

Anything to be concerned about if no more than 45 mph and about 50 miles
or so on the highway ?

What would be the reasonable safe limits for speed and mileage ?

Thanks,
B.

Bob > wrote:
>Hello,
>
>Would appreciate your opinions on this, please:
>
>How "safe" is it running on the 'toy' spare tire that is
>pretty much standard these days for cars, to go e.g. 50 miles at no more
>than 45 mph (highway) ?

I wouldn't. Mind you, I have been passed by people driving 75 mph on
the doughnut, but I wouldn't do it.

If you look at the doughnut, you will find it is probably rated for
35 mph maximum. It's only there to get you to a place where you can
get your flat tire repaired or replaced.

>Anything to be concerned about if no more than 45 mph and about 50 miles
>or so on the highway ?
>
>What would be the reasonable safe limits for speed and mileage ?

Personally, the thing gives me the willies. Go to a junkyard, get a used
normal-sized rim. Take it to a tire store, get a gently used tire and
have them put it on. If you pay $50 for the combination, I'll be surprised.
A real spare is not only safer than the doughnut but more convenient.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Bob wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Would appreciate your opinions on this, please:
>
> How "safe" is it running on the 'toy' spare tire that is
> pretty much standard these days for cars, to go e.g. 50 miles at no more
> than 45 mph (highway) ?

Not a problem. I see folks who drive on them for FAR more than 50 miles!

>
> The spare is of course of a smaller diameter, hence the concern.

Not a big deal as long as you don't have full time 4X4 or AWD. Then I
would be VERY careful and only drive to the closest garage to get the
tire repaired/replaced (even a used tire of the correct size would be
better than the donut in this case)

>
> Anything to be concerned about if no more than 45 mph and about 50 miles
> or so on the highway ?

No but be aware that those spares are supposed to be a limited use item.
The "expected" use is to put it on to drive to the shop. Get tire
repaired/replaced AND replace the spare. I usually check them good and
if they had proper inflation and the tread is still ok put them back in.

>
> What would be the reasonable safe limits for speed and mileage ?

Reasonable would be the sidewall statement on the spare. BUT I have seen
people driving at highway speeds for FAR more than 50 miles and not have
a problem.

>
> Thanks,
> B.


--
Steve W.
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

"Bob" > wrote in message >
> How "safe" is it running on the 'toy' spare tire that is
> pretty much standard these days for cars, to go e.g. 50 miles at no more
> than 45 mph (highway) ?

First, think about the conditions...A smooth concrete or blacktop road
or a "trail". Is it raining or snowing?

Second, is the doughnut properly inflated? My brand spanking new
one loses a little pressure over a period of months. Shouldn't but
does. If yours is not properly inflated, you may have a rather dangerous
situation.

Last, these doughnuts are made to let you limp into a place where you can
get a proper repair. In this part of the country you normally dont have to
drive more than 15-30 miles to get as near civilization are yor are going
to get. I wouldnt drive any further than I had to to get it changed.

Scott Dorsey wrote:
> Bob > wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> Would appreciate your opinions on this, please:
>>
>> How "safe" is it running on the 'toy' spare tire that is
>> pretty much standard these days for cars, to go e.g. 50 miles at no more
>> than 45 mph (highway) ?
>
> I wouldn't. Mind you, I have been passed by people driving 75 mph on
> the doughnut, but I wouldn't do it.
>
> If you look at the doughnut, you will find it is probably rated for
> 35 mph maximum. It's only there to get you to a place where you can
> get your flat tire repaired or replaced.
>
>> Anything to be concerned about if no more than 45 mph and about 50 miles
>> or so on the highway ?
>>
>> What would be the reasonable safe limits for speed and mileage ?
>
> Personally, the thing gives me the willies. Go to a junkyard, get a used
> normal-sized rim. Take it to a tire store, get a gently used tire and
> have them put it on. If you pay $50 for the combination, I'll be surprised.
> A real spare is not only safer than the doughnut but more convenient.
> --scott
>

The problem with a full sized spare is usually storage room. More than a
few vehicles don't have the room.

--
Steve W.
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

"hls" > wrote:

>Second, is the doughnut properly inflated?

I've had two problems with properly inflated spares.

Twice I've had a trunk stored (full sized) spare tire explode because
of high temperatures in the trunk. (When the outside temperature is
above 110F the trunk can be 150F or more causing excess tire
pressure.) I solved this by leaving the tire under-inflated and
carrying a 12V pump to use if the spare is ever needed. This probably
wouldn't be a problem unless you live in a climate such as I do in
Phoenix.

My latest problem is with my Town and Country. The spare (doughnut) is
mounted under the car and between the front seats. You have to use a
wrench inside the car to lower the tire (and tire case) to the ground
and then slide it out from under the car to check the air pressure. A
pain. So same solution, I just carry a 12V pump and air up the tire
just once a year or so.

And it's not a bad idea to always carry a pump anyway. It's saved me
having to even change the tire when it was a slow leak and I could air
it up enough to drive a few miles to the repair shop (or home)...

If it exploded there was something wrong with the tire or you are
putting it in place with little or no air in it and then pumping it up
and forcing the sidewall against something sharp that cuts it. The
tires on the car get far hotter then the one sitting in the trunk and
they don't explode. I"ve lived in Phx my whole life and have never
had a tire explode in the trunk, even really really old tires pumped
up to 40 psi cold.


On Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:49:08 -0700, AJL >
wrote:

>"hls" > wrote:
>
>>Second, is the doughnut properly inflated?
>
>I've had two problems with properly inflated spares.
>
>Twice I've had a trunk stored (full sized) spare tire explode because
>of high temperatures in the trunk. (When the outside temperature is
>above 110F the trunk can be 150F or more causing excess tire
>pressure.) I solved this by leaving the tire under-inflated and
>carrying a 12V pump to use if the spare is ever needed. This probably
>wouldn't be a problem unless you live in a climate such as I do in
>Phoenix.
>
>My latest problem is with my Town and Country. The spare (doughnut) is
>mounted under the car and between the front seats. You have to use a
>wrench inside the car to lower the tire (and tire case) to the ground
>and then slide it out from under the car to check the air pressure. A
>pain. So same solution, I just carry a 12V pump and air up the tire
>just once a year or so.
>
>And it's not a bad idea to always carry a pump anyway. It's saved me
>having to even change the tire when it was a slow leak and I could air
>it up enough to drive a few miles to the repair shop (or home)...

On 11/21/2010 06:49 PM, AJL wrote:
> > wrote:
>
>> Second, is the doughnut properly inflated?
>
> I've had two problems with properly inflated spares.
>
> Twice I've had a trunk stored (full sized) spare tire explode because
> of high temperatures in the trunk. (When the outside temperature is
> above 110F the trunk can be 150F or more causing excess tire
> pressure.)

i don't think so. i don't know if you know how much that kind of
temperature will increase a tire's air pressure [hint: it's roughly one
psi per 10°F, but it's not enough to explode a tire.

i've seen tires deliberately over-inflated to explode them, and when
they go, they go with sufficient force to kill you if you're too close.
it's literally like a small grenade that will take out your windows
and significantly damage all your metalwork.


> I solved this by leaving the tire under-inflated and
> carrying a 12V pump to use if the spare is ever needed. This probably
> wouldn't be a problem unless you live in a climate such as I do in
> Phoenix.
>
> My latest problem is with my Town and Country. The spare (doughnut) is
> mounted under the car and between the front seats. You have to use a
> wrench inside the car to lower the tire (and tire case) to the ground
> and then slide it out from under the car to check the air pressure. A
> pain. So same solution, I just carry a 12V pump and air up the tire
> just once a year or so.
>
> And it's not a bad idea to always carry a pump anyway.

that is true. foot pumps are reliable and cheap and work even if your
car's battery is dead.


> It's saved me
> having to even change the tire when it was a slow leak and I could air
> it up enough to drive a few miles to the repair shop (or home)...


--
nomina rutrum rutrum

On Nov 21, 9:24*am, Bob > wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Would appreciate your opinions on this, please:
>
> How "safe" is it running on the 'toy' spare tire that is
> pretty much standard these days for cars, to go e.g. 50 miles at no more
> than 45 mph (highway) ?
>
> The spare is of course of a smaller diameter, hence the concern.
>
> Anything to be concerned about if no more than 45 mph and about 50 miles
> or so on the highway ?
>
> What would be the reasonable safe limits for speed and mileage ?
>
> Thanks,
> B.

The owners manual and tire are usually quite clear. The baby spare is
safe enough to drive within the speed and distances described. Why
would you think it is any different???

That said I've seen idiots driving around on baby spares that have
clearly been on the car for a while.

Ashton Crusher > wrote:

>If it exploded there was something wrong with the tire

Maybe, but I think it's unlikely that I had 2 bad tires in a row. The
first spare tire was brand new and came with my new 95 Taurus. The
second was a used tire bought to replace it. Never had a third but by
then I had started leaving the spare under-inflated.

>or you are putting it in place with little or no air in it and then pumping it up
>and forcing the sidewall against something sharp that cuts it.

Nope.

>The tires on the car get far hotter then the one sitting in the trunk

Tires sitting on a parked car would be at or near the local
air/surface temperature. Rolling tires would also be air cooled as
well as road cooled. Neither gets as hot as the inside of a trunk (or
passengers compartment) on a hot AZ summer day.

>and they don't explode.

Of course overheated tires explode, it's called a blowout. But in most
cases rolling tire heat is caused by tire flexing due to
under-inflation.

>I"ve lived in Phx my whole life and have never
>had a tire explode in the trunk, even really really old tires pumped
>up to 40 psi cold.

And we're supposed to pay attention to someone who lives in a hostile
tire climate and touts using really really old over-inflated spare
tires??