You had a flat and now you’re driving on a so-called donut spare. When should you change back to your normal tire?
You were considering celebrating the new year by driving to a state park for one of the First Day Hikes. But now you’re not so sure that’s a great idea. You had a flat the other day and now you’re driving on one of those donut spares. You’re not sure how safe driving on the donut is and how much time you have on the donut before you have to get a new tire or get your old tire repaired.
The easy answer is not long. Get a real tire on your car as soon as possible.
Autoevolution.com explains, “A donut tire is the funny-looking skinny wheel most modern cars carry as a spare tire these days. They are also called compact spare tires or temporary spare tires, but that does not change that they are an emergency solution and not a replacement wheel. Their size and shape help them save space in the car and also be lighter than a regular spare tire. This convenience comes with compromises, of course.
“The most important and most dangerous compromise concerns the handling and safety of your car. Being so narrow doesn’t help too much with the steering and the braking. This affects the car’s handling and could lead to potentially unsafe situations. Especially when braking or accelerating hard, you will have unequal forces that could make the car pull to the side with the spare wheel, so it’s easy to end up in a ditch or the incoming traffic. … Also, keep in mind that electronic stability control and traction control systems will not work properly with a compact spare.”
Because of that, autoevolution.com recommends you try to stay off highways while riding on a donut and never go above 50 mph.
Your best move is to contact the trusted Millsboro tire experts at In and Out Tires to have them look at the old tire to see if it can be repaired. If it is fixable, In and Out can help. If it isn’t, In and Out Tires can help you find a replacement tire. In and Out Tires carries all sized and brands of tires to fit any car, driving style or driving need.
In and Out Tire Pros is a local, family owned auto care and auto repair service center that Bill and Rita Schrider have built into the top, trusted auto repair, auto care, and auto accessories service center in Millsboro. We are dedicated to giving you the very best auto repair and auto care service, with a focus on upfront and honest quotes, timely response to issues, and quality products and parts.
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