Help guide
How long can you drive on a spare tire?
Updated October 8, 2026
On a small donut spare, stay under 50 mph and keep the whole trip under 50 miles. It is built to get you to a tire shop and that is all. A full-size spare can be driven normally.
Call (307) 365-2527Which spare do you have?
| Kind of spare | How to spot it | How far and how fast |
|---|---|---|
| Donut (compact temporary spare) | Skinnier and smaller than your other tires. Often a bright wheel with a warning sticker. | Under 50 mph. Under 50 miles in all. |
| Full-size spare | Looks the same as the tires on the car. | Drive normally, but check its age and air first. |
| No spare | A can of sealant and a small air pump where the spare would be. | See below. |
Your owner's manual has the exact limit for your car. Some makers give only a top speed and say to drive to the nearest shop.
Can I drive on a donut for a week?
You should not. A donut has less grip and less tread than a real tire. The car will take longer to stop and will not handle the same, most of all in rain or snow. It also wears out fast. Use it to get the flat fixed, then put it back in the trunk.
Two more rules from car makers: use only one donut at a time, and do not tow a trailer on one.
Check the spare before you trust it
- Air. A donut needs 60 psi, about double a normal tire. Spares lose air sitting in the trunk for years. A flat spare is a common surprise.
- Age. Some car and tire makers say to replace tires that are six to ten years old. Michelin's limit is ten years from the date the tire was made, and it says that includes the spare. A spare that has never touched the road can still be too old.
- Lug nuts. After a wheel goes on, tire shops advise checking that the lug nuts are still tight after the first 50 to 100 miles.
What if my car has no spare?
Consumer Reports says about 45 percent of the new cars it has tested since 2020 came without one. About a third came with a sealant kit, and some had run-flat tires.
- Sealant kit. It can seal a small hole in the tread for a short time. It will not fix a sidewall cut or a big hole.
- Run-flat tires. Bridgestone says its run-flats can go up to 50 miles at up to 50 mph with no air. Then they need a shop.
- Neither works? A tire tech can come to you to repair the tire or bring a new one.
Need the spare put on?
If you have a spare but no good jack or no safe place to work, call and we check for someone who can put it on.
Related help
- Tire changeYour flat comes off and your spare goes on.
- Tire replacementA new tire brought to you and put on where you are parked.
- Nail in your tire: can you drive on it, and can it be fixed?Found a nail in your tire? Leave it in, check the air, and look at where it went in. A nail in the tread can usually be repaired. One in the sidewall cannot.