Can My Spare Tire Be A Different Size?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can my spare tire be a different size?

Donut tires are the same size as the normal tire that comes on the vehicle in the aspect of overall outside diameter

. You never want to run two different size tires on the same axle. They would be rolling at different speeds and in a sense travel different distances. This can cause damage to the differential.

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Can I use a different size tire for a spare?


A full-size spare is the same exact size as the other tires on the vehicle

. Full-size spares come in either matching or non-matching varieties. A matching spare is completely identical to the other tires currently on your car.

Should your spare wheel be the same size?


In an ideal world, the space saver rolling radius will be the same as the full-size wheel/tyre already fitted to the car

. But they can run within 2.5 to 3% of the car’s proper wheels perfectly safely.

Is it okay if spare tire is smaller?


The spare is small because it’s a temporary fix

. Most spares are good for about 100 miles driven under 50mph. The spare tire is intended to get you to the next destination so you can replace it with a full-sized tire. Small spares are created to fit the vehicle that it comes with.

Can you use a 16 inch space saver wheel on a car with 17 inch wheels?


Yes, you can have a smaller size space saver in your car

. It’s a spare for emergencies only – essentially to either get you home or get you to a tyre depot. The slight disparity on rolling circumference is not a problem when used for emergencies only.

Can you put any size donut on a car?

The short answer is

NO. There is no “One-Tire-Fits-All” when it comes to spare tires

. Every donut tire is specific to the car model it comes with.

Can I use a 17 inch space saver with 18 inch wheels?

A 17′′ space saver is

probably not legal on a car with 18′′ wheels

. Check with your insurer or the car dealer. battered said: A 17′′ space saver is probably not legal on a car with 18′′ wheels.

Can you use a 15 inch space saver on car with 17 inch wheels?

The short answer is yes. If you think about it, space saver spare wheels frequently have a smaller diameter than regular wheels. For emergencies,

using a smaller wheel to get you home or to a tyre repairer is fine

.

Can you use a 14 inch space saver on car with 15 inch wheels?


The 14 inch wheel saves no space whatsoever against the 15 inch ones fitted

. The 14 inch ones are actually an option to purchase with a new ford fiesta as the standard spare supplied is actually a spacesaver type.

What happens if one of my tires is a different size?

If you continually use mismatched tires and wheels

they will wear out unevenly and can cause problems later down the road

. If you choose to drive your vehicle with mismatched wheels the same issues can result. Mismatched wheels will fit each tire differently causing uneven wear and tear.

How much smaller can a spare be?

Explorer. Yes, you can use your old tire as a spare, as the general rule is that

a spare within 2′′ of the bad tire on the ground will work

, but a used tire the same size as your tires on the ground won’t cost much. I am now running 35×12. 50/15 MTs on my CJ with a 33×9.

Do space saver wheels fit any car?

For a start you have to be sure that the spacesaver has the same number of lugs (pins to attach the wheel to the hub) as your car. These also have to be the same pattern as your car and the same distance apart.

If they’re not, the space saver won’t fit

. Simple as that.

Are space saver wheels the same diameter?


Space saver wheels do not necessarily have to have the same diameter as the alloy wheels fitted to the car

. It’s partly to do with weight (less weight means less CO2 emissions), partly limited boot space and partly cost.

Do all donuts fit all cars?

You can wonder: ‘Will a donut tire fit any car? ‘ The answer is No.

You can only replace it with donut tires when the car’s model is similar in size and style

.

Are Temporary spare tires universal?

A collapsible temporary spare tire needs to be inflated with either an air pump or an air canister before it can be safely used. These tires are

almost always not universal

even if the main dimensions match because these usually carry a specific maximum weight rating associated with a specific car make and model.

Why are spare tires different?

The main reason your spare tire is smaller is because

they are meant to take up less space in your vehicle

. Donut spares usually have a smaller diameter, narrower width and shallower tread, which means they make great space-savers. This is especially important to maximize the storage area in your boot.

Are all space savers the same size?


They are many different offering

when it comes to spare wheel kit some way to small and some way to big, The K.O.M space saver spare wheel kit is designed to fit as close as possible to your original size tyres, aiming to keep the rolling diameter as close a match to your existing size.

Can you fit a smaller space saver wheel?


Space saver tyres can either be full-size or smaller than the regular tyres fitted to your car

.

Is it illegal to drive on a space saver?

Is there a maximum distance for space saver wheels:

There is no official restriction on how far a driver can travel on a space saver wheel

, but around 50 miles is considered to be the maximum safe distance.

What happens if you drive on a spare tire too long?

What happens if you drive on donuts too long?

The bursts or damage to the engine equipment, including the transmission

, will happen if you drive too long with a spare one. It is not suitable for long-term use, too much abuse will endanger your safety.

Can I drive 200 miles on a donut?


You should not drive 200 miles on a donut

.

It is smaller, lighter in measurements, and thinner tread thickness. Therefore, when replacing the wheel frame, the pressure and gravity from the body make the donut tires not adapt well and coordinate well with the other three wheels.

Can I replace 14 inch wheels with 16 inch?


No. Bigger circumference tyres will effectively increase you gearing and slow acceleration

. It may marginally increase top speed if the engine has sufficient power. Most modern cars have a high final gear so the extra gearing through bigger tyres might cause the engine to struggle.

Can I put a 13 inch tire on a 14 inch rim?

As you probably know,

using 13 inch tires on 14 inch wheels is not a good idea

. The tire is not designed to fit that size and so it has to stretch and when it stretches that is when you run into problems.

Can I replace 13 inch wheels with 14 inch?


You can go from a 13 inch tire and wheel to a 14 inch provided there is space enough all around the existing tires to go to the larger size

.

Is it OK to have 2 different size tires?

Having two different-sized tires on the same axle is

generally not a good thing

. If the diameter of the two tires is close, then the rolling radius is about the same, so in the short term, you probably won’t have any damage, but long term, you run the risk of messing up your car’s differential.

Should all 4 tires be the same size?

For optimal safety and performance,

Continental recommends fitting the same tires to every wheel position on your car

, so drivers should have the same brand, size, tread pattern, load index, and speed rating on the front and rear tires.

Is it OK to have one tire different?

Reasons to

Avoid Replacing Only One Tire

Replacing one tire at a time can present challenges down the road since the one tire will have a different tread depth and thus different accelerating, braking, and cornering abilities than all of the others.

Are all spare tires the same?

Differences in size, weight, and lug-nut positions make spare tires only suitable for the intended vehicle. They are not interchangeable or universal.

Not all spare tires are created equal

; there are differences between manufacturers and even between car models from the same manufacturer.

What size should a spare wheel be?

How do you measure a spare wheel?

You can either

measure across your spare tire (edge to edge across the center) to determine it’s diameter

or you can find your tire size in the following Adco Spare Tire Cover Chart. Spare Tire Cover Size B – 32-1/4′′ diameter fits: 7.50 x 16. 315 70R 15.

What’s the difference between a spare tire and a donut?


A donut is a temporary spare tire

. Donut tires are much smaller than standard tires. Donuts are only meant to be driven short distances until you can get a new full-sized tire. Do not drive at high speeds or for an extended period of time on a donut.

How fast can you drive on a donut?

What can I use if I don’t have a spare tire?

  1. Use a tire repair kit. Keep a tire repair kit on hand. …
  2. Use a run-flat tire. Purchase run flat tires. …
  3. Contact roadside assistance. Be ready to contact emergency services. …
  4. Shifting away from supplying spares. …
  5. Consider spares when buying a new car.

Can you replace 17 inch rims with 18 inch?

A steel wheel weighs more than an aluminum alloy wheel, so the latter enhances performance by reducing the unsprung weight. But

replacing a standard 17-inch alloy wheel with an 18- or 19-inch alloy rim will add weight — unless it’s an expensive, lightweight type.

Can you use a space saver tyre more than once?


Never use more than one space saver wheel on a vehicle at any one time

. Will there be any difference in how the car drives: Yes. It’s likely the car’s handling will be changed by the non-standard wheel. This will reduce the vehicle’s cornering and braking abilities.

What size is Kia Optima spare tire?

Kia Factory Optima Spare Tire Kit (

16′′ & 17′′

Wheels)

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.