How often should you change your spare tyre
Thursday 24th August 2023
Every vehicle owner should have a spare tyre, even if you don’t end up using it. It can mean the difference between making it home or to the garage and being stranded with a flat tyre or blowout. It’s important to keep an eye on the condition of your spare tyre as there’s nothing worse than going to replace your flat tyre to find that your spare is unusable. In this guide, we’ll explain how often you should change your spare tyre, along with other maintenance tips to keep you on the road.
Do you need a spare tyre?
In short, yes you need a spare tyre. While it’s not illegal to drive without a spare tyre, if you get caught out with a flat tyre, not having a spare can leave you stranded on the side of the road, and in a worst-case scenario, compromise your safety.
How are spare tyres different to normal tyres?
Spare tyres in modern cars tend to be smaller than the tyres you typically have on the rest of your car as they are engineered to be space-saving - this is why they are known as space saver or doughnut tyres. They are not designed for extended use and are not meant for high speeds. You can still get full-size non-matching spare tyres, but these are less common.
How to maintain your spare tyre
Just like all your tyres, keeping your spare in good condition will help it to last longer. This includes:
- Checking your tyre pressure: You should check your tyre pressure regularly, most spare tyres should have a tyre pressure of 60 psi.
- Rotate your tyres: Rotate your tyres, including your spare tyre if you have a full-sized spare.
- Keep a puncture repair kit: Keeping a puncture repair kit consisting of an air compressor, sealant, patch kit, wheel base and jack means if your spare tyre fails you may be able to fix it yourself.
How often should you change your spare tyre?
It can be easy to forget about your spare tyre, and if you’ve left it in your boot for a long time it could be time to replace it. This is because as rubber ages, it dries out, disintegrates and cracks - making it dangerous to drive on. With little or no use your spare tyre should last between 6-10 years.
How long can you drive on a spare tyre?
As a rule of thumb, your spare tyre should last for about 50 miles at 50 miles per hour as they are designed as a temporary measure and are not to be driven on for long distances.
Here at Formula One Autocentres, we stock a number of tyre brands at competitive prices with same day fitting available. Simply enter your reg to find your next set of tyres.
