Spare tyres: What you need to know

If you’ve ever been in a car without a spare tyre, you know how deflating it can be. No matter how cautious you are, a puncture can easily catch us out - often at the worst time or place!

That makes a spare tyre one of the most important things you can carry in your car. However, there’s much more to just carrying them in your car and waiting until you need them. Knowing how long you can drive on them, how long they last, and where to find them is important. Let's find out!

Spare tyre vs space saving tyre… what's the difference?

Space saver tyres are just what the name implies - space savers. They’re about half the size of a regular tyre and take up less space in your boot. They’re also lighter than a regular tyre, so you won’t waste fuel carting around a heavy spare that you won’t use most of the time.

Spare tyres, on the other hand, are full-sized tyres. They're generally the same model as your car's tyres and can easily be swapped in and out. They tend to be more popular with older cars, with space savers becoming more popular with newer models.

Space saver tyre limitations

Space saver tyres will get you out of a bind, but they aren’t designed to be a solution you can drive around all day on. They’re only designed to travel short distances - generally to the mechanics for a tyre replacement.

Driving on space saver tyres over a long distance can affect the handling and performance of your vehicle, so for your safety it’s important to have your tyre fixed before you drive too far. If you absolutely have to drive a long way, make sure you don’t go over 80km/h.

Space saver tyres can also only be fitted to the rear of your car. On front wheel drives, the front tyres are commonly used for turning, accelerating, and braking. If you’ve punctured the front tyre you’ll need to replace it with a tyre from the back and put the space saver on the front for safety. In rear-wheel drives it’s fine to put the space saver on the back as well, but make sure to keep the speed low and drive carefully.

How long can you drive on a spare tyre?

If your spare tyre is the same size as one of your normal ones, you can drive around on it as normal. Keep in mind though that while you can continue driving on a spare tyre until it’s worn down or has a puncture of its own, it’s best to still make the effort to get a new tyre or a repair as soon as possible. You don’t want to be on the side of the road with a punctured tyre in the boot because you never replaced the spare!

How long do spare tyres last?

Make sure to regularly check and maintain your tyres - whether it’s a space saver or a spare tyre. The most important thing is to ensure it’s kept properly inflated by checking it at least once a year. It may have the PSI written on it, but if it’s a spare then you can inflate it to the same pressure as your other tyres. Check the valve stem and overall condition of the tyre to ensure it hasn't deteriorated over time.

You don’t want to keep a spare tyre longer than 7-10 years, as the rubber will have deteriorated when it gets this old, and it won’t be safe to drive on.

How to find your spare tyre

Where you find your spare tyre will depend on what sort of car you drive. In sedans and hatchbacks, you’ll typically find it in the boot underneath the carpet in a specially moulded well.

4x4s often have them mounted on the outside of the vehicle, at the back. The tyre is accessible with a special key to unlock the wheel to prevent it from being stolen. Utes, on the other hand, have them hiding underneath the car. Again, you’ll need a special key to unlock the tyre so that you can wiggle it free.

Still stuck on where your spare tyre might be hiding? No matter what type of car you drive, your owner’s manual will tell you where the spare tyre is, so check there if you can’t find it.

Alternatively, if your car uses run flat tyres, you may not require a spare, read our helpful article - Everything you need to know about run flat tyres.

Where to get new tyres

Don’t wait until you're stuck on the side of the road to invest in your tyres. At mycar we offer various services that will take care of your tyres from patching to tyre replacement. We stock a large range of tyre brands, making it easy to find one that suits your needs. We even have a free Tyre Care Plan that offers a 30-day tyre satisfaction guarantee and free puncture repair, for added peace of mind.

So whether you’ve got a puncture, your tyres are looking a little bald, or you’d like a tyre rotation or wheel alignment to ensure they last as long as possible, we’re here to help at mycar. With workshop locations Australia-wide, you’ll always find one nearby when you need it.

Give us a call or book online today and drive away with confidence!