How Fast Can You Drive On A Donut?

By David Barlow
Last updated: Nov 27, 2022
How Fast Can You Drive On A Donut Tire

A donut spare tire is an essential replacement tire that prevents flat tires on the road. You keep it inside the car if the tire goes flat and needs replacement. This tire does not have all the standard wheel functions, especially at limited speeds.

If you exceed this speed, damage can happen to your vehicle’s system. Keep reading this article below to understand this issue better.

How Fast Can You Drive On A Donut Spare Tire

You can drive up to 50 – 70 mph on a donut. Because a donut is smaller than other tires, it has to spin faster to keep up with moving vehicles. The driving speed mainly depends on the quality of the donut.

Donuts are just a hindrance before you get to a service center for a full-size tire change, your ability to operate your vehicle will be affected while you’re driving. Because donuts are smaller than standard tires, they have little or no spikes and are more blocking than anything.

Driving long distances on a donut can cause damage to other car parts, especially the transmission. To ensure safety, you should comply with these rules for using tires when participating in traffic.

3 Things About A Donut Spare Tire You Must Know

To use donut tires most effectively and safely, you need to know the following 3 issues.

Can I Drive 200 Miles On A Donut

How Long Can We Drive On A Donut?

Be mindful that donut spare tires are not made for long-term use. Donut has a smaller design than the regular wheel, thinner wall, and much worse performance than conventional type, so it is unsuitable for long-term use.

To accurately determine the essential parameters, you can trace the manufacturer’s information on the packaging. They are often in easy-to-see locations in large letters.

see more: Can I Drive 200 Miles On A Donut?

Problems Can Happen When You Drive Too Fast On A Donut

Accidents will happen when you drive with the spare tire at high speed for a long time. A significant risk to the above is tire damage.

Going further than 50 miles won’t have immediate consequences but will certainly affect driving safety and many other dangers. The risk of using a spare tire is even higher than a blowout on a traditional street tire.

There is a risk that the vehicle’s ability to control power will be lost, with consequences for the crankshaft and other vehicle components.

Donut Spare Tires Replacement 

Keep in mind this critical rule – Never try to fix your spare tires. We normally call it temporary spare tires for a reason. Their rubber’s quality is much lower than those of regular ones. Due to that reason, donut spare tires have thicker rubber and shallower tread compared to the regular ones. You might try to plug them in; still, do not expect them to fit in. 

If you want to replace your tires, opt for wholly new products – not fix your old ones. Otherwise, you can choose to upgrade them to full-size tires, which is a better idea.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can I go 70 mph on a donut?

We’re not saying it’s impossible, but it could lead to worse problems. You can drive at 70 mph, but speeding is very dangerous. It can cause scary problems like tire bursts and loss of control due to wheel wear.

Therefore, it would be best if you limit risks and strictly follow experts’ recommendations to ensure your life’s safety and those around you.

What happens if you drive fast on a donut?

As mentioned above, that is extremely dangerous. A donut is usually smaller and thinner than standard wheels. It is only used for replacement in necessary cases such as flat tires.

There is a risk of losing the ability to control the vehicle’s power and causing consequences for the crankshaft and other parts of the vehicle.

What happens if you go faster than 50 on a donut?

It’s possible, but we wouldn’t recommend you to take that risk. You can’t be sure that nothing unexpected will happen to you.

Experts have done much research to advise against running more than 50 mph on donuts instead.

How far can you drive on a Dummy/Spare Tire?? Here’s my story.

Conclusion

A donut spare tire is essential and handy. However, you need to understand the parameters and how to use them for troubleshooting unexpected problems.

Compliance with the speed regulations when using donuts is the most important and necessary. The most suitable speed with a donut-type spare tire is not to exceed 50 mph. Exceeding the recommended speed can lead to unfortunate incidents.

When you’re driving on a replacement tire, it’s best to go to the repair shop as quickly as possible to have the standard tire replaced. Hopefully, you found this blog useful for your preference!

David Barlow

Automotive Experts at World Tire Review

Hi everyone, I’m David (Tireguy). I believe that finding tires can lead to a lot of confusion and frustration for almost every driver. That’s why I would like to bring my experiences and knowledges to develop World Tire Review blog, it will give people a deeper understanding of what choosing the right tire is really like!