Spare car tire, temporary replacement or continue use?

Many people who travel long distances and get a flat tire have to use a spare tire instead. However, instead of using the spare tire as a lifesaver, many people use this type of tire to drive the car for a longer distance than the manufacturer's instructions recommend. So why do manufacturers advise you not to use the spare tire longer than recommended?

Since spare tires are used infrequently, automakers have turned to narrow, compact tires to save space and weight. Of course, spare tires are a lifesaver when the main tire is punctured, but using this temporary tire longer than the manufacturer recommends can cause a host of problems.

Using this temporary tire longer than the manufacturer recommends will cause a variety of problems.

First, spare tires are not as durable as regular tires. The tire's real strength comes from the layers of steel and polyester underneath the rubber, and spare tires have fewer of these layers.tireA spare tire, to save space, has only half the number of steel and polyester layers as a regular tire. This greatly limits puncture resistance and cornering ability.

Additionally, spare tires are narrower and have a smaller contact patch with the road. This reduces traction, increases braking distances, and can make handling unpredictable in an emergency. It also means that ABS and traction control are less effective in helping you get out of harm’s way.

In addition, spare tires also have a lower load capacity. Long-term use of spare tires can cause serious mechanical problems, the smaller diameter tire puts more pressure on the differential.

The differential has a rather complex function. It transmits engine power to the wheels from the transmission, and it also makes the left and right wheels move at different speeds. This is necessary when cornering. In a turn, the path of the inside wheel is shorter than the outside wheel, which means they rotate at different speeds.

When you're driving in a straight line, the differential doesn't need to work and wears out its gears and bearings less. But because the spare tire is smaller than the opposing wheel on the same axle, it has to spin faster to keep up with the speed of the car, forcing the differential to work to control the power sent to the spare.

If the spare tire is used for too long, the differential lubrication will begin to deteriorate, causing premature wear on the gears and clutch plates. For all these reasons, manufacturers recommend keeping speeds below 50 mph and using the spare tire below the recommended level.

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