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Set of (2) Used 245/75R18 Falken Wildpeak Temporary Spare 112T - 6.5/32
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Life is full of unexpected situations, and you can get a flat tire any time. That’s why it is better to be prepared and to always have a spare tire in your car. Most new cars come equipped with one, but others don’t. In some cases, the tire is well hidden in the trunk, so make sure to know its location and to check it regularly. Now let’s find out more and see if it’s worth it to buy used spare tires.
Full size tire vs. donut tire
The emergency solution found in most cars is a compact tire also known as a donut tire. This one is much smaller and lightweight than a regular tire, so it won’t take too much space in the trunk and it won’t load your car too much.
But a donut tire is only a temporary solution that will last for about 50 miles until you can reach a service, and then it will have to be replaced with a regular one.
On the other hand, having a full-size tire in your trunk will take more space and will load the car a bit more, but when you change it, it will be there to stay. With a donut tire you will still get a full-size one eventually, so this way you lose time and money.
The best option would be to get a set of 5 tires and always have a full-size one as the spare tire. Ideally, you would also rotate the spare tire with the others so that all of them get used at the same rate. This will ensure better handling when you have a flat and the spare tire will be installed.
Run-flat tires
New revolutionary technology is allowing these tires to still be able to work even after they get a flat. Sure, they will only go for about 50 miles and can only be driven at a max speed of 50 mph, but at least you won’t have to change the tire yourself or wait for a tow truck. Some car manufacturers are even including run-flat tires by default, so they won’t have to include a spare tire anymore. You can read more about run-flat tires on this page.
How long do spare tires last?
The last thing you want when you have a flat tire is to discover that the spare tire is flat too. So you should check it at least once every year to see that it has the right pressure and it’s holding air properly. Even when not in use, the pressure of the spare tire will decrease every year.
If not used, most spare tires are made to last for about 7 to 10 years. So if your car is this old and you never used the spare tire before, you should consider changing it.
How long can you drive on a spare tire?
It’s very important to know that spare tires are only a temporary solution until you get to the nearest service and be able to put on a regular tire. They are for emergency use and can last for a small number of miles. For safety reasons, also make sure to not drive too fast with a temporary tire on.
The limits of a spare tire usually are:
- 50 miles
- 50 mph
Some spare tires are painted in white to attract the attention of the car owner to change it as soon as possible, but most of them are not. So do not forget to be extra careful when driving with a spare tire and to change it as soon as possible.
How to choose new or used spare tires?
When buying a new or used spare tires, you basically have 5 choices:
- Full size matching — basically the same model and size as the tires already equipped on your car;
- Full size non-matching — the model or the size is different;
- Full size temporary — while the size may be the same, this tire has a lightweight construction and a shallower tread, so it will have to be replaced soon;
- Compact temporary — not only it is built to last for just a few miles, but it is also smaller and lighter;
- Folding temporary — while it takes much less space, it is also more difficult to install as it has to be inflated first.
It’s up to you to decide which option to choose for a spare tire, depending on the room you have available in the trunk and your budget. But the best option would be to have a full-size matching spare tire.
Popular models of used spare tires at Utires.com
All time Utires customers’ favorite used spare tires are:
Where to buy used spare tires?
You can buy used tires from local stores, supermarkets or online marketplaces, but most likely the biggest variety of products at affordable prices can be found at a reputable online store that specializes in used tires.
At Utires.com, for example, you will only find Grade A models — tires with none or minor repairs. Each of our used tires is carefully inspected — both automatically and manually. We guarantee their quality and safety for driving. Market prices for the presented models are carefully analyzed every day, compared with the competitors, and lowered in order to provide the best offers to UTires.com customers.
Our current offer of new or used spare tires is presented by models with tread left ranging from 4/32” to 10/32” and prices ranging between $47 and $156.