How old is your spare?

[Elkins45]

Have any of you driving older vehicles ever replaced your spare tire? Does it influence your decision if it’s a full-size or compact?

Does being stored away from the sun make you trust a spare tire for longer than one that’s been on the road the same number of years?

 

[Chris142]

My spare was 15 yrs old. Recently I bought new tires and put the best one as my spare. I will have to look but probably 6-7 yrs old

 

[supton]

Going onto 22 years old, and now exposed to the elements. Told the garage to rotate the best tire coming off the vehicle when I was buying four new tires and to make that the spare—they didn’t. Didn’t realize until later. Knew I should have gone for five new tires and gotten into the habit of a five tire rotation plan.

 

[Reggaemon]

I have never replaced a spare that came with the car, but I have bought spare tires for cars that didn't come with a spare originally.

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

25 years old

It's stored inside the rear of the wagon.

 

[zfasts03]

27 years old, on the ‘97 Ram and never used it.

 

[HemiBenny]

In my Ram, the spare is the original and it has never touched the ground. I’m thinking my best pull-off will replace it when I put new tires on. The best used Michelin will probably be a lot better than a new, cheap tire to use as a spare.

 

[eljefino]

Used the 22 year old spare from my Volvo wagon. They chose a tread pattern that howled like an airplane, I assume to shame the driver into getting the tire fixed properly, quickly.

Wife's 19 Prius has a spare from 1997 in it presently. It didn't come with one from the factory.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Tundra is a 2001. So is the spare.

 

[oil pan 4]

My spare is a bridgestone the last tire from a set I wore out in 2019. So it's possibly original equipment, probably 10 year's old. It's cranking out pretty good and it's kept inside about 95% of the time.
I'm going to replace it this year with an almost worn out tire from the current set, I think they were made in 2021.

 

[DougR]

A 5th gen 4 Runner stores a full size spare under the vehicle. After 12 years my spare was oxidized and micro cracking. I bought a new, unused, stock spare tire and wheel from a guy that upgraded his wheels to install larger tires.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I bought my mercury in 2021. It still had the original 2001 Michelin spare. Surprisingly it wasn't dryrotted.

I still have the F-350 spare mounted on a Jeep wheel. I had that hanging out as a spare in my Cherokee for a while. Now I just need to get rid of it.

My F-350 has a tire that I pulled out of a dumpster. It holds air for about 20 hours , is dry cracked but is 9 years old like the rest of the tires. Once that's fully back in comission, I am going to get 5 new tires for it .

The nissan's donut spare is in the garage, I rotated one of the old OE tires onto a steel wheel.

 

[Gyro Gearloose]

Our family has several late model GM trucks and they have full size spares, but its a narrower higher profile tire from the ones that are rolling. The spares rarely touch the ground and last as long as the rest of the truck.

 

[Cosa]

I used my original 1994 ES300 full sized spare for the first time earlier this year when having a tire puncture repaired at Costco. I asked but couldn't get the tech to agree that my spare was probably fine to drive on around town for an hour or so while I was waiting. No cracks or external signs of being old, but it is really old.

 

[Cheetah-kins]

I used my 35 year old Miata's factory (donut) spare about 5 years when I got a flat. Worked fine for the drive to a tire shop. And I didn't drive over 50mph on the highway. I think the main thing people forget is to keep the spare aired up and then can't use it when needed. I would use my again if needed, it's in good shape besides being way past its prime, haha. Wouldn't drive it far though unless no other way. I should mention we have AAA premier, too.

 

[JavierH19]

Mines original although I didn't recall seeing dry rotting on it or any cracks beyond the smallest of ones. I think the lack of uv rays and weight on it has helped a ton.

 

[bullwinkle]

Mine are as old as the vehicles they’re under (except the Express, it matches the other 4), but a winter tire now resides as a spare in the xB & Corolla. I’m living dangerously with the MGM…

 

[alcyon]

35 years old.

 

[Dinoburner]

Have the original spare on the 95 in my sig although it`s on a newer rim. Also have an original spare from a 1967 Tempest we owned, a BF Goodrich.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Sixteen years old, stored underneath the Suburban. I had to change out the valve as the air leaked out through it. Not concerned.