When purchasing or replacing a spare tire, there are several things to consider. Here is a list of your options with their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.
Full-Size Matching Spare:
Pros:
Your regular tires could last a little longer as you now have five to rotate, and if you have to use your spare you can drive on it for a while rather than going straight to the repair shop.
Cons:
You have to replace all five tires rather than four when your tires wear out.
Full-Size Non-Matching Spare:
Pros:
You don’t need to drive straight to the repair shop on your spare.
Cons:
The tire takes up a lot of space, and you probably don’t want to drive on it normally for aesthetic reasons.
Full-Size Temporary Spare:
Pros:
These tires are usually light weight, so they won’t weigh down your vehicle. They also don’t interfere with your normal driving settings (ABS, all-wheel drive, traction control, etc.) because they are full size.
Cons:
They take up a lot of storage space, and you cannot drive on them for very long.
Compact Temporary Spare:
Pros:
This tire doesn’t take up as much storage space, so it is especially nice in small vehicles.
Cons:
It’s smaller size might impair some vehicle features (ABS, all-wheel drive, traction control, speedometer, etc.). After you put on this tire you must drive straight to a repair shop.
Folding Temporary Spare:
Pros:
This inflatable tire is by far the most space efficient option when it comes to storage.
Cons:
It is also a little more difficult to use. You have to have some kind of air pump available to blow it up, and it has the most limited life span of any of the options.
