How long does a spare tire (doughnut) last from the factory? I've never worried about it before because I never kept my cars long enough, but it was something I thought about now that I plan on keeping the Cavalier for a long time. Thanks.
The owner's manual for my 96 Sunfire says the donut spare has a tread life of 2000-3000 miles, or someething like that. It basically goes on to say the spare has enough life to let you finish an extended trip before you would have to replace it.
The exact wording from my owner's manual:
"The compact spare is made to perform well at posted speed limits for distances of up to 3000 miles (5000 km), so you can finish your trip and have your full-size tire repaired or replaced when you want."
PS, it's a good idea to occasionally check the tire pressure of the donut spare once every month or so. You can never feel more helpless than to be stuck on the side of a road with a flat donut spare, believe me I know.
I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. How long should it last sitting in the trunk of the car? Should I chuck it for a new one after a few years? Or should I just check it periodically for dry rot and replace then? Thanks again for the help.
Not considering wear, it should last the lifetime of your vehicle. Dry rot should not be a problem tucked away in your trunk. A lot of classic car people I know have 40 year-old cars that still have the original spare. And their spare tires look brand new, no cracks, no visible signs of aging at all. Of course, most of them have seen very little to no actual use, just 40 years in a dark trunk.
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I'd "slather" on the Armor all or some other protectant a couple of times a year. Also check the pressure every so often, i also carry a can of the fix-a-flat so if it is low/flat I have a way to pump something into it.
Don
