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Old 11-19-2010, 02:09 PM   #13 (permalink)
redpoint5
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
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Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

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90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

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90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Prius Plug-in - '12 Toyota Prius Plug-in
90 day: 57.64 mpg (US)

Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring
90 day: 26.68 mpg (US)

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I have used spares fairly extensively. I went up a very rough and long logging road in my Legacy and had a flat. The spare held up on the punishing decent, and then kept on going for another thousand miles before I got new tires.

A spare should easily hold up for your light loads, and I should think they are very fuel efficient considering the higher than normal PSI (about 60psi if I remember correctly).

The main reason people are advised to not travel far on a spare is because having different diameter tires stresses the differential. Further, the handling characteristics of a car will be adversely affected by the smaller, thinner tire.
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