Why are compact spare tires called donuts? They look no more like donuts than service tires. What am I missing?

Sixto
87 300D

They are called that so you will ask.

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1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual

Because if you drive on them, it attracts "the man".

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Chad
2013 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL

I'm going out on a limb here, but I seem to recall that the space saving spares first made their appearance on compact cars, meaning that they were very small compared to their appearance on larger cars today. Being a much smaller and thinner product in those days, the "donut" moniker was more appropriate.

they originally started out as an uninflated tires and wheel,and you had to use a can of compressed air to inflate em.

Are they not round and have a hole in the middle? Pretty obvious reason for me.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

And how is this different from regular wheels or a full size spare?

Sixto

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It's not, the term just differentiates the specific usage between the two.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

I see those reduced diameter spares in Porsches. I wonder about putting high-g load on a sidewall that's been collapsed for years then suddenly expanded

Sixto
87 300D

I had a brand new 2001 Volvo C70 HPT turbo coupe for a while, for about a year or two.

I showed the "donut" spare in it to my ex (I had bought the vehicle for her to drive) and explained that it was a "better" donut than most, much bigger and almost full sized.

She knows nothing and cares less about cars, but grasped the concept immediately.


"Oh", she said. "it must be a Krispy Kreme!!"


I miss her. (I am talking about the Volvo.)

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

They're called donuts because if you put chocolate icing and sprinkels on them the man would eat them.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Because it sounds better than "small tire".

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Enough about me, how are you doing?

I never heard them called donuts. I always heard them referred to as "Weenie Wheels." I like that, personally.

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OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

How you gonna drive on a wheel shaped like that?

Homer Simpson was involved in the grand design.

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL