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.

__________________
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".

__________________
Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
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

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.

__________________
Question Authority before it Questions you.

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

Sixto

Attached Thumbnails

   

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.)

__________________
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

__________________
[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".

__________________
Enough about me, how are you doing?

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

__________________
Question Authority before it Questions you.

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

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

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

Because calling them bagels would be stupid.

__________________
1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

Because that is about what they are worth...the price of a donut.

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D