What to do with the Wrong Size Tire
Driving with different size car tires is a huge no-no! Sure, you end up with a flat and the only spare you have in your trunk is a different size than the tires that you have on your car......go ahead and put it on. But only do this to get you to the nearest gas station or to get home, period! It's just too dangerous to drive with improperly sized tires.
The reason why so much money goes into automotive research is precisely why tires are manufactured to certain specifications. A car is a very complex machine, designed for safety first and foremost. And the proper tires on your car are paramount in the safety department! When different sized tires are put on a car it throws the balance of the vehicle all out of whack. So this creates handling problems as well as impeding gas mileage and a host of other issues.
Not only is handling affected with improper tires, your ability to stop correctly with your brakes are affected as well. There isn't a more important device on your vehicle than brakes. Improperly sized tires also can create the tires to wear unevenly, further causing the risk of premature blowout. Not something you want to happen when traveling down the freeway at seventy miles per hour. I've had a blowout at that speed, and it was all I could do to fight the car to get it to the side of the road! It was a very scary experience, and my tires were sized correctly.
If you have a spare that is not the correct size in your car's trunk, do yourself a favor and get rid of it. If you don't, you just might be tempted to use it in an emergency, or even to use it under any conditions. It's just not worth it and you are doing yourself a disservice by having it in your trunk. If it is new, take it to a tire dealer and see if you can trade it for a tire that is the proper dimensions that are on your car already. If they want a few extra bucks for the difference in price go a ahead and pay it.
Tires are manufactured to exacting specifications in today's automotive environment. Why run the risk of not only hurting yourself and your family, but other's on our roadways? That someone else could be me!
