Tire covers needed or not

homer1959 · 04-23-2015, 05:51 AM

Please explain the logic behind the tire covers.

My truck tires are never covers and they last. The sun beat them like the one on a TT.

I've read they last mainly because I use my truck everyday, I keep them moving.

So, if the sun have no or little effect on my truck tires, why it would be different on my TT ?

Following the logic behind the reason why my truck tires last, am I wrong to think that what is damaging the TT trailer is more the fact that they are not moving a lot compared to the truck?

On top of that , peoples are saying that they cover their tires mainly when the TT is parked for a long period of time...but....they dont cover them when they are camping or travelling a lot ....but hey, the sun beat them camping or not for the same amount of time ....

If so IMHO tire covers offer little if any protection at all, furthermore we read that the tires are dead or almost dead around 7 years...so...

I need your input guys, from the pro covers and from against covers, do you really thing that you add life to your tires with covers , if so by how much ?

thanks

vboyd · 04-23-2015, 08:46 AM

I'm neither for or against tire covers. I cover one side only while it is stored for 8 months of the year straight. I cover the side that the sun beats against. The otherside is shaded the whole time. I imagine that the sun will dry out and possibly crack a none moving tire over time.

A rotating tire will bend and flex and warm up and remain flexible / pliable. A standing tire will not.

Whether it works or not, I have no idea. But the small cost of tire covers I'm on the side of, better safe than sorry.

DocBrown · 04-23-2015, 09:28 AM

I cover my tires during off season storage but not during the camping season. I don't know if really helps or not, I do it mainly to prevent the wheels from rusting. I have gotten full life out of my tires, 6 years. As said above, they aren't expensive.

cbss · 04-23-2015, 09:31 AM

Around here they keep the dogs and cats from peeing on the rims......

eldermike · 04-23-2015, 11:14 AM

Very good logic in the OP. Tire covers = less money in your bank account.

Trailer tires need to be changed based upon build date. For me that's 3 years for others as much as 5 but I think that's out there close to the limit.
Truck tires are doing way less work than a trailer tire given it's load range to actual load under use. RV manufacturers spec tires that are borderline rated for the task and this is considering the tires new condition. The derating curve on trailer tires is based upon time and not use or miles.

clubhouse · 04-23-2015, 11:39 AM

Typically you don't need to cover your truck tires becasue you will wear them out before the sun can rot them. On a TT, most tires are replaced with what appear to be good tread life remaining, but they have lived their useful life based on age. Sun exposure excelerates the aging.

I replaced trailer tires at 5 years from MFG date regardless of what the tread looks like. however I still cover them, i just don't want to deal with blowouts that affect our trips.

Lollygagger77 · 04-23-2015, 12:09 PM

I do not cover my tires, but I do have indoor storage in the winter to protect from the sun. I have also heard that the covers add another path for mice to use to get into your trailer..

eldermike · 04-23-2015, 12:43 PM

Take a new rubber band and stretch it to what you consider max limit and then put it in a drawer in your house out of the sun for 5 years. Now try that stretch thing again.....pop! goes the band. I am sure everyone has encountered a bag of old rubber bands.

Rubber is a natural product and begins to degrade by time as soon as it's processed into a product.

Ozone is equal to UV when it comes to degrading rubber. All you need to degrade rubber is air.

I did cover my tires until I did some research and then I stopped doing it.

Tires need to be worn out (as in cars and trucks) or timed out (as in trailers) before the natural degrading process catches up with you.

My opinion

DocBrown · 04-23-2015, 01:40 PM

Ah, rubber bands. when I was 16 I had 4 paper routes that I delivered by car. It was one of the first motor routes in my county. I was given bags and bags of rubber bands to wrap the papers in.

I'm 51 now (you do the math but I think that's slightly over 5 years). I still have 2 bags of those rubber bands. They stay closed up in a drawer and they are perfectly fine. We use them for all sorts of stuff.

So much for the theory that they will degrade in a drawer when protected from the elements.

As I said above I cover more to protect the wheels from the elements and premature rusting than any other reason. $30 for 2 sets of covers. Most people spend more than that on a meal out.

homer1959 · 04-23-2015, 02:14 PM

We wont reach a consensus ! :-)

eldermike · 04-23-2015, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBrown

Ah, rubber bands. when I was 16 I had 4 paper routes that I delivered by car. It was one of the first motor routes in my county. I was given bags and bags of rubber bands to wrap the papers in.

I'm 51 now (you do the math but I think that's slightly over 5 years). I still have 2 bags of those rubber bands. They stay closed up in a drawer and they are perfectly fine. We use them for all sorts of stuff.

So much for the theory that they will degrade in a drawer when protected from the elements.

As I said above I cover more to protect the wheels from the elements and premature rusting than any other reason. $30 for 2 sets of covers. Most people spend more than that on a meal out.

Those rubber bands will not meet spec. But I will not argue the point. Just don't use them on anything important.
Its not my opinion it's just science.
Untitled Document

Mantygirl · 04-23-2015, 04:34 PM

Our kids got us wheel covers as a gift and we use them when we are wintering in AZ. Partly for the sun aspect, but also for appearance (don't you dare say that is a typical response from a woman. )

When we are all set up with our patio, awning, lights, chairs, etc, the wheel covers help with the clean appearance. When we are doing real camping we don't use them.

So far we haven't kept an RV long enough to replace tires. Sigh. We keep upgrading, but we have sworn that the 2016 we have on order will have to last ten years!

Seann45 · 04-23-2015, 05:10 PM

Tire covers .. GOOD IDEA.. on your daily driver the tires get exercised on a regular basis.. on your RV they sit for long periods of time.. The daily use makes the oils in the tires move and keeps the rubber "fresher" Uncovered the RV tires are prone to weather cracking and at that point need to be replaced.. On my 1st RV that happened in under 1 year..

DieselX · 04-23-2015, 06:07 PM

I had a trailer we stored at Myrtle Beach for about 5 years. Went to tow it home and both the tires that were facing the sun blew within 100 miles. I fulltime now and I usually wear 'em out before the 5 year mark, but I think if I ever store it again i'll at least lean a piece of plywood against the sunny side.

Flyrotor · 04-23-2015, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eldermike

Tires need to be worn out (as in cars and trucks) or timed out (as in trailers) before the natural degrading process catches up with you.

Well then I guess you could compare tires to hookers! LMAO!

bucko · 04-24-2015, 04:16 AM

I have one on my spare that's mounted on the back bumper. It has the UF gator on it.

Good enough reason for me to keep the tire covered.

homer1959 · 04-24-2015, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyrotor

Well then I guess you could compare tires to hookers! LMAO!

Geezzzzz.....roflmao !!! Now my fear is to see them coming 4 at once...

33 RLDS · 04-24-2015, 07:02 AM

I cover only when stored for the winter. When I am using it the slides are always out and they shade the tires. I leave the slides out at home all the time.

DocBrown · 04-24-2015, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eldermike

Those rubber bands will not meet spec. But I will not argue the point. Just don't use them on anything important.
Its not my opinion it's just science.
Untitled Document

Spec? Seriously? We're talking about rubber bands. And as I said, they are still very serviceable and very reliable. So much for what scientists claim. Yes, it's science. I love science and physics, so I've been more surprised by this than you are. I would have thought them to be useless 20 years ago.

Diesel Donnie · 04-24-2015, 10:47 AM

We have tire covers for all 4 tires and we do crawl under the unit to install them when we are going to be in one location for an extended period- As stated by another, the tires seem to stay "fresh" when the unit is towed frequently- There are a LOT of different chemicals used in the makeup of a tire- Driving the unit gives these chemicals an opportunity to interact with other components to stay "fresh" Keeping the sun and our no longer pristine atmosphere from direct contact is a good thing- JMHO- DD

You may also like: