Whenever I find parked motorhomes, I find some of them with tire covers, presumably to protect the tires from the sun.Now, off the top of my head this sounds like one of those "common sense" things. UV degrades rubber, so I'll cover my tires when parked.But in practice, does anyone know of any evidence that these covers actually increase the life of the tires? Does using covers mean we'd only need to replace our tires every 9 years instead of every 7? Or does it just make us feel good that we're doing something? And what about "UV Protectant" sealers that you can apply directly to the rubber? Evidence? Or does it just feel good?Let the debate begin!

My belief is that if you wash tires regularly, and move every now and then, tire covers are a hassle and not worth the cost. But if you stay in one place for a while, in open spaces with plenty of sun, then they are beneficial.

wildtoad wrote:My belief is that if you wash tires regularly, and move every now and then, tire covers are a hassle and not worth the cost. But if you stay in one place for a while, in open spaces with plenty of sun, then they are beneficial.Pretty much sums it up. Also, take a look at your 5-year old tires that have sat out in the sun all that time, then look at your spare that's been under cover for that same amount of time - quite telling!Now, evidence shows that even if a tire "looks" good, the internal degradation occurs, hidden from the naked eye. Time and oxygen are killers (of tires, at least).

Tire covers are good if you stay in on location for weeks and weeks or longer at a time.If you park for a couple of days then move on to another location...they are just another one of those things that make camping more complicated than it needs to be.

downtheroad wrote:Tire covers are good if you stay in on location for weeks and weeks or longer at a time.If you park for a couple of days then move on to another location...they are just another one of those things that make camping more complicated than it needs to be.^^^ so true ^^^ - Otherwise, one would also have to cover the tires on their tow-vehicle and daily driver.

Only an RV thing. I say it is just a feel good routine. I will pass.

Tire Covers - Evidence or just belief? | Good Sam Community

29 Replies

jwolf55
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
jwolf55 wrote:
I am a firm believer. My pick-up lives in a garage, Summer before last I was vintage racing almost every weekend so I was lazy and just left my truck out with the trailer attached ready for the next race. It was park next to the house with the passenger side away from the house and catching full afternoon sun.
That fall I was out a race and some brought to my attend how my tire were badly cracked a needed replacing. I look on the drivers side they look good almost new, the the passenger side that had been in the sun for 6 weeks or so were shot, so I had to buy new tires. I have always covered my trailer tires but never thought about my truck tires. They were BFG All-Terrain, not cheap tires.
I sold the 2 drivers side tires and trashed the 2 passenger side tires.
__________________
Jay Wolf
2000 National Tradewinds 7373
Vincennes In

to add a visual to this story:

Drivers side in shade.

Passenger's side in afternoon sun

Both tires bought the same time been on the same truck for 3 years.
jwolf55
Explorer
Mar 03, 2017
I am a firm believer. My pick-up lives in a garage, Summer before last I was vintage racing almost every weekend so I was lazy and just left my truck out with the trailer attached ready for the next race. It was park next to the house with the passenger side away from the house and catching full afternoon sun.
That fall I was out a race and some brought to my attend how my tire were badly cracked a needed replacing. I look on the drivers side they look good almost new, the the passenger side that had been in the sun for 6 weeks or so were shot, so I had to buy new tires. I have always covered my trailer tires but never thought about my truck tires. They were BFG All-Terrain, not cheap tires.
I sold the 2 drivers side tires and trashed the 2 passenger side tires.
__________________
Jay Wolf
2000 National Tradewinds 7373
Vincennes In
Clay_L
Explorer
Mar 02, 2017
Michelin agrees with Goodyear in preventing sunlight from striking the tires. The Michelin RV Tire Guide says to protect them from ultraviolet rays (sunlight).

See numbers 4 and 5 below. From the RV Tire Guide.
"Here are a few tips to help you protect your tires from these common damage conditions:
1) Keep your tires properly inflated.
2) Keep your tires clean.
3) Avoid prolonged exposure to heat, cold or moisture.
4) Avoid prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays.
5) Cover your tires when your vehicle is not in use.
6) Do not park near electric generators or transformers.
7) Do not store vehicle in an area where welding
is being done or in a garage that has mercury vapor lamps."
Sandia_Man
Explorer II
Mar 02, 2017
We definitely use them on one side of our rig when stored in our side yard, the sun is brutal on that side of the house. The side of the RV that is adjacent to our house gets very little sun, the side facing away and in direct sunlight most of the day has decals peeling and cracked while the shaded side looks nearly new. The same can be said for the tires, I did rotate them from side to side yearly, it's just a whole lot easier to throw on one set of white tire covers to prevent excess damage.
Shot-N-Az
Explorer
Mar 02, 2017
JaxDad wrote:
PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
Tires are designed for the oils to migrate toward the surface as the tire rotates.

Huh? :h

Google "tire blooming". It's a thing.
JaxDad
Explorer III
Mar 02, 2017
PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
Tires are designed for the oils to migrate toward the surface as the tire rotates.

Huh? :h
MilesandSmiles
Explorer
Mar 02, 2017
et2 wrote:
http://www.goodyearrvtires.com/tire-storage.aspx

Very helpful!
SoundGuy
Explorer
Mar 02, 2017
et2 wrote:
But a little common sense and reasoning tells me it's worth covering them up.

SoundGuy wrote:
... but it's MUCH cheaper to use a piece of Reflectix rather than vinyl tire covers that cost WAY too much and will only deteriorate themselves over time.

fj12ryder wrote:
Looks like a decent idea, but how do you keep the wind from getting behind it and making it disappear? I've had regular wheel covers, not the strap-on kind, blown off.

Unlike vinyl tire covers Reflectix has "body" so tucked up into the wheelwell and folded over the top of the tires, with shock cord running behind the tires, there's no way it can blow off ... never an issue. For reference, my trailer has 14" tires and the Reflectix panel I use measures 67" long x 29" high. When not in use it rolls up into a tube 5" in diameter, weighs nothing at all, and the material doesn't deteriorate with exposure to the sun. :)
SoundGuy
Explorer
Mar 02, 2017
.
DSDP_Don
Explorer
Mar 02, 2017
"1SG"....brought up a point that was missed. No matter if you have aluminum rims or stainless steel covers, the wheel covers protect them from the elements requiring less work to keep them nice looking.