Tire covers

[tooblue]

White or black? Which tire covers give the best protection and wear, black or white? We're into our third season of white covers and they are badly deteriorated already. That life seems unreasonably short. What has been your experience?
Jerry

[Sundance3200]

We use black because the white ones show wear and tear. That's the only reason.

[Pairajays]

IMO, tire covers are for show so use which you think looks the best.

Jim E

[RichR]

White reflects heat-I use them always

[GaryKD]

Hi tooblue,
Use the color that looks best with your coach and site decor. How fast they wear out depends on the quality of the covers purchased. It does not depend on the color of the cover.

[Cat320]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichR White reflects heat-I use them always

Same here, only time I don't use them is if we are only staying one night.

[Tireman9]

I did a temperature study. See the results in my photo album.

[Cat320]

I don't know if it's the heat/temperature so much as the as it is the sun actually shining on the tire that causes damage.

[dsbike]

My covers deteriated after 2 years use. My DW went to the fabric store, bought 3 yds of an outside canvas material, cut out the old center cover & sewed the new centers onto the part that covers the tread. Cost $18 and she had enough to make a cover for my kayak trailer spare. Looks like much better material & will probably out last the the part that does't get any sun.

[Ray,IN]

Since all tires have a UV inhibitor in them, I see no useful purpose for these covers unless you will leave your RV sitting outside parked for months. Buy whatever color you desire, as it has no other bearing. These tire covers cannot protect your tires from the effects of ozone in the air because they do not cover the backside or make an air-tight seal.
As tireman9 points out, temperature is not an issue either.

[Tireman9]

Sorry for not including a longer post and details. +30 degrees is significant in degrading tire rubber over the few years of your tire life the RV spends parked in the sun and not in the shade of a garage.

I did not say or mean to imply that the the temperature was not important so don't understand why some think I did.

Rubber chemistry is such that the rate at which rubber "ages" doubles with each 20 degrees F of temperature change (numbers approximate).

So for every month you park with the tires in the sun they "age" an extra two weeks due to the elivated temperature.

UV is just part of the problem. The fact that your covers "failed" should tell you something. Would you rather "age" the covers or your tires?

[Cat320]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tireman9 The fact that your covers "failed" should tell you something. Would you rather "age" the covers or your tires?

I have Goodyears on my MH, and the manual says that protection in any form is not necessary, whether it is a liquid or covers, because they contain some kind of protecant. I'm not an engineer, nor a solar expert, buy common sense tells me if the sun eats tire covers, it is not doing my tires any favors by letting them bake in the sun. So, I cover them.