Tire Covers, Worth or Waste?

[Scarab0088]

In a different thread about a different topic, someone made statement that there are lots of RV products that do little to nothing, including (it read)..."like tire covers"

Do you think tire covers protect tires from checking, cracking, and aging?

We have used tire covers religiously on every stored vehicle we have ever owned for decades...so we have no baseline to see if the covers do nothing.

But we have observed that the inside tire sidewalls of all our tires, plus both sides on the dualie inners on our motorhome and DRW pick-up have been spared of most all checking or cracking. We just assumed that was because these tires are virtually under cover 24/7 (shielded from the harmful rays of sunlight).

Is there any opinions that these covers aren't doing what we expect. Asking because even covered, the exposed outside tire sidewalls get some cracks. And the motorhomes tires age-out before wear-out
Wish there was a SPF sunblock kinda product for tires that works.
Yes, have read about STUFF LIKE THIS, but does it work?

[docj]

Our 7+ year old Michelins have been covered during every "extended stay" and the sidewalls I can see are free of any cracks. I can't prove that covering them helps, but I sure don't feel it hurts.

FWIW, I just ordered a set of tire covers from Magnashade. I saw them on a neighbor's coach last month and thought they were an aesthetic improvement over the kind I usually have purchased. Furthermore, there's a decent chance they will last longer than the couple of years I have usually experienced before the plastic in the traditional covers gets brittle and cracks. They are a bit more expensive, but if they last longer it will be worth it.

[DryCreek]

Do they extend tire life? I can't really say. But, they're cheap enough so I have always covered our RV tires. Well, except for the popups we've owned.

If we are staying somewhere longer than one night I will throw them on. It takes all of five minutes, and gives me a chance to do a cursory inspection of the tires while I'm at it.

[1982]

You may find this reference of some help:

https://rma.org/sites/default/files/...mendations.pdf

[VanDiemen23]

buy a couple of 4x8 sheets of courregated white pvc - like they make political signs from. cut to shape, hold on with bungees. easy peasy and much cheaper than any commercial solution.

[Scarab0088]

Originally Posted by 1982

You may find this reference of some help:

https://rma.org/sites/default/files/...mendations.pdf

WOW...that reference says much more than just use covers...even says to remove load weight from the tires. We haven't done that since dumping the last set of biasply on an older Class C. 'Cuz radials never got a flat spot. At least not that we could sense.

Thanks

[Mr_D]

Clean the sidewall, spray with 303 and cover with the Magneshade covers.
303 is a UV protectant.

[96 Wideglide]

I would say it depends where you live. AZ, SOCAL, Florida, probably a good idea !

[NLOVNIT]

I keep our tires protected with 303 all year long & we have the MagneShade covers for long term storage over winter because the coach sits in 1 spot the entire 6 months. During RV-ing season we rotate whether we park the coach nose in or nose out in the RV port, so the tires get equal exposure to sun/weather side to side.

Our last set of Michelins lasted 10 seasons before we decided to not roll the dice further & got new. Did the 303 & Magneshades help extend the tire life. I'd say so, since I read a lot of members won't go past 5-7 years on tires.

Lori-

[powerboatr]

for us the TEXAS summer sun is a brutal baby
even the hauler trailer tires get slathered up with protectant and covered


the bus now is completely enclosed out of the sun, but it did before have covers 24/7 when we were at home base.

On the road i only cover them if we are going to be in one location for more than a week, except south texas...even in the winter the sun is brutal, so they get covered as soon as we set up.

[Wrenchch3]

Originally Posted by docj

Our 7+ year old Michelins have been covered during every "extended stay" and the sidewalls I can see are free of any cracks. I can't prove that covering them helps, but I sure don't feel it hurts.

FWIW, I just ordered a set of tire covers from Magnashade. I saw them on a neighbor's coach last month and thought they were an aesthetic improvement over the kind I usually have purchased. Furthermore, there's a decent chance they will last longer than the couple of years I have usually experienced before the plastic in the traditional covers gets brittle and cracks. They are a bit more expensive, but if they last longer it will be worth it.

Take an old complete one to an apostery shop and have them made out of good marine vynal. Mine are 11 years old and still look and feel like new.

[KennyGolub]

If you're not convinced covers help, take a look at anything that sits out in the sun. Colors fade, moisture dries, etc. The sun will damage most anything sitting out in it (other than plant life, given enough water). Roofing on houses, colors on cars that aren't protected in some manner will fade or anything you can think of.


As a lengthy experiment, put something out in the sun all summer. Take a picture of it in spring, then another picture in fall.



Mr. Sun is our friend with proper precautions.


-

[rvmorkie]

Covering the tires are a great idea, anything you can do to block the UV rays from the sun. Too bad tires covers usually cost two to four times what you would hope..... Look for covers on sale or make something..

[TonyDi]

I also use 303. I have been doing so for 9 years and I do cover them when I put it away for the winter. We are lucky that the storage yard where we keep out MH has other MHs close on both sides of us, so sun almost never hits the tires.