Tire cover or 303? April 16, 2020, 01:38:41 am Now that the sun has come out in the NW I've been thinking of getting tire covers. Searching the archives shows some use them and others can't be bothered. I think I would fall in the latter camp:^) I might think different if I lived in the SW.I recently discovered how well 303 works. Since 303 blocks UV would a tire cover be redundant?Thanks,Steve 1 Likes
Re: Tire cover or 303? Reply #1 – April 16, 2020, 06:24:16 am If the rig is parked for an extended time, it might be worth it. The tires will start checking after 4/5 years anyway. 1 Likes
Re: Tire cover or 303? Reply #2 – April 16, 2020, 07:57:16 am I use 303 and cover the tires when camped or 'sitting'; covering the tires does help to protect them from UV damage. Once in a while, if I'm camped in rain, I may not cover the tires, but only because wet tire covers are a nuisance to fold up and stow. YMMV. 2 Likes
Re: Tire cover or 303? Reply #3 – April 16, 2020, 10:04:20 am FWIW, I have been told by a pro, Chuck the Tire Man, that the use of products such as Armor-All and 303 protectant on tires can void the tire warranty. As explained, if I remember correctly, he said that the tire compounds contain UV protectants that migrate to the surface as the tire ages. He recommended scrubbing tires with a stiff brush and mild detergent, then rinsing well, but not using any other chemicals.Ken F in NM 1 Likes
Re: Tire cover or 303? Reply #4 – April 16, 2020, 10:31:38 am AFAIK, Armor All and similar 'tire dressing' products contain petroleum distillates; 303 does not. I use a brush and plain water (no detergent or soap) on the tires, then spray on 303 and spread it evenly over the sidewall with a sponge. (Ditto everything else that's vinyl, rubber, or plastic on the rig.)Another 'YMMV' decision. 2 Likes
Re: Tire cover or 303? Reply #5 – April 16, 2020, 01:24:07 pm Quote from: Kenneth Fears - April 16, 2020, 10:04:20 am As explained, if I remember correctly, he said that the tire compounds contain UV protectants that migrate to the surface as the tire ages.I have heard this too, but it only applies if the rig is driven frequently. Ours is not, these days, and even if you take yearly trips of thousands of miles, if it sits for a month or two there is no migration at that point either.Steve
Re: Tire cover or 303? Reply #6 – April 16, 2020, 10:42:38 pm Hmm, maybe I need to investigate 303 a little more. I still may get a couple tire covers. I do like to pamper my little TK.
Re: Tire cover or 303? Reply #7 – April 17, 2020, 10:56:33 am I have had excellent results with UV protection using 303 on boat parts that are exposed to the sun. It works well on painted parts, fiberglass gel coat, and plastic. As for tires, I cover trailer tires (triple axle boat trailer with a spare) because it completely eliminates UV exposure without adding any chemicals to the tire surface. For years, I used to put Armor All on commercial dive gear that was exposed to UV, salt water, mud, and diesel. I later discovered that it would cause the wet suit neoprene to delaminate from the nylon material that covers it and make rubber/nylon parts very difficult to repair. Dry suit neck and wrist seals are made of a silicone compound and will tear out in the field, but can sometimes be repaired with duct tape. Not if they have been treated with Armor All, though! Nothing will stick to it. Although Armor All made the suits easy to put on and made my hair easy to comb at the end of a day working under and on the ocean, the problems it caused to my gear was enough to completely stop using it for anything.Harold 3 Likes
Re: Tire cover or 303? Reply #8 – April 17, 2020, 11:18:16 am "I still may get a couple tire covers."---My 2003 TK has 6 tires; I use four tire covers. Did your 2003 TK not come with the full complement of wheels and tires?
Re: Tire cover or 303? Reply #9 – April 17, 2020, 02:32:24 pm Joan, I can be pretty cheap at times Also, my storage location has one side of the TK pointing north away from the sun so figured no need to cover those.
Re: Tire cover or 303? Reply #10 – April 18, 2020, 06:26:52 am Hi Steve, (73gitane), I use both. Clean tires, and cover. It's not just UV rays, but also ozone present in the atmosphere, exhaust, etc. I don't travel with the covers, they stay at home. Most of the unchanging exposure is sitting in my driveway. RonB 3 Likes
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Topic: Tire cover or 303? (Read 318 times)
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