Tire covers April 11, 2022, 12:18:15 pm Since we need to replace the tires every 5 years anyway I'm wondering what the purpose of using tire covers is?Will the sun damage them that much in that short of time?
Re: Tire covers Reply #1 – April 11, 2022, 12:38:06 pm Quote from: tedeboy - April 11, 2022, 12:18:15 pmSince we need to replace the tires every 5 years anyway I'm wondering what the purpose of using tire covers is?Will the sun damage them that much in that short of time?.The main reason, from my understanding is to slow down the effects of UV damage on the rubber. Here in the southwest, the effects of sun damage on cars is apparent on the hoods and roof of vehicles through faded and washed out paint and on tires, faded rubber.So, keeping a vehicle garaged and under cover certainly prolongs the life of the rubber (up to a certain point, 5-7 years), leaving the vehicle out in the sun accelerates the damaging effects of the sun.. 1 Likes
Re: Tire covers Reply #2 – April 11, 2022, 12:49:04 pm I think most manufacturers recommend replacement at 6 years for RV use.
Re: Tire covers Reply #3 – April 11, 2022, 12:50:15 pm "Will the sun damage them that much in that short of time?"---Damage from ozone and UV light to sidewalls, generally the more vulnerable element than tread for RV tires, can and does occur, particularly when tires are exposed to direct sunlight when parked for periods of time. Tire covers are not expensive and only mildly inconvenient to put on, take off, and store, but using these when the rig is sitting will help to prevent the exposure that accelerates checking, cracking, and weathering.There is really no fixed length of time for a tire to be safely used; tire life depends on how well the tire was maintained, i.e., regularly inspected for any damage, correctly inflated for the load, not overloaded, not worn from poor alignment, and not being slathered with "tire protectants" that contain petroleum distillates. Any/all of these factors will accelerate damage to the rubber and reduce the safe life of the tire.YMMV, as always. 4 Likes
Re: Tire covers Reply #4 – April 11, 2022, 08:36:54 pm I bought and used tire covers like nearly everyone on this forum. But having bought many tires in recent years from good shops, was repeatedly told that covers don't do a thing to stop aging or checking, that the tires in warehouse storage out of the sun age just as fast. So I quit, and continue to spend a lot of money on tires, just like before. After six years they still look good when they come off the last time. Also learned the hard way that unless well secured the covers blow off in wind storms, never to be found again. But decades ago I also bought used tires, and learned not to do that ever again. Live and learn. 3 Likes
Re: Tire covers Reply #5 – April 12, 2022, 12:03:03 am Covers are a waste of money and time. Besides the load range, an RV tire is no different than a car tire. You don’t see people covering them everyday do you? Swap em out every 6-8 years if it’s a quality tire. I just replaced my 8 year old Michelins that had a ton of tread life and no cracking. Never covered. 3 Likes
Re: Tire covers Reply #6 – April 12, 2022, 09:31:55 am Quote from: brewersarcade - April 12, 2022, 12:03:03 amCovers are a waste of money and time. Besides the load range, an RV tire is no different than a car tire. You don’t see people covering them everyday do you? Swap em out every 6-8 years if it’s a quality tire. I just replaced my 8 year old Michelins that had a ton of tread life and no cracking. Never covered. It's true, YMMV. My LD was always in covered storage, nevertheless, all of the 3 sets of Michelins I had were cracking by the end of 6 years and were replaced preemptively. Could be the dry climate of Colorado.Chris
Re: Tire covers Reply #7 – April 12, 2022, 11:39:29 am I use tire covers when in storage, not so much while traveling. I consider them cheap insurance. 3 Likes
Re: Tire covers Reply #8 – April 12, 2022, 11:46:36 pm OK, I totally agree with Joan.Ultraviolet light, or UV for short, degrades the rubber of your RV’s tires. Direct sunlight is the source of huge amounts of UV. Repeated UV exposure over time can cause tires to crack and split, making them unsafe to drive on. The sun is brutal - especially in the dry, hot, desert climate of the Southwest. Just look at the difference in the skin of people that don't protect their skin against solar damage. Also, have you ever looked at tire covers you've had for awhile that are cracked and spliting? If I'm in an area for more than a week I cover my tires - and always when the RV is in storage. It's been windy here lately in Puerto Penasco, and I've used bungee cords to secure the tires. I look at covering the tires part of setting up and breaking camp - you get out the mat, chairs, grill, etc... It just takes a bit more time to cover the tires. I found this article about tire cracking from Tire Rack interesting... 4 Likes
Re: Tire covers Reply #9 – April 14, 2024, 03:46:01 pm I cover the two tires that face the sun. I also keep the levelers down to lessen the weight on the tires. I use Griots rubber cleaner and 303 Aerospace Protectant. Always say a prayer that she starts and we have a safe trip. 1 Likes
Re: Tire covers Reply #10 – April 15, 2024, 02:06:11 am I note Kristin’s point: If tires’ useful life is limited to 6 years by chronological aging processes (chemical), and sun exposure doesn’t shorten that age limit, then why worry about covering the tires? Or, is the sun damage likely to be severe enough that the tires won’t safely last 6 years?I recently replaced my 2017 vintage tires due to age, and didn’t note any checking or cracking, even though it is always parked outside here in sunny Southern California.
Re: Tire covers Reply #11 – April 15, 2024, 11:06:18 am I always LMAO on the my tyres have aged out, what a load of absolute nonsense. The people who sell that line (Michelin comes to mind) are the people who sell tyres, are we sensing a theme here ? Much like the change your oil every 3500 miles or whatever.We live at 5300 feet above sea level and the UV destroys everything so my tyres are covered at home and in the campground.
Re: Tire covers Reply #12 – April 15, 2024, 12:52:48 pm "I always LMAO on the my tyres have aged out, what a load of absolute nonsense."Say what you will, Olde English, but the first time you experience a BLOW-OUT you will most likely wish you'd have changed out those 'old tires' ! Let's hope it doesn't cause too much damage to the surrounding coach body.
Re: Tire covers Reply #13 – April 15, 2024, 01:03:04 pm I have well over a million miles of driving here in the last 40+ years and I’ve had ONE puncture and that was a piece of rebar on the west side of St.Louis in a construction zone. Those Goodyear tyres had 60k on them, we had a DP for a dozen years and those tyres had over 50k miles on them, they were on it when I bought it and they still on it when it left.This is real time experience not the paid for opinions of the manufacturer and its beneficiaries. I use Toyo tyres exclusively and wouldn’t use Michelin on a bet.IMHO hahaha Don’t forget to cover your tyres !
Re: Tire covers Reply #14 – April 15, 2024, 01:14:55 pm "...in the last 40+ years and I’ve had ONE puncture..."You will eventually learn that a puncture and a BLOW-OUT are two distinctly different events!I've been on the road for roughly 76 years in all sorts of vehicles, including Semi-trucks, and have experienced and witnessed what blow-outs can do. Take heed!
Re: Tire covers Reply #15 – April 15, 2024, 03:18:22 pm For Car And Driver magazine......"It may be tentative, but tires do have an expiration date. There is a general consensus that most tires should be inspected, if not replaced, at about six years and should be absolutely be swapped out after 10 years, regardless of how much tread they have left." How Long Should a Set of Tires Last?glen
Re: Tire covers Reply #16 – April 15, 2024, 03:43:21 pm Anyone riding around with this much weight on older Load Range E tires is asking for trouble. The RV weighs 3-4 times as much as a car and the exhaust from the Class C chassis is known to A blowout will very likely damage the RV, and the cost to repair can be substantial. With the factory closed, getting a proper repair done is getting harder all the time.Any you feeling lucky?Rich
Re: Tire covers Reply #17 – April 15, 2024, 03:50:17 pm The puncture was when the passenger side rear tyre on my pickup ripped open I guess that counts as a BLOW OUT. 5 lanes of westbound traffic and I’m in the third lane with a two axle trailer just to add to the fun !As to my driving experience it runs from. 225 ton dump truck in a coal mine through a CDL with all the extras down to a 10 speed bicycle.Consensus of opinion means never going out on a limb to avoid litigation, or we went to design a horse and came back with a camel.Don’t forget to cover your tyres.
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Topic: Tire covers (Read 486 times)
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