Importance of Tire Covers

It’s important to not only have a spare tire cover, but a good spare tire. I know it may seem silly that someone would have a custom spare tire cover and a crappy tire underneath it, but it does happen. They may look cool, but when they’re stuck out in the middle of nowhere with a flat tire they’re going to wish they had a decent spare.

Tire covers have started to become somewhat of a fashion statement and many forget the main reason of having a spare tire in the first place. Here are the reasons why it’s so important to have a tire cover, but always remember that if you’re covering up a crappy tire, and then what good is it going to do for you in the first place?

When tires are manufactured, they’re made with a substance called carbon black. Carbon black’s main purpose is, besides providing pigment, is to conduct heat. That may sound counterproductive for the tire, but the carbon black actual pulls heat away from the more important parts of the tire like the tread and belt areas. This helps the lasting effect of the tire and prolongs its life. This is the main reason why you need to cover your tires when not in use. Long exposure to the sun will wear down the carbon black and reduce its effectiveness over time. As that happens, the tire is more susceptible to cracking and damage.

It’s a good idea to always check the tire pressure in your spare tire. A good rule of thumb is to check it the same time you check the pressure in all your other tires or whenever you perform an oil change. It’s important to remind yourself, a spare tire is no good if it’s flat when needed.

There are two main styles or categories of tire covers, soft and hard. Soft covers are made primarily of canvas and leather and do a pretty good job of protecting your tire from the elements. It’s fair to say that hard covers have better protection, but that’s just because the can protect from punctures more due to their hard fiberglass or plastic shell. But then if the area you have your spare tire located is part of a collision, your spare tire may be the least of your concerns.

Whether you’re looking for rv spare tire covers or one for your Jeep or SUV, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding one that first your needs. Many sites or dealers offer custom tire covers as well which means you can get whatever picture you want on them. Hopefully sometime in the not so distant future we’ll be providing a tool like that here or teaming up with one of the many sites out there to offer you more customization choices for your tire cover needs.