Tire Covers - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Barb and Frank · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tire Covers

Howard · Host

Yes, tire covers are beneficial when sitting for long periods and where there is direct sun on the tires for a few hours each day. I prefer tire "screens" that hang down (like RV Quickshades Tire Cover Kit or SunGuard Tire-Savers) and block the UV rays rather than the covers that wrap around the tires. The wrap-around tire covers can hold in heat which can be worse than the UV rays, while the hanging screens allow the air to flow around the tires.

The wrap-around tire covers are even worse in humid climates as they then hold in moisture as well as heat and that combination is horrible for tires.

Of course, sometimes slideouts will shade tires completely in which case there is no need for the tire covers.

A couple of other suggestions would be:

1) When sitting that long, make sure you have something under the tires and that they are not sitting directly on asphalt, concrete, or gravel. You can use plastic leveling blocks, but I really like horse mats or rubber paver squares which you can usually find at Home Depot, Walmart, Menard's, etc.

2) Hitch up and drive your rig a few miles once a month. It's a pain in the rear and almost nobody does it, but exercising the entire rig and the tires is good for it. Rolling the tires heats them up and activates the chemicals in the rubber (including UV protectors) that are there to protect the tires. Plus, when you return and re-park, you'll likely be parked on a different part of the tire rubber which helps prevent the tires from developing flat spots.

Barb and Frank · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Howard - the information is much appreciated.

Frank

LarryW21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I cover my TT tires if stationary for more than three nights. Yes, they are beneficial. UV is not your friend.

Rickl · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tire covers are in my professional opinion worthless. Most high quality radial tires built today have been compounded to reduce the amount of oxidation that was prevalent years ago. That being said some manufacturers do a better job then others. Goodyear spent millions improving their tires to prevent sidewall checking or channel cracking. Bridgestone also does an excellent job. Michelin on the other hand does stand up but will start to grey and begin to check over time.

Sidewall checking in most instances isn’t a reason to replace the tires, just like channel cracking (cracks in the face of the tire). If you can see steel belting in the checking or cracks then it’s time to replace the tire. Lite checking/cracking is very acceptable.

As a reference, there are millions of semi trailers sitting around for months in yards that don’t have wheel covers on them. If this was a major concern for these trucking firms, seeing how tires represent their number 2 or 3rd highest expense, one would think they would invest in covers to protect their investment.

Barb and Frank · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks LarryW21 and Rickl - much food for thought.

Frank

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just a simple anecdote of our own experience. We sit in one place for months and months at a time. In come cases, our RV has been shaded and in others it hasn't. Being a fifth wheel, the slides do "cover" them to some degree, but we've never put tire covers or screens up to protect them.

That said, our RV was built in 2010 (haven't checked the tire's date codes) and the tires have never been changed. As of when we parked here back in last year (July, I think), there was absolutely no sidewall checkering nor cracking between the treads of the tires. We are getting new axles on our rig later this month (getting rid of Never-Lube bearings) and will follow that up with new tires, simply because of their age. From what I can see of the tires right now, they still seem to be in good shape. (Goodyear G114's)

Terry

Barb and Frank · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:
Just a simple anecdote of our own experience. We sit in one place for months and months at a time. In come cases, our RV has been shaded and in others it hasn't. Being a fifth wheel, the slides do "cover" them to some degree, but we've never put tire covers or screens up to protect them.
That said, our RV was built in 2010 (haven't checked the tire's date codes) and the tires have never been changed. As of when we parked here back in last year (July, I think), there was absolutely no sidewall checkering nor cracking between the treads of the tires. We are getting new axles on our rig later this month (getting rid of Never-Lube bearings) and will follow that up with new tires, simply because of their age. From what I can see of the tires right now, they still seem to be in good shape. (Goodyear G114's)
Terry

Terry,

It is amazing to think that you still have original tires - we, too, have Goodyear G114’s and hope they last half as long as yours!

Frank

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Barb and Frank wrote:
Terry and Jo wrote:
Just a simple anecdote of our own experience. We sit in one place for months and months at a time. In come cases, our RV has been shaded and in others it hasn't. Being a fifth wheel, the slides do "cover" them to some degree, but we've never put tire covers or screens up to protect them.
That said, our RV was built in 2010 (haven't checked the tire's date codes) and the tires have never been changed. As of when we parked here back in last year (July, I think), there was absolutely no sidewall checkering nor cracking between the treads of the tires. We are getting new axles on our rig later this month (getting rid of Never-Lube bearings) and will follow that up with new tires, simply because of their age. From what I can see of the tires right now, they still seem to be in good shape. (Goodyear G114's)
Terry
Terry,
It is amazing to think that you still have original tires - we, too, have Goodyear G114’s and hope they last half as long as yours!
Frank

I don't know. Maybe we just live right. Last July (2018 actually), we finally replaced the four original batteries in the fifth wheel as well. They were 8 years old, and the only maintenance I did on them was to check them once a year and add distilled water to the cells. (Our fifth wheel has a 3000 watt Xantrex inverter, so that is the reason for it having 4 batteries.)

Terry

Natalie21 · RV-Dreams Community Member

I am using Camco 45323 Vinyl Wheel and I saw that it really good. It protecting my RV’s wheels and tires from corrosion, dirt, and the sun.

https://www.rvweb.net/best-rv-tire-covers-reviewed/

-- Edited by Natalie21 on Monday 24th of August 2020 08:52:14 PM

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

I had this very discussion with an ex truck driver who now owns a motorhome. He said that trailers sit for months in shipping yards and motorhomes and 5th wheels sit on dealer lots for years. He said that tire covers were completely unnecessary ... That is one man's opinion. He does practice what he preaches in that his rig sits for 6 months to a year between moves.

My slides pretty well cover my tires so I never worry about it ... but that just becomes my opinion.

Obviously, it can't hurt to use them ... just not sure if it's worth the trouble.

-- Edited by RonC on Thursday 30th of July 2020 03:36:06 PM

Rickl · RV-Dreams Family Member

RonC wrote:
I had this very discussion with an ex truck driver who now owns a motorhome. He said that trailers sit for months in shipping yards and motorhomes and 5th wheels sit on dealer lots for years. He said that tire covers were completely unnecessary ... That is one man's opinion. He does practice what he preaches in that his rig sits for 6 months to a year between moves.

My slides pretty well cover my tires so I never worry about it ... but that just becomes my opinion.

Obviously, it can't hurt to use them ... just not sure if it's worth the trouble.

-- Edited by RonC on Thursday 30th of July 2020 03:36:06 PM

I totally agree with Ron as tires today are formulated to help fight oxidation. To Ron’s point there are 1000’s of trailers sitting in yards without covers. I remember back in the early 80’s when I entered the tire industry sidewall cracking, graying, and channel cracking was somewhat common. But now it is minimal at best in comparison. As a full timer and meeting people I get this question all the time. My answer is do what makes you comfortable. Obviously personally I wouldn’t spend the money myself.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just as an FYI, sidewall cracking isn't the end-all in analyzing one's tires. We had to replace the tires on our F450 a couple of years ago and the sidewalls had absolutely NO cracking at all. However, looking into the treads showed pretty good sized cracks, thus they got replaced.

Terry

yandel · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:
Just a simple anecdote of our own experience. We sit in one place for months and months at a time. In come cases, our RV has been shaded and in others it hasn't. Being a fifth wheel, the slides do "cover" them to some degree, but we've never put tire covers or screens up to protect them.
That said, our RV was built in 2010 (haven't checked the tire's date codes) and the tires have never been changed. As of when we parked here back in last year (July, I think), there was absolutely no sidewall checkering nor cracking between the treads of the tires. We are getting new axles on our rig later this month (getting rid of Never-Lube bearings) and will follow that up with new tires, simply because of their age. From what I can see of the tires right now, they still seem to be in good shape. (Goodyear G114's)
Terry

Those are tough tires indeed. I recently helped my uncle installing the shocks from 4Wheelonline onto his Wrangler and we'll be working on his RV next. The G114 lasted for 7 years and he's thinking for another set. The biggest factor maybe is he always prefer parking in the shaded areas.